After enduring congestive heart failure, prostate cancer, and leukemia, Ryan OβNeal died on December 8, 2023, at the age of 82. OβNeal is well-known for his famous parts in Barry Lyndon and Love Story, but his personal life was tainted by scandals, especially his tumultuous connection with actress Farrah Fawcett.
His two other children, Griffin and Tatum OβNeal, did not attend his burial, and his son Redmond was not present since he was in a state hospital. After a violent argument, Griffin, who has been separated from his father for 17 years, disclosed that he was not invited. Griffin had hoped to attend and bid farewell despite their tense relationship. But in the late 2000s, Tatum made amends with her father and expressed grief over his death.
Only about 25 people attended the tiny memorial service at Westwood Memorial Park, where Ryan was buried next to Farrah, granting him his desire to remain close to her. His choice was controversial, though, with some people saying it deviated from Farrahβs last desires. Friends upheld Ryan and Farrahβs intense love in spite of the problems.
In an outspoken defense of his fatherβs legacy, Ryanβs son Patrick OβNeal has criticized individuals who disparage him and even criticized his fatherβs exclusion from the Emmys tribute segment earlier that year. Ryan was eventually recognized in the βIn Memoriamβ tribute at the 2024 Emmys.
