Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal is an American actor born in Los Angeles. Before starting his acting career in 1960, he trained as an amateur boxer.
April 20, 1941: Birth of Ryan O'Neal
Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal was born on April 20, 1941 in Los Angeles, California.
1960: Start of Acting Career
Ryan O'Neal began his acting career in 1960 after working as an extra and stuntman on the show "Tales of the Vikings". His first television appearance was on an episode of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" this same year.
1961: Guest Starring Roles
Ryan O'Neal continued to make guest appearances on various television shows in 1961, including "Leave It to Beaver".
1963: Return to Guest Starring Roles
After "Empire" ended, Ryan O'Neal returned to guest-starring on various television series, including "Perry Mason" and "Wagon Train".
1963: Marriage to Joanna Moore
Ryan O'Neal married actress Joanna Moore in 1963. They had two children together.
1964: Breakthrough Role in "Peyton Place"
Ryan O'Neal's career got a significant boost in 1964 when he landed the role of Rodney Harrington in the popular ABC nighttime soap opera "Peyton Place".
1966: Separation and Custody Battle
O'Neal and Moore separated in 1966. Moore's struggles with addiction led to O'Neal gaining custody of their children.
1969: First Lead Role in "The Big Bounce"
In 1969, Ryan O'Neal landed his first lead role in a feature film with "The Big Bounce", based on the Elmore Leonard novel.
1970: Critical Acclaim for "Love Story"
Ryan O'Neal received critical acclaim and international recognition in 1970 for his performance as Oliver Barrett IV in the romantic drama "Love Story". His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.
1971: Television Movie and Western
Between the production and release of "Love Story", Ryan O'Neal appeared in the well-received TV movie "Love Hate Love" and the Western "Wild Rovers" alongside William Holden.
1972: Starring in "The Thief Who Came to Dinner"
Ryan O'Neal starred alongside Jacqueline Bisset and Warren Oates in the comedic caper film "The Thief Who Came to Dinner" in 1972.
1972: Box Office Success with "What's Up, Doc?"
Ryan O'Neal starred opposite Barbra Streisand in the screwball comedy "What's Up, Doc?" directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The film was a major commercial success, becoming the third-highest-grossing film of 1972.
1973: "Paper Moon" and Continued Success
In 1973, Ryan O'Neal starred alongside his daughter, Tatum O'Neal, in the critically acclaimed film "Paper Moon". He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his performance.
1973: Marriage to Leigh Taylor-Young and Divorce
O'Neal entered into his second marriage with actress Leigh Taylor-Young, his co-star in "Peyton Place," and they had a son. The couple divorced in 1973 but remained friends. Taylor-Young later commented on O'Neal's character, acknowledging his flaws while affirming his inherent goodness.
1974: Withdrawal from "Deadly Honeymoon"
Ryan O'Neal was set to star in "Deadly Honeymoon", based on a novel by Lawrence Block, but he withdrew from the project in 1974.
1975: Starring in Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon"
Ryan O'Neal portrayed the titular character in Stanley Kubrick's historical drama "Barry Lyndon" in 1975. While the film received seven Academy Award nominations, it was a box office disappointment at the time and received mixed critical reviews.
1976: Starring in "Nickelodeon"
Ryan O'Neal appeared in the screwball comedy "Nickelodeon" alongside Burt Reynolds and his daughter, Tatum O'Neal, in 1976. Despite a strong cast and director Peter Bogdanovich at the helm, the film was a box office disappointment.
1977: Role in "A Bridge Too Far"
In 1977, Ryan O'Neal had a supporting role as General James Gavin in the star-studded war film "A Bridge Too Far".
1978: Seeking Recognition and Missed Opportunities
By 1978, O'Neal expressed a desire for greater recognition as a serious actor. A planned project, "The Bodyguard," with Diana Ross and John Boorman, fell through and wouldn't be made until 1992 with Kevin Costner in O'Neal's intended role.
1978: O'Neal's Career Decisions
In 1978, Ryan O'Neal declined a significant sum to reprise his role in the "Love Story" sequel, opting instead for the car-chase film "The Driver." Despite its international success, the film failed to resonate with U.S. audiences.
1978: Starring in "The Driver"
Ryan O'Neal starred in the action thriller film "The Driver" directed by Walter Hill in 1978.
1979: The Main Event and The Contender
In 1979, O'Neal reunited with Barbra Streisand for the successful comedy "The Main Event." He also ventured into producing with a documentary about boxing, titled "The Contender."
1979: The Champ and Oliver's Story
In 1979, O'Neal withdrew from "The Champ" due to a casting disagreement with director Franco Zeffirelli. He eventually agreed to "Oliver's Story" after a script rewrite, but the film disappointed at the box office.
1979: Relationship with Farrah Fawcett
Ryan O'Neal began a relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett in 1979.
1980: Public Perception of O'Neal
A 1980 profile provided insights into the public's view of Ryan O'Neal at that time.
1981: Career Challenges and Personal Reflections
In 1981, O'Neal starred in the British thriller "Green Ice." Despite being his highest-paying role at that point, the film faced production issues and bombed at the box office. He also had a cameo in his daughter's film, "Circle of Two," alongside Richard Burton, who offered career advice.
1982: Comedic Roles and Public Image
O'Neal shifted towards comedic roles in the early 1980s, starring in "So Fine" and the controversial comedy "Partners."
1984: Irreconcilable Differences and Public Scrutiny
In 1984, O'Neal portrayed a film director in "Irreconcilable Differences," a role that mirrored aspects of his personal life. A profile from that year highlighted his constant presence in the tabloids, drawing comparisons to both Billy Martin and Rocky Marciano.
1985: Career Reflections and New Directions
By 1985, O'Neal expressed regrets about some of his career choices, attributing them in part to financial obligations and his agent's encouragement to work continuously.
1985: Reflecting on "Barry Lyndon"
By 1985, Ryan O'Neal expressed mixed feelings about "Barry Lyndon", stating that while the film was "all right," Kubrick significantly altered the picture during the editing process.
1987: Unconventional Roles and Box Office Flops
In 1985, O'Neal took on the role of a sportswriter in Richard Brooks' final film, "Fever Pitch." He further deviated from his usual roles in Norman Mailer's "Tough Guys Don't Dance" (1987). Both films were critical and commercial failures.
1988: Television Appearances
O'Neal appeared in a Liza Minnelli TV special, "Sam Found Out: A Triple Play," in 1988.
1989: Starring in "Chances Are"
Ryan O'Neal starred in the romantic comedy "Chances Are" alongside Cybill Shepherd and Robert Downey Jr. in 1989.
1989: Return to Television and Collaboration with Farrah Fawcett
In 1989, O'Neal appeared in the romantic comedy "Chances Are" and returned to television alongside Farrah Fawcett in "Small Sacrifices."
1991: Good Sports Series
O'Neal and Fawcett co-starred in the short-lived CBS series "Good Sports," which ran for 15 episodes in 1991.
1992: The Bodyguard Release
"The Bodyguard," a film O'Neal was once slated to star in, was finally released in 1992 with Kevin Costner in the lead role.
1992: The Man Upstairs
O'Neal starred opposite Katharine Hepburn in the TV movie "The Man Upstairs" in 1992.
1995: Man of the House Cameo
He made a cameo appearance in Farrah Fawcett's film "Man of the House" in 1995.
1996: Faithful and Director's Perspective
In 1996, O'Neal had a well-received role in "Faithful" alongside Cher, directed by Paul Mazursky, who later shared his perspective on O'Neal's talent.
1997: Supporting Roles and Independent Films
O'Neal took on supporting roles in films like "Hacks" (1997) and "An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn" (1998) while also leading in independent films such as "Zero Effect" (1999) and "The List" (2000).
1997: Separation
The couple's relationship, marked by O'Neal's infidelity and volatile behavior, ended in 1997.
1998: An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn
O'Neal starred in "An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn" in 1998.
1999: Zero Effect
He had a leading role in the independent film "Zero Effect" in 1999.
2000: The List
O'Neal had a top billing in the film "The List" in 2000.
2001: Television and Film Roles
He appeared in the TV series "Bull" and the film "Epoch" in 2001.
2001: Reconciliation
O'Neal and Fawcett reconciled in 2001.
2001: Leukemia Diagnosis
Ryan O'Neal was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in 2001.
2002: Collaborations and Supporting Roles
O'Neal acted alongside Al Pacino in "People I Know" and appeared in "Gentleman B." in 2002.
2003: Malibu's Most Wanted and Miss Match
He was in the film "Malibu's Most Wanted" and had a regular role in the TV series "Miss Match" in 2003.
2005: Recurring Role on "Bones"
From 2005 to 2017, Ryan O'Neal had a recurring role as Max Keenan, the father of the protagonist, in the Fox television series "Bones".
2007: Arrest and Charges
Ryan O'Neal was arrested in 2007 for allegedly shooting at his son, Griffin O'Neal. He claimed self-defense, and the charges were eventually dropped.
2008: Drug Arrest
Both Ryan and Redmond O'Neal were arrested for drug possession at their Malibu residence in 2008.
2009: Real Estate Success
By 2009, O'Neal revealed his significant financial success in real estate.
2009: Farrah Fawcett's Funeral
Following Farrah Fawcett's death in 2009, Ryan O'Neal prevented his longtime partner's son, Griffin, from attending the funeral. O'Neal also made headlines for mistakenly hitting on his daughter, Tatum, at the funeral, not recognizing her.
2009: Farrah Fawcett's Death
Their relationship continued until Fawcett's death in 2009.
2011: Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals
In 2011, O'Neal and his daughter, Tatum, participated in a docuseries for the Oprah Winfrey Network titled "Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals." The series aimed to mend their strained relationship but ultimately had a negative impact.
2011: Book Publication and TV Show
Tatum and Ryan O'Neal published a book together and subsequently appeared on a television show titled "Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals" in 2011.
April 2012: Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
In April 2012, Ryan O'Neal shared that he had received a diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer, later clarifying that it was stage 2.
2012: Slumber Party Slaughter
He appeared in the film "Slumber Party Slaughter" in 2012.
2014: Anjelica Huston Publishes Memoir
In 2014, Anjelica Huston released her memoir, in which she alleged that Ryan O'Neal had been physically abusive towards her during their relationship.
2015: Knight of Cups
O'Neal had a small role in the film "Knight of Cups" in 2015.
2015: Redmond O'Neal Imprisoned
Redmond O'Neal's probation was revoked in 2015, leading to a three-year sentence in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
2016: Love Letters Stage Production
In 2016, O'Neal reunited with "Love Story" co-star Ali MacGraw for a stage production of A.R. Gurney's play "Love Letters."
February 2017: Recurring Role in Bones
O'Neal had a recurring role in the TV series "Bones" from seasons 2 to 12, with his final episode airing in February 2017.
2018: Attempted Murder and Robbery Charge
Redmond O'Neal was arrested and charged with attempted murder, robbery, assault, and drug possession in 2018 following an alleged attempt to rob a convenience store in Santa Monica.
February 2021: Hollywood Walk of Fame
O'Neal and Ali MacGraw received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2021, nearly five decades after the release of "Love Story."
December 8, 2023: Death of Ryan O'Neal
Ryan O'Neal passed away on December 8, 2023.