Renowned Love Story actor, Ryan O'Neal, who was nominated for an Oscar, has passed away at 82, as confirmed by his son. He was most recognized for his role in the 1970's romantic drama, Love Story.
The cause of death wasn't disclosed by his family, however, O'Neal had been diagnosed with chronic leukemia in 2001 and prostate cancer in 2012.
He also took the lead in popular 1970s films such as What's Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, and A Bridge Too Far.
His son declared his dad as "an absolute icon of Hollywood. No question."
"Today, my father departed calmly with his affectionate group supporting him," Patrick O'Neal posted on Instagram on Friday.
He also mentioned that his dad had always been his idol.
O'Neal's handsome features served as a springboard, propelling him from TV soaps to film fame in the sentimental drama Love Story. He portrayed a well-to-do Harvard student who falls for a girl from a lower social class, a role brought to life by Ali MacGraw.
The American Film Institute ranks the film in the top 10 most romantic ever made.
He later played a lead role in the 1972 comedy film What's Up, Doc?, featuring Barbra Streisand. He teamed up with her once more for The Main Event in 1979.
"It's heartbreaking to learn about the death of Ryan O'Neal," Streisand shared on X, previously known as Twitter.
"She added, noting his humor and charisma, that he would always be in their memories."
In the 1973 road comedy-drama, Paper Moon, he portrayed a con artist during the Great Depression. He acted alongside his nine-year-old daughter, Tatum O'Neal, who took home an Oscar for her captivating supporting performance.
O'Neal also starred alongside a renowned ensemble in the 1977 war masterpiece, A Bridge Too Far, and in Barry Lyndon (1975), which was Stanley Kubrick's eagerly awaited sequel to A Clockwork Orange.
However, his fame diminished by the late 1970s and it was only his stormy private life that maintained his presence in the news.
In 1941, Los Angeles saw his birth to a mother who was involved in theatre acting and a father who was an author and scriptwriter.
O'Neal started practicing boxing while in school, building a remarkable body, prior to securing minor roles on TV.
He secured a role in Peyton Place, recognized as the first American prime-time soap opera. This part catapulted him to fame, and similar to his fellow actor Mia Farrow, he managed to transition to feature films.
He had two marriages: initially with an American actress named Joanna Moore, they had two kids together, one of them being Tatum. Later, he married Leigh Taylor-Young, an actress who won an Emmy, and they had a son named Patrick.
O'Neal was also recognized for his enduring, stormy love affair with the actress Farrah Fawcett. They were together from 1979 to 1997, and then reunited from 2001 until Fawcett passed away in 2009.
During a 2011 conversation with Piers Morgan, O'Neal confessed that viewing his movie Love Story again "actually distresses me".
"Farrah was taken from me by cancer, and I often question why it happened like that," said O'Neal.
During his homage to his dad, Patrick O'Neal expressed that his father was proficient in his profession, dedicatedly worked, and had a simple, pure love for acting.
"My dad was an incredibly generous person," he further explained. "He was also the funniest individual you could ever meet. Not to mention, he was undeniably good-looking and absolutely charming. A deadly combination indeed."
Patrick likewise honored Fawcett, his father's enduring sweetheart.
They find themselves together once more. Farrah and Ryan. His longing for her was immense. Imagine the intensity of their reunion hug. Reunited at last.
Associated Subjects
Further information on this narrative
O'Neal is allowed to retain Fawcett's portrait
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