Ryan O’Neal passed away on December 8, 2023, at the age of 82 after battling leukemia, prostate cancer, and congestive heart failure. Known for his iconic roles in Love Story and Barry Lyndon, O’Neal’s personal life was marred by scandals, particularly his turbulent relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett.

At his funeral, his son Redmond was absent due to being incarcerated in a state hospital, while two other children, Griffin and Tatum O’Neal, also did not attend. Griffin, estranged from his father for 17 years after a violent altercation, revealed he wasn’t invited. Despite their strained relationship, Griffin had hoped to attend and say goodbye. Tatum, however, reconciled with her father in the late 2000s and expressed sorrow after his passing.

The small memorial, held at Westwood Memorial Park, included just around 25 people, with Ryan being buried next to Farrah, fulfilling his wish to be near her. However, there was controversy surrounding his decision, with some claiming it went against Farrah’s final wishes. Despite the issues, friends defended the deep love between Ryan and Farrah.

Ryan’s son, Patrick O’Neal, has been vocal in defending his father’s legacy, criticizing those who tarnish his name and even taking issue with his father’s omission from the Emmys memorial segment earlier that year. Eventually, Ryan was honored in the 2024 Emmys “In Memoriam” tribute.