NBC to air cancer journal of Farrah Fawcett

May 10, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK — NBC News next week will air a two-hour special on Farrah Fawcett’s battle with cancer.

“Farrah’s Story” is described as an extremely personal look at how the former “Charlie’s Angels” star is coping and being treated. Fawcett is suffering from anal cancer that has spread to her liver and has suffered complications from an unrelated procedure performed in Germany.

“Farrah’s Story” will air at 9 p.m. Friday.

Her friend Alana Stewart shot most of the footage with a home video recorder. Ryan O’Neal and former “Charlie’s Angels” co-stars Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson appear. It follows the 62-year-old actress through treatments in the United States and Germany.

“This film is very personal,” Fawcett said. “At the time, I didn’t know if anybody would ever see it. But at some point, the footage took on a life of its own and dictated that it be seen.”

Fawcett wanted to set the record straight about her diagnosis, treatment and future, said Doug Vaughan, NBC News senior vice president of specials and alternative development.

Fawcett said that she would have liked to have kept her cancer private, but realized others might benefit from learning about her experiences.

NBC paid her a licensing fee for the footage, but isn’t saying how much.

Today’s birthdays

Sports announcer Pat Summerall is 79. Singer Henry Fambrough of The Spinners is 71. Announcer Gary Owens (“Laugh-In”) is 70. Singer Donovan is 63. Singer Dave Mason is 63. Singer Ron Banks of The Dramatics is 58. Singer Bono of U2 is 49. Drummer Danny Carey of Tool is 48. Model Linda Evangelista is 44. Rapper Young MC is 42. Actor Erik Palladino (“ER”) is 41. Singer Richard Patrick of Filter is 41. Actor Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live,” “Kenan and Kel”) is 31. Singer Jason Dalyrimple of Soul for Real is 29.