Ryan O'Neal is a fascinating Hollywood actor - a pretty boy, the darling of the gossip columns in his hey day, and something of a joke now, a hard-drinking, hard-partying womaniser who looks like the boy next door, the head of a truly messed up family, an old lech, a long-time has been.
He became nationally famous with Peyton Place and technically a film star with Love Story. He reached the top of the A list with two Peter Bogdanovich hits, What's Up Doc? and Paper Moon; the latter also made a star of his daughter, Tatum.
O'Neal's luck ran out with a series of films that should have been successful/artistically fulfilling but which failed to make the grade:
* Barry Lyndon (1975) - playing the title role for Kubrick
* Nickelodeon (1976) - working for Bogdanovich on a comedy about silent movies
* The Driver (1978) - an exciting action film
* Oliver's Story (1978) - a sequel to Love Story.
All were surprising commercial disappointments.
He had a hit again with The Main Event but then found himself mostly in comedies, of decreasing appeal, including So Fine and the entertaining Irreconcilable Differences. He hasn't been a film star since the late 80s but his personal life gets him attention.
What happened to Ryan O'Neal? He was pretty, not that good an actor, really more of a girl's guy than a guy's guy... they don't tend to have long careers as stars. (The longest stars are liked by men and women.)
It's a shame he didn't try again with Bogdanovich and Streisand; I'm glad Barry Lyndon's reputation has risen in recent years. He was going to make The Bodyguard with Diana Ross... maybe that could have turned around. Or The Champ, which he turned down to do Oliver's Story. He seems to have been smart and charming and willing to take a punt on a newer director - Bogdanovich, Andrew Bergman, Walter Hill - or an artier film - Kubrick. But the sand ran out for him.
I think he shouldn't have walked off The Champ - he was ideal casting. He should've fought harder to get in The Thorn Birds - he would've been good in that role. Both were melodramas, in his wheelhouse. He may have clanked in The Bodyguard. I think he should've tried to make another film with Bogdanovich.
But who knows?
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