The Top 10 Sexiest Television Actress of the 70s

After the sexual revolution of the 60's, there were plenty of television shows that attempted to cash in on the media's changes in standards by making female sensuality and sex appeal a part of their standard format. Though not all of the shows that explored this avenue found success, there were plenty of shows which did. These shows, which included the likes of Three's Company, Wonder Women, and Charlie's Angels, often became hits, hits which propelled their lead actresses into stardom. Here then is a list of the top ten sexiest television actresses of the 1970's.

Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman)

A beauty pageant winner (Miss World USA 1972) before she became an actress, Lynda Carter was casted by ABC as Diane Prince in the 1975 Fantasy Adventure series Wonder Woman. The series, based on the DC comic character of the same name, made use of Wonder Women's iconic red, white, and blue costume to highlight Carter's obvious beauty and sex appeal. Though ABC failed to pick up the show after its first season, CBS picked up the series for an additional two seasons giving the show a 59 episode run, which helped to make Carter a sex symbol for the 70's. Pictures of Lynda Carter can be found at http://photobucket.com/images/lynda%20carter/.

Farrah Fawcett (Charlie's Angels)

In 1976 ABC launched the crime drama, Charlie's Angels, a show about three female private investigators who worked at the Townsend Agency for multimillionaire Charlie Townsend. The show which showcased the PI's sex appeal, often casting them in racy clothing, made Farrah Fawcett (who played Jill Munroe) an instant sex symbol. Fawcett's sex appeal during the decade was further propagated by a best-selling poster which featured the series' star in a provocative red bathing suit. Though Farrah left the show after its second season (though she later made guest appearances), she nevertheless remained a sex symbol of the era. Pictures of Farrah Fawcett can be found at http://photobucket.com/images/farrah%20fawcett/.

Suzanne Somers (Three's Company)

In 1977 ABC pushed the envelope of television standards with Three's Company, a sitcom which featured two single women sharing an apartment with a single man. Suzanne Somers was cast as bubbly, ditzy blonde, Chrissy Snow, a role she would go on to play for four seasons. During the decade, Somers rising popularity and appeal led to a contract dispute between the star and the network, a dispute which ultimately resulted in the actress leaving the show, but not before establishing herself as one of the hottest actress of the decade. Pictures of Suzanne Somers can be found at http://photobucket.com/images/suzanne+somers/?sortby=popular.

Loni Anderson (WKRP in Cincinnati)

Anderson's role as blonde bombshell Jennifer Marlowe in the television series WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982) made her instant sex symbol in the late 70's. Her characterization of Marlowe, a secretary with a mixture of beauty and brains, would earn Anderson two Emmy Award nominations. Away from the TV studios, Anderson's sexy posters were among the best selling of the era. Pictures of Loni Anderson can be found at http://www.fanpix.net/gallery/loni-anderson-pictures.htm.

Erin Gray (Buck Rogers in the 25^th Century)

Though her show started during the tail end of the decade (1979), Erin Gray's beauty and sex appeal still rivaled those of the more popular actresses of the era. One of New York's City's top models before she turned to acting, the stunning blue eyed, brown haired Gray started at Colonel Wilma Deering in Buck Rogers in the 25^th Century. Gray's role as a military leader on a sci-fi series is now seen as being influential for the genre. Pictures of Erin Gray can be found at http://www.acephotos.org/t31324/erin-gray-photos.html.

Angie Dickenson (Police Woman)

A pioneer for television shows starting women in a police drama, and a forerunner to the success of shows like Charlie's Angels, Police Woman casted Angie Dickenson as police sergeant Suzanne "Pepper " Anderson . The show which ran from 1974-78 on NBC, made enough use of Dickenson's sex appeal to the point where even Dickenson complained that she got tired of scenes "where the phone rings while I'm taking a bath. I always want to look as sexy, beautiful and luscious as I can." Pictures of Angie Dickenson can be found at http://www.celebcards.com/gallery/angie_dickinson/.

Cheryl Ladd (Charlie's Angels)

Though she had appeared on various television shows through the decade, Cheryl Ladd will always be best remember for replacing Farrah Fawcett on Charlie's Angels in 1977. Ladd, who played Fawcett's sister Kris Munroe on the sexy drama, would stay with the role for the duration of the series. Despite the sexy role, Ladd remained a serious actress who would add over 30 television movie roles to her credit. Along with acting, Ladd also balanced a career as a singer during the decade. Pictures of Cheryl Ladd can be found at http://www.watt-up.com/j_gallery/Cheryl_Ladd/Cheryl_Ladd.html.

Jaclyn Smith (Charlie's Angels)

Much like Cheryl Ladd, who would join her on the set of Charlie's Angels, Jaclyn Smith appeared in various television series in the 70's prior to finding stardom as private eyes Kelly Garrett on the show. Her beauty and sex appeal would go on to outlast the popularity of the series, and in subsequent years Smith would grace such celebrated lists as People's "Most Beautiful People in the World," and McCall's "Whose Face Most Women Would Like to Have." Pictures of Jaclyn Smith can be found at http://photobucket.com/images/Jaclyn%20Smith/.

Susan Dey (Partridge Family)

Before her successful role in L.A. Law for which she won a Golden Globe award a decade later, Susan Dey started as Laurie Partridge in the 70's sitcom The Partridge Family (1970-1974). Only 17 when first cast into the role, Dey's fresh scrubbed good looks would make her one of the decade's hottest young actress. Feeling that the role would typecast her as the perennial wholesome girl next door, Dey attempted to break away from her TV character's squeaky clean image by doing nude scenes in the 1977 theatrical release of the movie, First Love. Pictures of Susan Dey can be found at http://photobucket.com/images/Susan%20Dey/.

Lindsay Wagner (Bionic Woman)

Despite a long and successful career as an actress, it was Lindsay Wagner's role as Jamie Sommers in the Bionic Woman for which she is best known. The series which ran on both ABC (1976-1977) and NBC (1977-78) would net Wagner and Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama. Pictures of Lindsay Wagner can be found at http://www.fanpix.net/gallery/lindsay-wagner-pictures.htm.

Sources:

http://suzanne-somers.fantribute.com/gallery.html

http://www.filmreference.com/film/42/Erin-Gray.html

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20072280,00.html

http://www.celebritypro.com/bio/angie_dickinson_bio.htm

http://television.aol.com/celebs/susan-dey/1789055/biography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaclyn_Smith

http://www.jaclynsmith.net/

http://www.starpulse.com/Actresses/Anderson,_Loni/