Ryan O'Neal Biography

Fast Facts

• Won third place at the Laurel Awards for Best Dramatic Performance by a Male for "Love Story" in 1971
• Won Best Foreign Actor at the David di Donatello Awards for "Love Story" in 1970
• Trained to be a professional boxer, competing in two Golden Gloves championships in Los Angeles in which he faired fairly well
• Quote: "The only time I ever had steady employment was in 'Peyton Place․' Once I was in control of my destiny, I found it very difficult․"
• After he and his son Redmond were arrested for possession of methamphetamines in 2009, he pleaded guilty to the charges and agreed to enter an 18-month drug deferment program
• His role on "Peyton Place" earned him a place in the public eye
• Tends to play comic characters who are inept at what they are trying to do
• Wrote a book called "Both of Us: My Life with Farrah" about his long-term relationship with Farrah Fawcett from their youthful optimism to her death via cancer
• Started out his acting career as a stunt man on a German television series
• Was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, which went into remission before he announced that he had also been diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer