(Los Angeles) American actor Ryan O’Neal, known for his roles in Stanley Kubrick’s films Love Story and Barry Lyndon, died Friday at the age of 82, his son announced.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say, but it is what it is. My father passed away peacefully today,” Patrick O’Neal shared on Instagram.
Ryan O’Neal made a name for himself in 1970 with Love Story, a romance where he played a Harvard law student who becomes infatuated with a young girl forced to work in the library to pay for his studies. The role earned him an Oscar nomination.
Subsequently, he was notably hired by Stanley Kubrick for his Barry Lyndon in 1975, a social satire exploring the mores of the 18th century.
The actor was also known for his tumultuous relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett (Funny Ladies), which spanned several decades. She died of cancer in 2009, the same day as Michael Jackson.
After the death of the actress, he was at the center of a dispute concerning a portrait of Farrah Fawcett signed Andy Warhol, claimed by the University of Texas. After a legal battle, a California court recognized in 2013 that he was the owner.
The actor had previously had other run-ins with the law. In 2009, he was ordered to an 18-month drug treatment program after police arrested him and his son Redmond and found methamphetamine at their Malibu home.
