1. Both genuine athletes. Burt was a college football star. Ryan boxed most of his life.
2. Both became famous quite quick although only for a short time. Within a few years, Burt had Riverboat, Ryan had Empire.
3. Both became famous on TV shows. Burt on Gunsmoke, Ryan on Peyton Place.
4. Both had leads in a series of flops. Burt had more, a decade's worth, but Ryan had The Big Bounce and The Game.
5. Overnight success. Ryan first in Love Story but in Deliverance and White Lightning.
6. Peter Bogdanovich. Ryan had a strong association - three films plus playing the director in Irreconciliable Differences. But Burt had two, one with Ryan.
7. Made "safe" movies that backfired. Ryan had his early 80s dud streak of comedies. Burt had one a few years later with his flop 80s car films.
8. Late 80s unsuccessful attempt to change image. Ryan O'Neal tried and failed with Fever Pitch adn Tough Guys Don't Dance. Burt tried it with Heat, Malone, etc.
9. A long period as a non star. Ryan's was longer but then Burt was a bigger star and would've hurt more.
10. Never really came back. Burt Reynolds threatened to more often with Evening Shade and Boodie Nights but could never consolidate. Neither coul Ryan O'Neal despite Bones.
The two men were different in a lot of ways of course - Burt was a bigger star, Ryan never had a Hal Needham or turned director.But still thought was worth noting.
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