Ryan O’Neal fought two types of cancer until his passing in December 2023. After a long struggle with leukemia and prostate cancer, the actor died at 82 due to congestive heart failure. In his final photos, it was clear that his health had significantly declined. Once a charismatic heartthrob, O’Neal looked frail in his last days.
During his career, O’Neal became famous for his roles in Love Story and Barry Lyndon. He was a favorite leading man in Hollywood and admired by many for his charm and talent. His personal life, however, was often in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, especially his turbulent relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett.
In 1985, O’Neal and Fawcett had a son, Redmond. However, Redmond, now 38, did not attend his father’s funeral. At the time of the burial, he was serving time in a California state hospital. Redmond has faced ongoing struggles with addiction and mental health issues, which have led to multiple stints in custody.
O’Neal’s family had a strained relationship, and several of his children were not at the funeral. Griffin O’Neal, from O’Neal’s first marriage, wasn’t even invited. Griffin revealed he drove 2,000 miles to attend but found out the service had been delayed until after Christmas. Despite their troubled history, he wanted to say goodbye.
The small service, which took place at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, was organized by Patrick O’Neal, Ryan’s son from his second marriage. While only a few people attended, Tatum O’Neal, Ryan’s daughter, was also absent. She and her father had reconciled before his death, which made her loss feel particularly poignant.
After the ceremony, Ryan O’Neal was buried next to Farrah Fawcett. Despite controversies around their relationship and her burial, their graves now share a headstone. Patrick O’Neal has defended his father, speaking out against those who criticized Ryan after his death. He also expressed frustration when his father was left out of the Emmys memorial tribute, but later saw him honored in 2024.