Charlie's Angels turned 50 in 2026, and the celebrations have been fitting. Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd reunited at PaleyFest in Los Angeles in April to a standing ovation, Jaclyn Smith published her memoir in September, and Sony is developing a new film.
Half a century on, the show remains a pop culture landmark. Here is the story. Find more shows in our TV series collection.
Charlie's Angels Fact File
| Title | Charlie's Angels |
|---|---|
| Original run | 22 September 1976 to 24 June 1981 |
| Creators | Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts |
| Producers | Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg |
| Network | ABC |
| Main cast | Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, David Doyle |
| Voice of Charlie | John Forsythe |
| Seasons / episodes | 5 seasons, 115 episodes |
| Setting | Los Angeles |
| Genre | Crime / action drama |
Seasons and Episodes
| Years | Season | Episodes and key changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1976-77 | Season 1 | 22 - Jackson, Fawcett and Smith |
| 1977-78 | Season 2 | 26 - Cheryl Ladd joins as Kris Munroe |
| 1978-79 | Season 3 | 24 - Kate Jackson's final season |
| 1979-80 | Season 4 | 26 - Shelley Hack joins as Tiffany Welles |
| 1980-81 | Season 5 | 17 - Tanya Roberts joins as Julie Rogers |
Episode counts exclude the pilot TV film.
Origins
Produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, the series followed three women working as private detectives for the unseen Charlie Townsend, who briefed them by speakerphone. David Doyle played their go-between, John Bosley.
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A Ratings Phenomenon
The show was a top-10 hit, ranking fifth in its first season. Farrah Fawcett became a star, and her 1976 red swimsuit poster became one of the best-selling posters ever. After one season she left, and Cheryl Ladd arrived as Jill's younger sister Kris.
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Films, Reboots and Legacy
The franchise returned with Charlie's Angels (2000) and Full Throttle (2003), starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu, then a short-lived 2011 TV reboot and Elizabeth Banks's 2019 film. In February 2026 Sony was reported to be developing a new film.
The 50th Anniversary
In April 2026 Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd reunited on stage at PaleyFest LA at the Dolby Theatre to mark 50 years since the show began, and the trio were also due to be honoured at the Paley Honors gala in New York in May. In September Jaclyn Smith released her memoir, I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie. The 2011 ABC reboot, set in Miami and starring Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly and Rachael Taylor, was cancelled after a few weeks, but the original series remains the one fans remember most fondly. By its fifth season the ratings had slipped and ABC ended the run in 1981, but its mix of glamour, action and teamwork influenced a generation of TV dramas.
Awards
Nominations
- Golden Globe nominations for Best TV Drama (1977 and 1978)
- Emmy nominations for Kate Jackson and David Doyle
Wins
- People's Choice Award: Favourite New TV Programme (1977)
Honours
- Fawcett's red swimsuit was donated to the Smithsonian in 2011
Behind the Scenes
John Forsythe recorded Charlie's lines in a studio and was never fully seen on screen. Jaclyn Smith was the only Angel to appear in all five seasons.
FAQs
How many seasons of Charlie's Angels are there?
The original series ran for five seasons and 115 episodes on ABC from 1976 to 1981.
Who created Charlie's Angels?
Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts created it, with Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg producing.
Who were the original Charlie's Angels?
Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith, later joined by Cheryl Ladd, Shelley Hack and Tanya Roberts.
Who was the voice of Charlie?
John Forsythe voiced Charlie in the original series and the 2000 and 2003 films.
How many Charlie's Angels films are there?
Three: Charlie's Angels (2000), Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) and Charlie's Angels (2019).
Is there a new Charlie's Angels film?
Sony was reported in February 2026 to be developing a new film, which is in early development.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Baywatch: Seasons and Cast and Knight Rider: Seasons and Cast.
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