Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal, better known as Ryan O'Neal, is an American
television and film actor. O'Neal trained as an amateur boxer
before beginning his career in acting in 1960. In 1964, he landed the role of
Rodney Harrington on the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place. The series was
an instant hit and boosted O'Neal's career. He later found success in films,
most notably Love Story, for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe
nominations as Best Actor, What's Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, Stanley Kubrick's
Barry Lyndon, and A Bridge Too Far. Since 2007, he has had a recurring role
in the TV series Bones. Early life
Ryan O'Neal was born in Los Angeles, California, the eldest son of actress
Patricia Ruth Olga and novelist/screenwriter Charles O'Neal.
His father was of Irish and English descent, while his mother was of
paternal Irish and maternal Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. His brother, Kevin, is
an actor and screenwriter. Ryan O'Neal attended University High
School, and trained there to become a Golden Gloves boxer. During the late
1950s, his father, "Blackie" O'Neal, had a job writing on a television series
called Citizen Soldier, and moved the family to Munich, Germany, where Ryan
attended Munich American High School. Career
= TV roles and early work= O'Neal appeared in guest roles on series
that included The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Leave It to Beaver, Bachelor
Father, Westinghouse Playhouse, Perry Mason and Wagon Train. From 1962 to
1963, he was a regular on NBC's Empire, another modern day western, where he
played "Tal Garrett". From 1964 to 1969, he was a regular on Peyton Place playing
Rodney Harrington, the turbulent love interest of Mia Farrow's Alison
Mackenzie, parts which launched both into stardom.
= Feature film success= O'Neal's film career took off beginning
with his role in Love Story, earning a nomination for an Academy Award for Best
Actor. In 1973, he was number two in the annual Top Ten Box Office Stars, behind
Clint Eastwood. He starred in a series of films for
director Peter Bogdanovich, beginning with the screwball comedy What's Up,
Doc?; following were Paper Moon; and Nickelodeon. Other films of the 1970s
included Barry Lyndon; A Bridge Too Far; Oliver's Story; and the car-chase film
The Driver. = Later career=
His film career faded by the end of the 1970s. His one time agent Sue Mengers
later said of the decline: I never figured it out myself. It was
hard to cast Ryan—he was too beautiful—and I think a lot of men were
jealous of him. Ryan was very cocky, self-confident, very masculine, and
gorgeous, and he had every beautiful girl in the world going out with him. It
didn’t make him popular with his male contemporaries; he never became pals
with the guys who were in the center of things then.
He starred as a character loosely based on director Bogdanovich in
Irreconcilable Differences. He returned to TV in the short-lived CBS series Good
Sports, and as a recurring character on Fox's Bones.
In 2011, Ryan and Tatum attempted to restore their broken father/daughter
relationship after 25 years. Their reunion and reconciliation process was
captured in the Oprah Winfrey Network series, Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals.
Personal life = Relationships and family=
O'Neal was in a long-term relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett until her
death in 2009. He was previously married to actresses Joanna Moore and Leigh
Taylor-Young; both marriages ended in divorce. He has four children: Tatum
O'Neal and Griffin O'Neal, Patrick O'Neal and Redmond James Fawcett O'Neal
with Fawcett. In her 2014 memoir, Anjelica Huston claimed that O'Neal
physically abused her when they were in a relationship.
For several years, Ryan was estranged from his elder three children, Patrick,
Griffin, and Tatum. However, in 2011, Tatum reconciled with her father with a
book and a television show. On August 4, Ryan, Tatum and Patrick O'Neal appeared
on Redmond's court appearance on firearms and drug charges.
Ryan O'Neal has nine grandchildren, three from Tatum’s marriage to tennis
player John McEnroe, four from both of Griffin’s marriages, and two from
Patrick’s marriage to actress Rebecca De Mornay. He is a great-grandfather by his
estranged son, Griffin. = Health=
In 2001 he was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia. As of 2006, it is
in remission. After struggling with leukemia, O'Neal was frequently seen at
Fawcett's side when she was battling cancer. He told People magazine, "It's a
love story. I just don't know how to play this one. I won't know this world
without her. Cancer is an insidious enemy."
In April 2012, O'Neal revealed he had been diagnosed with stage IV prostate
cancer. He reported that it had been detected early enough to give a
prognosis of full recovery, although some doctors have questioned this
prognosis. Amateur boxing record
Based on various sources. Awards
= Wins= 1970 – Best Foreign Actor – David di
Donatello Awards for Love Story = Nominations=
1970 – Academy Award for Best Actor for Love Story
1971 – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Film for Love Story
1974 – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Film for Paper
Moon 1988 – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst
Actor for Tough Guys Don't Dance 2005 – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst
Razzie Loser of Our First 25 Years Filmography
Television Empire, "This Rugged Land"
The Virginian, "It Takes a Big Man" Perry Mason, "The Case of the Bountiful
Beauty" Gunsmoke, "The Warden 1 episode"
Peyton Place as Rodney Harrington Good Sports with Farrah Fawcett,
canceled after 9 episodes The Man Upstairs
1775, Bull, as Robert Roberts II, "Ditto"'s
father Miss Match, O'Neal starred as the father
of the lead character Desperate Housewives, O'Neal starred as
Rodney Scavo Bones, recurring role as "Max Keenan"
Grey's Anatomy, a patient in the episode 4)
90210, recurring role as Spence Montgomery, father of Teddy Montgomery
References External links
Ryan O'Neal at the Internet Movie Database
Ryan O'Neal at AllMovie Ryan O'Neal at the TCM Movie Database
Ryan O'Neal at TV Guide