Actor Ryan O’Neal, who was nominated for an Oscar and was well-known for his parts in the 1970s films Paper Moon and What’s Up, Doc? as well as the soap opera Peyton Place, departed on Friday. His age was eighty-two. His son sent a message on social media confirming his passing.
On Instagram, Patrick O’Neal posted, “My father passed away peacefully today.” He had the support of his cherished crew, who shared our love for him.” “My hero of choice has always been my father, Ryan O’Neal. I was constantly in awe of him since he always seemed bigger than life.”
There is no information on what killed him.
With his breakthrough performance as Rodney Harrington in the ABC evening soap opera Peyton Place, Ryan O’Neal shot to fame in 1964. His part in the 1970 box office smash Love Story, for which he won an Academy Award, made him especially well-known. When Tatum was just ten years old, O’Neal won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a Depression-era con artist in the 1973 movie Paper Moon, which starred him alongside his real-life daughter. A Bridge Too Far, The Driver, and Barry Lyndon are some of his other well-known cinematic appearances.
Ryan O’Neal was born as the son of playwright Charles “Blackie” O’Neal and actress Patricia O’Callaghan, according to his biography page on his website.
Before pursuing acting, the Los Angeles native trained to be a professional boxer. In 1956 and 1957, he took part in the Golden Gloves Championship. In his first on-screen appearance as a stuntman in the television series Tales of the Vikings, he demonstrated his physical prowess.
O’Neal stated to The New York Times in 1978, “I enjoy this line of work now. It is beneficial to go to work and work on something that will endure for a long time. Yet it’s a touch unsettling.”
O’Neal wed actress Joanna Moore as his first wife at the beginning of the 1960s. The couple had two kids, Tatum and Gryphon. Patrick is the son he had with actress Leigh Taylor-Young, whom he later married. Along with his longtime companion, the late actress Farrah Fawcett, O’Neal also had a son, Redmond.
His personal life made news when his playing gigs decreased.The Hollywood star, who is well-known for his quick marriages, drug usage, and legal troubles, has a tumultuous past with his three children. Gryphon, his son, was allegedly abused by him in 2007. He and his son Redmond were taken into custody on drug-related counts a year later. He had been distant from Tatum for a number of years prior to their 2020 reconciliation.
Following the passing of his father, Tatum said, “He was my whole world,” in an interview with People magazine.”I was aware that his affection for me matched my own.I will always hold a special place in my heart for him, and I feel very lucky that our time spent together led to meaningful connections.”
Ryan O’Neal arrives at the 8th Annual TV Land Awards at Sony Studios on in Culver City, Calif., in 2010. The actor died at age 82.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
