Ryan O’Neal’s final days—A Hollywood icon’s quiet goodbye marked by family rift
The Oscar-nominated actor’s last photos reflect his painful decline, but his legacy lives on through love, heartbreak, and controversy.
Hollywood legend Ryan O’Neal died in December 2023 after a long battle with leukemia and prostate cancer. Despite his fame, his final farewell was surprisingly quiet — and filled with personal heartbreak.
Ryan O’Neal wasn’t just a movie star — he was the heartthrob of the 1970s. He became a household name after starring in the romantic drama Love Story, earning an Oscar nomination for his performance. Later, he wowed audiences in Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, solidifying his status as a leading man with talent and charm.
But O’Neal’s final photos showed a very different man — frail, tired, and clearly suffering from years of illness. On December 8, 2023, at 82 years old, he passed away from congestive heart failure.
Though the world mourned the beloved actor, his farewell was not what many expected.
A quiet ceremony, with notable absences
O’Neal’s funeral was held at Westwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, a resting place for many stars. Only about 25 people attended the small, private memorial. Despite his Hollywood fame, the ceremony was surprisingly low-key — and heartbreakingly missing three of his four children.
Redmond O’Neal, Ryan’s son with longtime partner Farrah Fawcett, couldn’t attend. He’s currently confined in a California state hospital, battling severe mental illness and addiction. Redmond has schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. His relationship with his father had been rocky for years, despite Ryan’s promise to Farrah to care for him.
Even more surprising was the absence of Griffin and Tatum O’Neal, Ryan’s children with actress Joanna Moore.
Family turmoil runs deep
Griffin O’Neal, Ryan’s eldest son, shared with the New York Post that he drove 2,000 miles to attend his father’s funeral — only to discover he hadn’t been invited. The two hadn’t spoken in 17 years, following a violent altercation in 2007. Griffin described his father as “the hated son who told the truth,” revealing deep pain and years of unresolved conflict.
Tatum O’Neal, Ryan’s Oscar-winning daughter, was also missing. Yet, unlike Griffin, she had recently reconciled with her father. After a stroke in 2020, Tatum reconnected with Ryan, even visiting him for his 82nd birthday in April 2023. In a public statement after his death, she said, “He meant the world to me… I’ll miss him forever.”
The only child present at the funeral was Patrick O’Neal, a sportscaster who had grown close to his dad in Ryan’s final years. Patrick organized the funeral and later defended his father’s legacy on social media.
Laid to rest beside Farrah Fawcett
Ryan O’Neal was buried next to Farrah Fawcett, the Charlie’s Angels icon and his longtime love. Their decades-long relationship had its ups and downs, but they stayed connected until Farrah’s death from cancer in 2009.
In fact, Ryan proposed to her on her deathbed — though she passed before the ceremony could take place. After her death, he made it clear that he wanted to be buried beside her. Half of her gravestone had even been left blank, awaiting his name.
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Still, some close to Farrah questioned whether this was truly her wish. Her former college boyfriend Greg Lott accused O’Neal of controlling her final days and going against her desire for a private cremation, not a public grave.
But others, like longtime friend Alana Stewart, defended O’Neal. “They loved each other deeply. It had its dark moments, but it was a great love story,” she said.
A final battle for recognition
Even after death, Ryan O’Neal’s name stirred emotion. His son Patrick called out the Television Academy when Ryan was left out of the Emmys’ In Memoriam segment in early 2024. Furious and heartbroken, Patrick said the snub dishonored his father’s long television career.
Months later, Ryan was finally included during the September Emmy broadcast. Patrick thanked the Academy, posting a tribute to his dad’s early TV role as Rodney Harrington on Peyton Place.
Ryan O’Neal’s life was filled with triumph and tragedy, fame and family fractures. He played the romantic hero on screen, but off-screen, he struggled to hold his family together. Still, in his final days, he found peace with his daughter Tatum and eternal rest beside Farrah Fawcett.
For all the controversy, one truth remains: Ryan O’Neal left a lasting impact on Hollywood — and on the people who loved him, flaws and all.
