On June 25, 2009, the entertainment world and fans endured a double heartbreaker – on that day both actress Farrah Fawcett and pop superstar Michael Jackson died – roughly 12 hours apart.

Fawcett, who inspired millions of women to copy her feather-cut hairdo, fought with every fiber of her being when she was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2006.

The actress and model was declared cancer-free in 2007 but then found out it had spread to her liver.

“There is a reason for all this. It is a challenge to my very core, to my strength, my mind, my spirit and my soul,” she says in a documentary made at her request by her best friend, Alana Stewart, that followed her journey to treat the cancer.

Fawcett died at 2:28 a.m. on June 25, 2009, at Providence St. John’s Health Center emergency room in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 62. Her death was almost exactly 12 hours before pop star Michael Jackson died at 2:26 p.m. the same day.

She says in the film that will “never compromise” on her “desire to live. I will not go gentle into that good night.”

Fawcett pursued experimental treatments both in the United States and overseas.

Her doctor said, “She was fearless.”

Fawcett was born in Texas. She moved to California to pursue a modeling career with her good looks and iconic feather-cut hairstyle.

Fawcett, wearing a red swimsuit, is the subject of a 1976 poster that is the best-selling poster of all time at 12 million copies.

Fawcett also was one of the original “Charlie’s Angels” with Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Fawcett quit the show after just one season and was replaced by Cheryl Ladd.

Fawcett was married to actor Lee Majors from 1973 to 1982. She then had an on-again, off-again relationship with actor Ryan O’Neal until her death. They had a son, Redmond O’Neal.

According to biography.com, Fawcett appeared in the unsuccessful movies “Logan’s Run” in 1976, “Sunburn” in 1979 and “Saturn 3″ in 1980.

She starred in the 1981 TV miniseries “Murder in Texas” and the movie “The Cannonball Run” in 1981.

In 1984 she produced and starred in the TV movie about domestic violence, “The Burning Bed.” She earned an Emmy nomination for her performance.

She appeared in the play “Extremities” then the movie version in 1986, which earned her a Golden Globe.

In 1989 she portrayed a mother who shot her children in “Small Sacrifices.” She earned an Emmy nomination for that miniseries.

In addition to other television roles, in 1997 she appeared with Robert Duvall in “The Apostle.” In 2000, she was in the comedy “Dr. T and the Women” with Richard Gere and Helen Hunt. Her third Emmy nomination came from “The Guardian” in 2001.

In May 2009, NBC aired the documentary “Farrah’s Story.” The film includes real-life footage of her treatments for the cancer and follows her up until a few weeks before her death. In the film Stewart said Fawcett told her to keep recording even the difficult parts because, “This is what cancer is.”

As the news spread on June 25, 2009, that Jackson had died, his music soared to the top of the charts.

Amazon.com sold out of all of his CDs as well as those by the Jackson 5.

Jackson suffered cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009, at his home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, after receiving the anesthetic propofol from Dr. Conrad Murray. Jackson was 50 years old.

At the time, he was preparing for a 50-show comeback tour called “This Is It.”

Reports from media in the weeks before his death indicated Jackson had been acting in a bizarre manner, was exceptionally thin and anxious but after a week off from rehearsals he appeared to have improved.

On June 24, 2009, according to history.com, Jackson left home around 7 p.m. for a rehearsal at the Staples Center. The rehearsal went well but later that evening he complained to Murray about being tired and wanting propofol. Murray gave him Valium instead until mid-morning on June 25.

The New York Times called Jackson “the Peter Pan of pop music: the little boy who refused to grow up.”

“Jackson was battling an addiction to prescription drugs, riddled with self-doubt and deeply in debt,” according to biography.com.

“With his heralded return rapidly approaching, Jackson’s final days were spent rehearsing and preparing for the spotlight as he battled inner demons.”

According to the coroner, the cardiac arrest was caused by acute propofol intoxication.

“Jackson had been administered the drug by his personal physician to reportedly help him sleep at night,” according to biography.com.

Murray was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for Jackson’s death and served two years in prison.

In 2007 a Beverly Hills pharmacy filed a complaint against Jackson for not paying a $101,926 prescription drug bill.

Jackson also was investigated for child molestation but was acquitted of those charges in 2005.

In 2019, HBO released a four-hour two-part documentary called “Leaving Neverland.” The film accuses Jackson of sexually abusing children. The film focused on two men who claimed they were abused by Jackson.

Neverland Ranch was Jackson’s home and private amusement park and zoo in California. He lived there from 1988 to 2005.

Michael Jackson started his music career as part of the Jackson 5 with his brothers in the early 1960s. Michael started his solo career in the early 1970s. He last toured with his brothers in 1983.

His first solo No. 1 hit was “Ben” in 1972. In 1979 he released “Off the Wall” that featured the Grammy Award-winning song “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.”

“Thriller” was released in 1982. The record generated seven Top 10 hits and received eight Grammy Awards. Songs included “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” and “Beat It.”

In 1983 Jackson performed his famous dance move, the Moonwalk.

Hits in 1987 included “Man in the Mirror” and “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

The “Dangerous” album was released in 1991 and included the hit song, “Black or White.”

Jackson was married to Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, from 1994 to 1996. In 1996 he married Debbie Rowe, the mother of two of his three children. The marriage ended in 1999.

His children are Michael Joseph “Prince” Jackson Jr., Paris-Michael Katharine Jackson and Prince Michael “Blanket” Jackson II.

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