Ryan O’Neal, the actor most known for his roles in Love Story and Paper Moon, passed away on Friday (December 8th) at the age of 82. His son, Patrick, announced the news via Instagram.
“So this is the toughest thing I’ve ever had to say but here we go. My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us,” Patrick wrote. Listing his father’s accomplishments, he added, “He is a Hollywood legend. Full stop.”
O’Neal starred on Peyton Place in the 1960s, where he met Patrick’s mom, Leigh Taylor-Young. According to People, he shared two children, Tatum and Griffin, with his first wife, Joanna Moore. He also shared a son named Redmond with Farrah Fawcett.
Tatum starred in Paper Moon alongside her father and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 10 in 1974 for the role. The pair didn’t speak for 20 years, according to USA Today, due to the “deep resentment” she once said he had for her regarding this win. “I feel great sorrow with my father’s passing,” Tatum told People after his death. “He meant the world to me. I loved him very much and know he loved me too. I’ll miss him forever, and I feel very lucky that we ended on such good terms.”
O’Neal’s other roles include What’s Up Doc?, The Main Event, Barry Lyndon, and A Bridge Too Far. His former lover and costar, Barbra Streisand, took to Instagram on Friday (December 8th) to honor him. “So sad to hear the news of Ryan O’Neal’s passing,” she wrote alongside an old black-and-white photo of herself with O’Neal. “We made two films together, What’s Up, Doc? and The Main Event. He was funny and charming, and he will be remembered.”
