Tatum O'Neal's strength - acting

August 3, 8:52 PMActing ExaminerDeborah Smith Ford

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  Tatum O'Neal                                                                 (Photo/tvguide)

Tatum O'Neal, daughter of actor Ryan O'Neal, is an actress best known for her film work as a child actress in the 1970s.  Paper Moon was her film debut.

O'Neal's acting career slowed down as she became busy being wife and mother to John McEnroe and their children.

Although O'Neal did appear in five films during the next 15 years. One notable role of hers was in Basquiat (1996).

O'Neal began acting more frequently at the turn of the century and has even made guest appearances in a variety of TV shows. 

She's appeared on Sex and the City, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, and Law and Order: Criminal Intent.  O'Neal, in 2005, began protraying Maggie Gavin on the firehouse drama series Rescue Me. 

Then in early 2006 O'Neal participated in the second season of ABC's reality series Dancing with the Stars and then went on to do a commentary for the series on Entertainment Tonight. 2006 to 2007 she starred in Wicked Wicked Games, and appeared in the film My Brother (2007).

Most recently, June 2009, O'Neal was in the side lights, when her stepmother, Farrach Fawcett died.  According to sources she and her dad had been on the outs for years, and then even at Fawcett's funeral there was another "problem." 

With our without famly support, Tatum O'Neal will hopefully maintain her career as an actress, falling back on her strengths - and acting is one of them.  Her fans are behind her, remember, she was the youngest, (10), to receive an Academy Award!