Ryan O’Neal

Before becoming an actor, Ryan O’Neal trained as a professional boxer and competed in two Golden Gloves championships that took place in his native Los Angeles. He then went on to star in award-winning Hollywood films, which include Paper Moon (1973), Barry Lyndon (1975), and Irreconcilable Differences (1984). O’Neal’s acting style is versatile, as he has starred in myriad films ranging from historical dramas to comedies. Hollywood success is a family affair for Mr. O’Neal since he is the father of Tatum O’Neal, the youngest person to win an Oscar. 

What many people do not know about Ryan O’Neal is that he lived in Germany in the 1950s while his father was a writer for Radio Free Europe. In 1969, O’Neal debuted in the feature film The Big Bounce, which paved the way for a fulfilling career of acting opportunities. O’Neal exercised patience and skill as an actor, especially for his role as the protagonist in Barry Lyndon, directed by the perfectionist and taskmaster Stanley Kubrick. At times, Kubrick would instruct the actors to perform 150 takes for one simple shot. Kubrick also spent two days with O’Neal in an effort to perfect a scene. In spite of the tedious process, O’Neal maintained his composure throughout the shoot because he had a suspicion that he was involved in the making of a masterpiece.

In addition to his acting career, O'Neal has endured a tumultuous love life. His first marriage with actress Joanna Moore resulted in two children, Tatum and Griffin. In 1979, O'Neal fell in love with actress Farrah Fawcett. This romance fascinated fans and tabloids as both O'Neal and Fawcett were involved with dramatic personal lives on top of their acting roles. He describes Fawcett as his "soulmate" and details his relationship with her in a book entitled Both of Us. Hayes Autographs has obtained an 8x10 signed photograph of Ryan O’Neal for $35. Signed with a black sharpie, this historic headshot is a tribute to O’Neal’s multifaceted portrayals on the silver screen.