Ryan O’Neal dies at 82: Paper Moon and Love Story actor who was with Farrah Fawcett for decades passes away ‘peacefully’, his son Patrick reveals: ‘He was larger than life’
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. “So this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say, but here we go,” he began.
“My father passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side, who supported him and loved him as he loved us.”
O’Neal was best known for his films from the 1970s, including Paper Moon, in which he co-starred with his daughter Tatum O’Neal.
He also worked with some of the top female stars of his time, such as Barbra Streisand What’s Up, Doc, and also The Main Event, and Marisa Berenson on Barry Lyndon.
Ryan was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 1970 for his blockbuster 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.
His son Patrick shared the sad news on social media on Friday afternoon. “So this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say, but here we go,” he began. “My father passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side, who supported him and loved him as he loved us.”
Ryan was also known for his high-profile relationship with Charlie’s Angels actress Farrah Fawcett, which lasted for decades; they never marry.
The two were partners from 1979 to 1997 after he stole the bubbly blonde beauty from her husband, The Six Million Dollar Man’s Lee Majors.
Together they had a son named Redmond, who had trouble with the law and even served time in prison.
O’Neal was jailed in 2009 after being found in possession of heroin during a routine security check at the Pitchess Detention Center, California. He was behind bars when his mother died of cancer in June 2009.
O’Neal also romanced Ursula Andress, Bianca Jagger, Jacqueline Bisset, Streisand, Joan Collins and Diana Ross.
Ryan is survived by four children and five grandchildren.
His son posted a long note with the photo of a sunset on the beach.
‘This is very difficult for my wife Summer and me, but I will share some feelings to give you an idea of how great a man he is.
“My dad Ryan O’Neal has always been my hero. I looked up to him and he was always larger than life. When I was born in 1967, my father was already a TV star on Peyton Place.
Ryan was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 1970 for his blockbuster Love Story with Ali MacGraw.
He also worked with some of the top female stars of the time, such as Barbra Streisand on What’s Up, Doc (seen here in 1972) and The Main Event.
Ryan was also known for his high-profile relationship with Charlie’s Angels actress Farrah Fawcett, which lasted for decades; they never marry. The two were partners from 1979 to 1997. Seen in 2004
‘That’s where he met my mother Leigh Taylor-Young, and about nine months later (give or take an evening or two) I was born.
‘My father became an international movie star in the early 1970s with Love Story, a decade he absolutely crushed by starring in films such as What’s Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, A Bridge Too Far, The Main Event and The Driver.
‘He’s a Hollywood legend. Point. The growth spurt of the first name Ryan can be traced back to my father. That’s a fact.
“He was Rodney Harrington on Peyton Place 3 days a week (he was in 500 shows over 5 years) and then of course the Ryan name peaked after Love Story (the movie that saved Paramount Studios and gave my father a star on the Hollywood Walk famous).’
O’Neal attends the Farrah Fawcett 5th Birthday Reception at the Farrah Fawcett Foundation on June 25, 2014 in Beverly Hills
Ryan started acting in the 1960s and got his big break on the TV series Peyton Place playing Rodney Harrington.