# Ryan O'Neal R.I.P **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2023, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316 "2023-12-08T22:57:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/21 "2023-12-09T21:27:18Z")
That’s why, at the end of “What’s Up Doc”, Streisand’s character says, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” O’Neal replies, “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” Kiss and end movie. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/22 "2023-12-09T22:29:49Z")
Word on Westerns premiered a interview with Ryan. Covers his entire career. Ryan had interesting comments about people he worked with. His memory was still very good. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y3fX8YazjCE/hqdefault.jpg "R.I.P. Ryan O'Neal (1941-2023). Exclusive. Ryan recalls his early years & an Oscar Disaster! AWOW!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3fX8YazjCE) ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/23 "2023-12-09T23:55:11Z")
His limited dramatic range was put to good use in _The Driver_ (1978). O’Neal’s one-note performance was enhanced with a paucity of dialogue. Along with the generic characterizations and template plot, this minimized the risk his acting might weaken the film’s tension or distract from the driving thrills. Re: _Rocky_ - According to Wikipedia, O’Neal had trained as an amateur boxer prior to his acting career. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/24 "2023-12-09T23:58:32Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I have to admit, I’ve never seen _Paper Moon_. Worth watching. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/25 "2023-12-10T00:17:29Z")
Still, hard to look at one of his movies and not imagine someone better cast. _Paper Moon_ - Martin Sheen, _Barry Lyndon_ - Malcolm “promise not to scratch your corneas this time” McDowell, _A Bridge too Far_ - Jeff (appropriately enough) Bridges, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/26 "2023-12-10T00:53:18Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > Re: _Rocky_ - According to Wikipedia, O’Neal had trained as an amateur boxer prior to his acting career. That may have made him a good boxer. It didn’t make him right for the role. UA also suggested James Caan for the lead in Rocky. That would have been better casting than Ryan O’Neal. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/27 "2023-12-10T01:01:56Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Still, hard to look at one of his movies and not imagine someone better cast. _Paper Moon_ - Martin Sheen, _Barry Lyndon_ - Malcolm “promise not to scratch your corneas this time” McDowell, _A Bridge too Far_ - Jeff (appropriately enough) Bridges, etc. IMHO, none of them would’ve done better with his signature ‘overwhelmed preppie’ role in Love Story; who do you see fielding that? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/28 "2023-12-10T01:10:22Z")
Never saw it, and probably never will. Since his only acting skill was knitting his eyebrows, I guess he was perfect ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/29 "2023-12-10T01:50:58Z")
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**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/30 "2023-12-10T02:46:30Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > A remake of Bringing Up Baby. Which I much preferred. Ryan O’Neal was never really great in anything I saw him in. RIP, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/31 "2023-12-10T03:05:03Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Worth watching Beside Ryan in IMO his only great performance\*, and non-actress daughter Tatum expertly stage-managed by Director Bogdanovich, Madeline Kahn is great in a small role, as is Burton Gilliam in a tiny part. - Although even here his range is limited. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/32 "2023-12-10T14:10:02Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > Ryan O’Neal dead at 82. [Oh man! Oh God! Oh man! Oh God! Oh man! Oh God! Oh man! Oh God!](https://youtu.be/Y9KyBdPeKHg) ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316/33 "2024-01-04T07:10:39Z")
I also know him primarily for his _Bones_ appearances. You know, I had completely forgotten that he played the client in _Zero Effect_ until I scanned his Wikipedia page. That was a fun little movie. It kind of snuck up on you with its low-key charm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ryan-oneal-r-i-p/994316.md?page=1)