Only the older generation remembers the impression the film “Love Story” made in 1970 made an impression. Against the backdrop of hippy movements, student riots, sexual revolution and triumphant permissiveness, this beautiful film about true love that is undergoing death made an impression no less than the famous “Man and Woman”.
Ninth of a hundred best
But it is there, abroad, and we were the first to receive the divine melody from this film by composer Francis Leah. Without exaggeration, everyone sang it. And despite the fact that we didn’t have a movie at the box office, movie lovers knew the names of the actors and the director. Eli McGraw and Ryan O'Neill played the main roles in the film, which entered the hundred best films about love for 100 years of cinema. The whole cast was exactly right, but the main pair was so good, looked so organic and played so naturally that in 1971 both were awarded the Italian David Di Donatello Prize as the best foreign actors.
Many film critics believed that Eli McGraw and Ryan O'Neill played modern Romeo and Juliet, and the more honorable the prize received in the homeland of these heroes.
A story not tarnished over the years
The popularity of the film is evidenced by the fact that the relatively small budget of the picture (2.2 million) paid off 48 times. Residents of Russia were able to see this film when VCRs appeared, that is, after a while, but still it looked in one breath and did not lose its dignity. The fact that the story told in it still excites people is evidenced by the fact that in the modern box office it takes 32nd place. And this is the main merit of the actors who play the main roles. Ryan O'Neill starred in 54 films. The peak of his work and the most significant work is considered the role of Barry Lyndon in the film of the same name by Stanley Kubrick, released in 1975. However, “The Love Story” nevertheless brought him world fame.
Birth and the first years of life
O'Neill was born in a family of filmmakers - the mother of Patricia O'Callaghen in the 30s of the last century was extremely popular. His father, Charles O'Neill, was also directly involved in the cinema, he was a very famous screenwriter. Brother is now a popular screenwriter and actor. April 20, 1941 in Los Angeles, was born Ryan O'Neill.
But since his grandfather was Irish, and his grandmother was a Baltic Jew (this is considered to be the Russian root for some reason), and they did not live with their parents, the boy had to travel a lot at an early age and spend part of his childhood in Germany.
Youth and first work in the cinema
He traveled in his youth, worked as a lifeguard, was actively involved in sports. For two consecutive years, in 1956 and 1957, he won the Los Angeles boxing champion title. Ryan received a decent education - he graduated from a very prestigious university. The first film in which O'Neill starred was called The Tales of the Vikings. Since the 50s, he began to look for jobs in TV series, and in the "Empire" was already filmed on an ongoing basis. The first glory was brought to him by the series 1964-1969 Peyton Place. The role of Rodney Harrington made him incredibly popular in America. He appeared in all 452 episodes. A very young Mia Farrow became his partner in this television show, which was loved by the audience.
Years of True Glory
In large cinema, his first major work was his role in the film "The Great Theft" of 1969 and in the film "Games" of 1970. The same year brought him nominations for Oscars and Golden Globes. It should be noted that in the above-mentioned rating of American cinema, which lists the 100 best films about love, where “Love Story” was entered at number 9, the film “What's the matter, doc?” Occupies the 68th line. The main role was played by Ryan O'Neill. Films follow one after another, and in 1973 he falls on the second line in the ranking of the most profitable actors. The first place went to Clint Eastwood. There were very interesting works with the director Peter Bogdanovich. Another nomination for the Golden Globe was brought to him by the comedy Genius Scams.
Wives and children
But since 1988, the actor has increasingly become nominated for Golden Raspberries - a prize given for the worst performance of roles. In the footsteps of his father went all the children of Ryan. He has four of them from different wives. The first wife of Ryan O'Neill was actress Joanna Cook Moore. In this short marriage (4 years), the famous actor had two children - Tatum and Griffin. The rare photo below shows Ryan O'Neill with his wife Joanna Moore and children Tatum and Griffin.
Married to actress Lee Taylor Young, the son of Patrick was born. A little later, another son was born, Raymond, this time from an extramarital affair with actress Farrah Fassett, with whom he lived 17 years - from 1980 to 1997.
Faithful girlfriend and talented daughter
After the second divorce, Ryan O'Neill had numerous novels. But when in 2001 he became seriously ill with blood cancer, Farrah Fassett was next to him and helped him in everything.
And they have a lot of joint photos. Perhaps thanks to her help, the actor overcame a serious illness.
The most popular of Ryan’s children on the cinematic path was his daughter Tatum O'Neill, known as the youngest actress to receive an Academy Award. She received this high award from the American Film Academy at the age of 10, having starred with her father in the famous film “Paper Moon”. Ryan O'Neill himself for the role of a visiting swindler was nominated for the Golden Globe Award. With her daughter, Ryan starred in two more films. He starred with his brother and mother.
Not cinematic fame
It’s not a movie that connects Ryan with his son Griffin, but a criminal investigation. In 2007, a police call came from Ryan O'Neill's neighbors and found a 65-year-old actor with a gun in his hand attacking his son. No one was hurt, Griffin's girlfriend escaped with minor injuries. The actor was arrested and released only on bail of 25 thousand British pounds . Nobody knows what happened there, as members of the stellar family did not utter a word about what happened.
Ryan O'Neill is certainly an talented actor, by the 90s of the last century he became little in demand, only occasionally he appeared in the series, the last of which was the film "Bones", released in 2005 (prize for the worst male role) . As noted above, the filmography of the actor has 54 films, which are simply impossible to describe in a short article.