'Love Story' Actor Ryan O'Neal Dead at 82
Academy Award-nominated actor Ryan O’Neal died Dec. 8 at 82, his son Patrick O’Neal announced.
O’Neal was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Harvard preppie Oliver, whom he portrayed opposite actress Ali MacGraw (Jenny) in the 1970 film “Love Story.”
O’Neal, who was a major heartthrob of the 1970s, went on to have a number of hits, including “What’s Up, Doc?” (1972), “Paper Moon” (1973) with his then 9-year-old daughter Tatum O’Neal (who won an Academy Award for her performance), the war film “A Bridge Too Far” (1977), and “The Main Event” (1979) in which he played a prize fighter and co-starred with Barbara Streisand.
So sad to hear the news of Ryan O’Neal’s passing. ❤️ We made two films together, What’s Up, Doc? and The Main Event. He was funny and charming, and he will be remembered. pic.twitter.com/Z9ADMv2R5T
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) December 8, 2023
The actor’s big break came when he landed the role of Rodney Harrington on the 1960s television series “Peyton Place,” a prime time soap opera based on the novel of the same name.
Most recently, O’Neal had a recurring role of the television show “Bones,” with his last appearance coming in 2017, according to IMDb.
Ryan O’Neal and Ali McGraw in the tearjerker “Love Story” (1970) 🎥 pic.twitter.com/7Fij1oCX56
— Groovy History (@GroovyHistory) June 4, 2020
The Hollywood Reporter said that O’Neal had been diagnosed with chronic leukemia in 2001 and prostate cancer in 2012.
His son Patrick wrote on Instagram, “So this is the toughest thing I’ve ever had to say but here we go. My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us.”
“My father Ryan O’Neal has always been my hero,” Patrick continued. “I looked up to him and he was always bigger than life. When I was born in 1967 my dad was already a TV star on Peyton Place.
“That’s where he met my mom Leigh Taylor-Young, and about 9 months later (give or take a date night or two) I was born.”
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The New York Post reported O’Neal was first married to actress Joanna Moore from 1963 to 1967, and they had two children together, Tatum and Griffin.
He then wed “Peyton Place” co-star Young in 1967 having son Patrick. They divorced in 1971.
O’Neal was then in an on-again-off-again relationship with “Charlie’s Angels” star Farrah Fawcett starting in 1979, until her death from cancer in 2009.
They had one son together, Redmond, who currently is in the Patton State Psychiatric Hospital in San Bernardino, California, after a string of criminal charges, including attempted murder, robbery, assault, and drug possession.
Sunday Morning Passage
Ryan O’Neal, the Oscar-nominated star of the film “Love Story” has died. He was 82.
O’Neal and his “Love Story” co-star Ali MacGraw spoke to ‘Sunday Morning” back in 2021 about making the unlikely box office blockbuster. https://t.co/LrI8Y1FmBN pic.twitter.com/AXFgoau47V
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) December 8, 2023
O’Neal, who struggled with drug and alcohol abuse over the years, conceded he had not been a good father.
“I’m a hopeless father. I don’t know why,” he told Vanity Fair in 2009. “I don’t think I was supposed to be a father. Just look around at my work — they’re either in jail or they should be.”
“I have nice grandchildren, though,” he quipped.
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Ryan is survived by his four children and five grandchildren.
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