Ryan O’Neal

O’Neal in 2011, photo by PrPhotos

Birth Name: Charles Patrick Ryan O’Neal

Date of Birth: April 20, 1941

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Death: December 8, 2023

Place of Death: Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – Irish, some English
*mother – one half Irish, one half Ashkenazi Jewish

Ryan O’Neal was an American actor and boxer. He is known for starring as Oliver Barrett IV in Love Story (1970), one of the highest-grossing films of the 1970s. He also starred in the films Wild Rovers, What’s Up, Doc?, The Thief Who Came to Dinner, Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, A Bridge Too Far, The Driver (1978), the sequel Oliver’s Story, The Main Event, So Fine, Irreconcilable Differences, Fever Pitch (1985), Tough Guys Don’t Dance, Chances Are, Faithful, People I Know, and Malibu’s Most Wanted, and on the shows Peyton Place and Bones.

Ryan was the son of Charles Eldridge “Blackie” O’Neal, a novelist and screenwriter for film and television, and Patricia Ruth O’Callaghan, an actress. His brother, Kevin O’Neal, was an actor and screenwriter.

Ryan’s father had Irish, and possibly some English, ancestry. Ryan’s maternal grandfather was Irish, and Ryan’s maternal grandmother was Jewish, of German Jewish and Polish Jewish descent. Ryan’s mother’s first husband, Richard La Pan, was a Russian Jewish immigrant.

Ryan had four children, actors Tatum O’Neal and Griffin O’Neal, with his former wife, actress Joanna Moore; actor and sportscaster Patrick O’Neal, with his former wife, actress Leigh Taylor-Young; and Redmond, with his long-time partner, actress Farrah Fawcett. Ryan’s son Patrick O’Neal has two children with actress Rebecca De Mornay.

Ryan’s paternal grandfather was Charles Samuel O’Neal (the son of Samuel David O’Neal and Margaret/Marguretta Emily Crowley). Charles was born in South Carolina. Ryan’s great-grandfather Samuel was the son of Irish parents, Griffin O’Neal and Katherine/Catherine Tedder Barfield. Margaret was the daughter of William Crowley and Sarah Tyner.

Ryan’s paternal grandmother was named Elizabeth Maude Duffey/Belton. Elizabeth was born in Mallinger, Ireland.

Ryan’s maternal grandfather was named Richard Edward O’Callaghan/Callahan. Richard was born in Ireland.

Ryan’s maternal grandmother was Mathilde “Tillie” Pius (the daughter of Gustave/Gustav “George” Piakowsky/Pius and Rebecca “Regina” Iglick). Mathilde was born in New York. Gustave was a German Jewish emigrant, born in Sieradz, Poland, the son of Moses Pius and Esther/Ester. Ryan’s great-grandmother Rebecca was born in Schrimm, now Srem, Poland, to a Jewish family. Rebecca was the daughter of Simon Iglik/Iglick (the son of Moses Iglik/Iglick and Rifka/Rebecca) and Dore Adam (the daughter of Schmul Adam and Reisel).

Sources: Genealogy of Ryan O’Neal – https://www.geni.com

Marriage record of Ryan’s parents – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Ryan O’Neal (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

Ryan’s paternal great-grandparents, Samuel David O’Neal and Margaret/Marguretta Emily Crowley, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Ryan’s mother – https://www.familysearch.org

Marriage records of Ryan’s maternal grandparents, Richard Edward O’Callaghan/Callahan and Mathilde “Tillie” Pius – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org

Ryan’s maternal grandparents, Richard Edward O’Callaghan/Callahan and Mathilde “Tillie” Pius, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Ryan’s maternal grandmother, Mathilde “Tillie” Pius, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org