“Love Story” star Ryan O’Neal dies at 82
American actor Ryan O’Neal, known specifically for his roles in the films “Love Story” and “Barry Lyndon” directed by Stanley Kubrick, died on Friday, at the age of 82, his son announced.
Patrick O’Neill explained on Instagram: “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say, but this is the reality. My father passed away peacefully today.”
Ryan O’Neal made a name for himself in 1970 with Love Story, a romantic film in which he played a Harvard law student who falls in love with a young woman who is forced to work in a library to pay for her studies. This role earned him an Oscar nomination.
Ryan O’Neal was subsequently chosen by Stanley Kubrick to star in his 1975 film Barry Lyndon, a social satire exploring 18th century mores.
Relationships of O’Neill and Farrah Fawcett
O’Neal was also known for his turbulent, decades-long relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett. The actress died of cancer on June 25, 2009, the day Michael Jackson died.
After the actress’s death, O’Neill was at the center of a dispute over a portrait of Farrah Fawcett signed by Andy Warhol and claimed by the University of Texas. After a legal battle, in 2013 a California court recognized him as the owner.
O’Neill had previously had other problems with the law. In 2009, he was sentenced to undergo an 18-month drug treatment program, after police arrested him and his son Redmond and found methamphetamine in their Malibu home.
(AFP)
