Ryan O’Neal, the Oscar nominee and Peyton Place star, has passed away at the age of 82
Ryan O’Neal, known for his roles in Love Story and Peyton Place, has passed away at the age of 82, as confirmed.
The actor’s son, Patrick, confirmed the sorrowful news.
‘Addressing this has been incredibly difficult, but here it is,’ his social media statement commenced.
‘Today, my father peacefully departed, surrounded by his devoted team who supported and cherished him, just as he did us.
He carried on sharing on Instagram: ‘My father, Ryan O’Neal, has forever been my hero. I admired him greatly; he always seemed larger than life. By the time I came into the world in 1967, my dad was already a renowned TV star in Peyton Place.
‘That’s where he crossed paths with my mother, Leigh Taylor-Young. And approximately nine months later (allowing for a date or two), I arrived.
My father rose to international stardom with the film “Love Story” in the early 1970s, dominating the entire decade with stellar performances in movies like “What’s Up, Doc?”, “Paper Moon”, “Barry Lyndon”, “A Bridge Too Far”, “The Main Event”, and “The Driver”.
He remains a true legend of Hollywood. That’s unquestionable.
Following the announcement, former co-star and former partner Barbra Streisand paid tribute. She wrote on X, previously known as Twitter: ‘I’m deeply saddened by the news of Ryan O’Neal’s passing. We collaborated on two films, “What’s Up, Doc?” and “The Main Event”. He was witty, delightful, and will be remembered.’
The US actors’ union Sag-Aftra also expressed its sorrow at O’Neal’s passing. He had been a member of the union since 1959.
‘A respected performer, he commenced his career in “Peyton Place”, subsequently achieving success in the film industry with movies such as “Love Story” and “What’s Up Doc?”‘, their statement conveyed.
The Hollywood star – whose birth name was Charles Patrick Ryan O’Neal – initially trained as an amateur boxer before venturing into acting in 1960.
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
His breakthrough came in 1964 when he secured the role of Rodney Harrington in the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place.
O’Neal gained prominence for his 1970s film roles, notably in movies like Paper Moon, where he starred alongside his daughter, Tatum O’Neal.
The esteemed actor collaborated with renowned stars, including Streisand in What’s Up, Doc and Marisa Berenson in Barry Lyndon.
Furthermore, O’Neal earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in 1970 for his performance in Love Story.
In this romantic thriller, he portrays Oliver, who falls in love with and marries his friend Jennifer (Ali MacGraw).
Despite opposition from Oliver’s father, the couple’s love deepens in the face of challenges.
In his personal life, O’Neal had a well-publicised relationship with Farrah Fawcett, the Charlie’s Angels actress, who was previously married to Lee Majors from The Six Million Dollar Man.
Although they dated from 1979 until 1997, they never married. However, during this time, they had a son named Redmond.
Farrah passed away in 2009 after battling cancer.
O’Neal also had romantic relationships with notable figures such as Bianca Jagger, Dame Joan Collins, and Diana Ross.
He is survived by four children and five grandchildren.
