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11 months ago
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Iconic Hollywood star Ryan O'Neal who was both a matinee idol and an award-winning actor has died at the age of 82.
His son Patrick shared the sad news on social media on Friday afternoon. 'So this is the toughest thing I’ve ever had to say but here we go,' he began.
'My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us.'
Later in the day, the late actor's daughter Tatum O'Neal shared a statement with People reacting to the news.
'I feel great sorrow with my father's passing,' she shared. 'He meant the world to me. I loved him very much and know he loved me too. I'll miss him forever and I feel very lucky that we ended on such good terms.'
O'Neal was last seen being aided into his vehicle from a wheelchair by a helper in Brentwood, California on November 6, 2023. Ryan was wheeled down the sidewalk and had two caretakers got him into the front seat of his car, lifting him from under his arm.
O'Neal was best known for his movies in the 1970s, which included Paper Moon, costarring his daughter Tatum. The acclaimed film, which was directed by Ryan's What's Up, Doc? collaborator Peter Bogdanovich, earned the young girl the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress when she was just 10, making the budding star — who had turned nine during the production — the youngest person to ever win a competitive Oscar.
He also worked with some of the top female stars of his day such as Barbra Streisand on What's Up, Doc? and The Main Event, and Marisa Berenson on Barry Lyndon.
Ryan was nominated in 1970 for a Best Actor Oscar for his blockbuster film Love Story with Ali MacGraw.
Hollywood actor Ryan O'Neal has died at the age of 82. His son Patrick shared the sad news on social media on Friday afternoon; seen in 2000
His son Patrick shared the sad news on social media on Friday afternoon. 'So this is the toughest thing I’ve ever had to say but here we go,' he began. 'My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us'
O'Neal was last seen being aided into his vehicle from a wheelchair by helper in Brentwood, California on November 6, 2023
Ryan was wheeled down the sidewalk and had two caretakers that aided him into the front seat of his car, lifting him from under his arm
The star looked slender as he wore sunglasses and a green T-shirt
O'Neal appeared to be considerably more frail than he was years earlier in 2017. He was seen in September of that year as he took a walk in Malibu with the aid of a cane while accompanied by his son Redmond
Streisand shared a tribute to the late star on X, formerly known as Twitter, upon hearing the heartbreaking news of Ryan's passing and shared a black and white image of the pair taken in the past.
The actress also typed, '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.'
Mia Farrow also uploaded a tribute by sharing various throwback images and penned, 'Rest in peace dear Ryan.'
The two notably costarred in the series, Peyton Place.
Sharon Stone also paid tribute with a black-and-white photo of O'Neal from his later years.
'It's w deep sadness I post this. RIP Ryan O'Neal,' she wrote, adding a heart emoji.
Ryan was known for his high-profile relationship to Charlie's Angels actress Farrah Fawcett which lasted decades; they never wed.
The two were partners from 1979 to 1997 after he stole the bubbly blonde beauty away from her husband, Lee Majors of The Six Million Dollar Man fame.
Together they had a son named Redmond, 38, who had trouble with the law, even serving time in jail.
O'Neal was jailed in 2009 after he was found in possession of heroin during a routine security check at the Pitchess Detention Center, California. He was behind bars when his mother died from cancer in June, 2009.
Redmond has acted in the films Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003), The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (1998) and Johnny Bravo (1997), but is not often seen these days.
Ryan also romanced Ursula Andress, Bianca Jagger, Jacqueline Bisset, Streisand, Joan Collins and Diana Ross.
Ryan is survived by four children: Tatum O'Neal and Griffin O'Neal with Joanna Moore, Patrick O'Neal with Leigh Taylor-Young, and Redmond James Fawcett O'Neal with Fawcett.
And the star has five grandchildren.
His son posted a lengthy note with the photo a beach at sunset.
Streisand shared a tribute to the late star on X, formerly known as Twitter, upon hearing the heartbreaking news of Ryan's passing and shared a black and white image of the pair taken in the past
Mia Farrow also uploaded a tribute by sharing various throwback images and penned, 'Rest in peace dear Ryan'
Sharon Stone also paid tribute with a black-and-white photo of O'Neal from his later years. 'It's w deep sadness I post this. RIP Ryan O'Neal,' she wrote, adding a heart emoji
Ryan was nominated in 1970 for a Best Actor Oscar for his blockbuster film Love Story with Ali MacGraw
The film was a massive hit thanks to the chemistry between Ryan and Ali
He also worked with some of the top female stars of the day like Barbra Streisand on What's Up, Doc (seen here in 1972)
Streisand and O'Neal also starred in the 1979 film The Main Event
'This is very difficult for my wife Summer and I, but I will share some feelings to give you an idea of how great a man he is,' he wrote.
'My father Ryan O’Neal has always been my hero. 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,' he added.
'My dad became an international movie star with Love Story at the beginning of the 1970’s, a decade he absolutely crushed by starring in movies like What’s Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, A Bridge Too Far, The Main Event, and The Driver.
'He is a Hollywood legend. Full stop. The growth spurt of the first name Ryan can be traced back to my dad. That’s a fact.
'He was Rodney Harrington on Peyton Place 3 days a week (he starred in 500 shows over 5 years) and then of course the name Ryan peaked after Love Story (the film that saved Paramount Studios and earned my dad a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame).'
Ryan was also known for his high-profile relationship to Charlie's Angels actress Farrah Fawcett which lasted decades; they never wed. The two were partners from 1979 to 1997. Seen in 2004
They were the power couple of their day; seen in NYC in 1983
Together they had a son named Redmond, 38, who had trouble with the law, even serving time in jail. O'Neal was jailed in 2009 after he was found in possession of heroin during a routine security check at the Pitchess Detention Center, California. He was behind bars when his mother died from cancer in June, 2009
O'Neal attends the Farrah Fawcett 5th Anniversary Reception at the Farrah Fawcett Foundation on June 25, 2014 in Beverly Hills
Ryan was born in Los Angeles and began acting in the 1960s.
He did guest roles on TV shows such as Bachelor Father, My Three Sons and Leave It To Beaver.
He then landed his big breakthrough role on the soapy night time TV series Peyton Place as he played small town hot stuff Rodney Harrington alongside Mia Farrow.
Soon after Hollywood snapped him up for film roles, as he had the looks and charisma to carry the silver screen.
In 1970, he played an Olympic athlete in The Games.
He was then recommended for the lead in the romantic drama Love Story (1970), which not many had faith in as it was a slow and tear-jerking story.
But his chemistry with Ali was so strong that fans went wild for the sob story about two Harvard students in love: a spoiled rich kid who hates his father and his smart, scrappy girlfriend who comes from a working-class family.
'I hope the young people like it,' O'Neal said before the film came out. 'I don't want to go back to TV.'
O'Neal played Rodney Harrington on the 1964 series Peyton Place
Seen in the pilot for Peyton Place with Mia Farrow
One of his early films was the western Wild Rovers, directed by Blake Edwards, in 1971
He had 70s hunk status in spades; O'Neal photographed in California in October 1974
In 1989 he was in the hit film Chances Are with Cybill Shepherd; seen at the premiere
He was next in the TV movie Love Hate Love (1971), then the Western Wild Rovers (1971) with William Holden.
His next hit was the comedy What's Up, Doc? (1972) opposite Streisand. He played the stiff, uptight man to her wacky, outspoken drifter. They had a romance in real life too.
Later O'Neal played a jewel thief in The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1972) opposite Jacqueline Bisset and Warren Oates.
Then he was reunited with Bogdanovich for Paper Moon (1973) in which he starred opposite his daughter Tatum O'Neal.
His performance in the film earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and he was voted by exhibitors as the second-most-popular star of 1973 in the country.
O'Neal spent over a year making Barry Lyndon (1975) for Kubrick but the costume drama was not well received.
Next was the comedy Nickelodeon (1976) with Burt Reynolds and Tatum O'Neal. It was a bomb.
In the 1973 film Paper Moon Ryan co-starred with his daughter Tatum O'Neal
When they promoted the film together, she seemed to steal the spotlight; seen in 1973
O'Neal followed this with the big ensemble movie A Bridge Too Far (1977), playing General James Gavin. It was another dud for the box-office king.
An action film was next, The Driver (1978), but it didn't have wheels.
His reputation as a massive film star who could sell movie tickets was starting to strain.
More flops followed, however, like Green Ice in 1981 and Circle Of Two, which he would later say he did for the money.
In 1989 he had a mild hit with Chances Are with Cybill Shepherd.
He turned to TV with Farrah as they costarred in Good Sports in 1991. Fans were hoping for chemistry and sizzle, but it was DOA.
They worked hard to mend their relationship; seen in 2011 in Palm Springs
With girlfriend Jacqueline Bisset in The Thief Who Came To Dinner
Next came a string of bad movies like Malibu's Most Wanted (2003) and the Alicia Silverstone TV series Miss Match, also in 2003.
His next highlight was in 2016, when reunited with Love Story co-star MacGraw in a staging of A.R. Gurney's play Love Letters.
His love life made headlines for decades as he had a penchant for pretty ladies with their own fame.
O'Neal married his first wife, actress Joanna Moore, in 1963.
They had two children before separating in 1966.
Moore lost custody of their children to O'Neal as a result of her alcoholism and drug addiction.
The cover boy also romanced the Bond girl Ursula Andress; seen in 1977
O'Neal (C) poses with his son Patrick O'Neal (L), Los Angeles Angels television play-by-play announcer, and actor director Hart Bochner prior to the start of a baseball game between Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 21, 2022 in Anaheim
His second marriage was to actress Leigh Taylor-Young, with whom he had a son and divorced in 1974.
Then came beauty Fawcett, which was the scandal of its day as fans loved her with Majors.
Eventually, he cheated and they fought, however, and they became tabloid news.
Fawcett broke up with him after she found O'Neal in bed with actress Leslie Stefanson. But they got back together 2001 and spent time together before her death in 2009.
He also dated Anjelica Huston. She would accuse him of abusing her in her tell-all book.
According to his daughter Tatum, he also had an affair with Melanie Griffith.
O'Neal has four children: Tatum O'Neal and Griffin O'Neal with Moore, Patrick O'Neal with Taylor-Young, and Redmond James Fawcett O'Neal with Fawcett.
Along with his 2009 prison sentence, Redmond has faced multiple run-ins with the law. In 2015, he was sentenced to three years in jail due to violating his probation after being in possession of a firearm.
At the time of Redmond's 2015 arrest, Tatum told People that his substance abuse and addiction was 'so bad that it breaks my heart'; Ryan and Tatum seen in 2010
He was released the following year in 2016. His half-sister, Tatum, has battled with addiction as well in the past.
At the time of his 2015 arrest, she told People that his substance abuse and addiction was 'so bad that it breaks my heart.'
'I love him, but I have never seen a more scary side of addiction. Nobody knows what to do with Redmond. From what I've seen, there is no way he's going to survive.'
In 2018, he was arrested once again on charges of attempted murder as well as robbery and possession of illegal drugs - including meth and heroin.
O'Neal has four children: Tatum O'Neal and Griffin O'Neal with Moore, Patrick O'Neal with Taylor-Young, and Redmond James Fawcett O'Neal with Fawcett
Shortly after the arrest, Redmond opened up to RadarOnline in May 2018 from jail and stated that it wasn't 'dugs that have been a problem' and claimed 'it's the psychological trauma of my entire life - my whole life experiences have affected me the most.'
He put blame on his parents, stating that 'being kicked out and living on the streets' only added to his issues, such as 'going to jail, being put in a psychiatric ward, being embarrassed all the time because of who my parents are.'
'The pressure that came with that set off a time-bomb in my head. I never asked for any of this, I never wanted any attention...'
The publication later reported earlier this year in February that Redmond has been serving time in a state psychiatric hospital for a little over three years after it was ruled that he was unfit to stand trial on attempted murder and robbery charges in 2018.
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