Ryan O'Neal (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Ryan O'Neal is an American actor and born to an acting mother and a father who was a screenwriter and an actor.
O'Neal's family of acting extends to his brother Kevin as well, who is an actor and screenwriter.
In Ryan's early years he became a Golden Gloves contender.
O'Neal appeared in guest roles on TV series that included The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Bachelor Father, Leave It to Beaver, Westinghouse Playhouse and Wagon Train.
In 1961, he and Leonard Nimoy guest starred in the episode "Doctor's Orders" on the syndicated western series Two Faces West.
In 1962-1963, O'Neal was a regular on NBC's Empire, another western. He played 21-year-old rancher's son Tal Garrett. On October 3, 1962, a week after the premiere of Empire, O'Neal guest starred in the premiere episode of the ABC's Our Man Higgins, starring Stanley Holloway.
O'Neal gained enormous popularity from 1964-1966 on the hit prime time ABC soap opera Peyton Place (with fellow newcomer Mia Farrow).
O'Neal's film career took off beginning with his role in Love Story (1970), earning a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor. In 1973, he was #2 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? (with Barbra Streisand, 1972); following were Paper Moon (with daughter Tatum O'Neal in an Oscar-winning role, 1973), and Nickelodeon (1976, again with Tatum).
Other films of the 1970s included Barry Lyndon (directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1975), Oliver's Story (1978, a sequel to Love Story), and the car chase film The Driver (also '78).
O'Neal returned to TV in the short-lived CBS series Good Sports (1991, with companion Farrah Fawcett), and as a recurring character on Fox's Bones (2007-2008).
Ryan O'Neal opened up to People magazine saying (about Farrah),
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 June 2009 Ryan O'Neal asked Farrah Fawcett to marry him. This time she said yes (apparently he asked her before). O'Neal said the wedding would happen "as soon as she can say yes", but no ceremony could take place, as Farrah died on June 25, 2009. Alana Stewart recorded Farrah's real life story.
Maybe Ryan, one day again, will continue his acting - time will tell.
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