Ryan O’Neal fought two forms of cancer to the end.

Following his death in 2023, Hollywood mourned a famous actor, but his own son did not attend the burial.

Ryan O’Neal, 82, died on December 8, 2023, following a protracted fight with leukemia and prostate cancer. The cause of death was congestive heart failure. The final photographs of O’Neal revealed that his health had deteriorated substantially. The once-vibrant performer, renowned for his charm and charisma, seemed pale and tired.

The award-winning actor rose to prominence as the ideal leading man in classic films such as Stanley Kubrick’s historical epic Barry Lyndon and the heartbreaking Love Story. In his prime, he was a true heartthrob, captivating audiences and garnering the admiration of women worldwide.

However, scandal frequently overshadowed his private life, particularly his turbulent connection with actress Farrah Fawcett. For those who don’t remember, Farrah was a groundbreaking figure in the 1970s, representing a new type of sex symbol that inspired both young boys and girls.

While guys were enamored with her attractiveness, girls wanted to mimic her trademark style. In the 1980s, she demonstrated she was more than simply a lovely face by demonstrating her acting abilities.

Redmond James Fawcett O’Neal, Ryan and Farrah’s son, was born in 1985. However, Redmond was noticeably absent from the service during Ryan’s burial. This was probably not surprising given that the 38-year-old was confined in a state hospital in California at the time of his father’s funeral.

Redmond Fawcett O’Neal has battled alcohol and drug addiction throughout his life. He also has health problems such as bipolar disease, schizophrenia, and antisocial personality disorder.

These issues have resulted in repeated incarcerations and a protracted stint in a mental health facility. Ryan O’Neal promised Farrah Fawcett on her deathbed that he would care for Redmond, but their relationship deteriorated to the point where Redmond refused to visit his father throughout his treatment.

The situation was in sharp contrast to the conditions surrounding Redmond’s mother, Farrah, who died in 2009.

Redmond was at her bedside in chains at the time. He also attended her burial under the same conditions.

Many people understood Redmond’s absence at the burial, but it was distressing to learn that two of his other children were also absent from the 82-year-old star’s short memorial service at Westwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

One of O’Neal’s sons, Griffin O’Neal, said that he was not even invited to the wedding.

“I am the dreaded son who spoke the truth. There have been bad periods in this household.” Love means never having to say you’re sorry, which Ryan never did to anyone,” he explained.

Griffin, O’Neal’s son from his previous marriage to Joanna Moore, told the New York Post that he drove 2,000 miles from Houston, Texas, to attend the funeral ceremony.

However, upon arrival, he discovered that the service would not take place until the weekend after Christmas.

“I wasn’t even invited to send him off,” Griffin O’Neal told The Post.

Griffin said he and his father hadn’t communicated in 17 years. Their relationship ended following a violent confrontation in 2007 at Ryan O’Neal’s Malibu house, in which Griffin reportedly slammed a fireplace poker at his father as Ryan leveled a revolver at him. “I could have hit him, but I missed,” O’Neal said.

Despite his background, Griffin wanted to say farewell to his father. That feeling was not shared by his brother, Patrick O’Neal, 57, a Los Angeles sportscaster who had become close to their father in recent years.

Patrick coordinated the funeral, according to The Post.

Only approximately 25 people attended the memorial ceremony, including Patrick’s mother, actress Leigh Taylor-Young (79), and Ryan’s second wife. Given Ryan O’Neal’s impact on Hollywood history, one may anticipate his memorial ceremony to be a lavish occasion.

Tatum O’Neal, Ryan’s daughter from his marriage to actress Joanna Moore, was also not there, according to The New York Post. Their tangled connection dated back several years.

“I am a hopeless father. I’m not sure why.” I don’t believe I was meant to be a father,” O’Neal told Vanity Fair in 2009.

Fortunately, Ryan and Tatum reconnected in the late 2000s, following a 20-year estrangement and years of struggle.

Tatum reunited with her father twice after he suffered a stroke caused by a heroin overdose in 2020, including a trip to Malibu for his birthday in April 2023. It appears that they became closer just before Ryan’s death.

“I feel great sorrow with my father’s passing,” Tatum said in a statement following his death.

“He meant everything to me. I loved him a lot, and I know he loved me as well. I will mourn him forever, and I consider myself extremely fortunate that we parted ways on such excellent terms,” Tatum concluded.

According to the Daily Mail, the brief service took place inside the chapel of the celebrity-heavy Westwood Memorial Park Cemetery.

Following the funeral, O’Neal’s redwood-colored casket was transported to his final resting place alongside his long-time partner, Farrah Fawcett.

Following Farrah’s death, O’Neal openly expressed his remorse over their connection. He thought he didn’t spend enough time with her.

Despite their differences, the two of them remained by each other’s side through thick and thin. Farrah cared for O’Neal after he was stricken with leukemia, and he remained at her side when she was facing anal cancer.

O’Neal desired to be buried close to the late actress in order to satisfy his yearning to have spent more time with her. In reality, half of Farrah’s huge gravestone has remained vacant since her death, awaiting the inclusion of Ryan O’Neal’s name.

However, like other aspects of their relationship, Farrah’s burial was not without controversy.

Greg Lott, Fawcett’s undergraduate lover from the University of Texas, came forward to accuse O’Neal of violating Farrah’s dying wishes.

“She never wanted a burial or a monument where people could come gawk at her,” Lott told the newspaper.

“Ryan created this narrative like it was this big love story, and they (Ryan and his lawyers) took over her life at the end, sedating her and forging documents.”

Craig Nevius, a friend of Farrah’s and producer of the 2005 reality TV show Chasing Farrah, had similar sentiments:

“I don’t think he had the authority to decide that she would be buried and he would be later with her — but that’s clearly what he did,” Nevius told the reporter.

“It’s been strange to see her name at the top of this large gravestone and nothing at the bottom. My assumption is that his name will appear shortly, along with the phrase ‘Love Story.'”

However, this did not occur; Love Story is not etched on the gravestone. Instead, Farrah’s and Ryan’s names are inscribed there, along with their dates.

And any claims that Ryan and his colleagues coerced anything through have been categorically denied. Alana Stewart, 79, Rod Stewart’s ex-wife and a lifelong friend of Farrah, disputed allegations that O’Neal exploited her or overstated their connection.

“He and Farrah loved each other deeply,” Stewart told The Post.

“She died in his arms, and she cared for him when he had leukemia. I regarded their love as an inspiring love story. Indeed, their relationship was not without its challenges. Ryan may be unpredictable, but he could also be the kindest, most giving, and funniest person in the world.”

Ryan O’Neal’s son, Patrick, appears to be on a mission to protect his father, claiming that no one will be able to destroy the actor’s reputation without penalties.

“If you choose to talk shit about my father, even if you have no idea what you’re talking about, you will be called out.” If you choose that way, I urge you to take a good look in the mirror first,” Patrick, a long-time sportscaster and current play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels, said on Instagram.

In September 2024, Patrick O’Neal slammed the Television Academy ahead of the Emmys on September 15.

“Tonight is the Emmys, and I have no faith that @televisionacad will recognize my father for the ‘in memoriam’ section. I’m a member of the academy, and despite my best efforts, they won’t tell me if this TV LEGEND will be on the show,” Patrick posted on Instagram.

“The TV Academy failed horribly when it did not reinstate him in January. I will not be watching the performance but rather having a nice birthday supper with my lovely wife, Summer.”

Earlier in January, Patrick’s father was left out of the memorial tribute.

“Wasn’t watching the #Emmys, but someone told me they left my dad out of the ‘in memoriam,'” Patrick said on X, previously Twitter. “I wish I didn’t know right now, but I’d have found out. Sadness and anger are a debilitating combination.”

However, in September of this year, Patrick was finally able to witness his father honored.

“Thank you, Television Academy, for putting my father in the ‘in memoriam’ part. I’m showing a young Ryan just as he was starting his long-running TV career as an actor. He actually enjoyed acting on television, and Rodney Harrington, as Ryan O’Neal, would remark something smart with complete modesty.”