obituary
Two romantic dramas made Ryan O’Neal famous: millions loved him in the role of Oliver in the film “Love Story”. In real life, his relationship with Farrah Fawcett made headlines. O’Neal has now died at the age of 82.
More than 50 years ago, “Love Story” conquered the cinemas of the world, a love story between the college student Oliver, played by Ryan O’Neal, and his great love Jennifer, played by Ali MacGraw, whom he marries against his father’s wishes.
“Love means never having to apologize,” is the famous quote from the film, which some cinema fans described as the ultimate romantic drama. 50 years later, in February 2021, MacGraw and O’Neal were honored with their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. O’Neal said with emotion that he had never dreamed of it:
I grew up in the Walk of Fame area, came here looking for trouble and girls. Who would have thought I would get a star? I thought I was more likely to end up in jail.
Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw in a scene from the film “Love Story” (1970).
Envious of her daughter’s Oscar
After “Love Story” came the film “Paper Moon” by Peter Bogdanovich, which also starred O’Neal’s daughter Tatum. His daughter won an Oscar for the film – at the age of ten – making her the youngest Oscar winner of all time. In her biography, she wrote that her father Ryan was jealous of her Oscar at the time – he even got violent.
A family feud between Tatum and her father continued to provide fodder for the tabloids. There were also arrests for drug possession and fights. In 2011, father and daughter officially reconciled. Not only family stories, but also many women’s stories occupied the tabloids.
Ryan O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett were together for 17 years.
“Love Story” with Farah Fawcett
He had two marriages, which resulted in three children. He had an on-off relationship with actress Farah Fawcett. When Fawcett was diagnosed with cancer, he said he wanted to marry her. But Fawcett, with whom he had been together for 17 years, died of complications from her illness just a week after his marriage proposal. Many fans were reminded of the fate of the couple from “Love Story”.
In recent years, O’Neal has been plagued by serious illnesses: leukemia and prostate cancer. His son Patrick confirmed his father’s death on Instagram. There he wrote: “Ryan was a very generous man who was always there to help those he loved for decades. Those same people are heartbroken today and will be heartbroken for a long time to come.”
Katharina Wilhelm, ARD Los Angeles, tagesschau, December 9th, 2023 12:01 a.m