Ryan O'Neal
ActingAbout Ryan O'Neal
Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal (April 20, 1941 – December 8, 2023) was an American actor and former boxer. O'Neal trained as an amateur boxer before beginning his career in acting in 1960. In 1964, he landed the role of Rodney Harrington on the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place. The series was an instant hit and boosted O'Neal's career. He later found success in films, most notably Love Story (1970), for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as Best Actor, Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up, Doc? (1972) and Paper Moon (1973), Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1975), Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far (1977), and Walter Hill's The Driver (1978). From 2005 to 2017, he had a recurring role in the Fox TV series Bones as Max, the father of the show's protagonist.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Ryan O'Neal reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 49 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Ryan O'Neal's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 29% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Ryan O'Neal remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Barry Lyndon, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Ryan O'Neal Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Ryan O'Neal's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Ryan O'Neal.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | My Best Friend's Famous | Himself | Flop | Similar → |
| 2019 | This Is Farrah Fawcett | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2018 | Filmworker | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Knight of Cups | Ryan | Average | Similar → |
| 2015 | Unity | Narrator (voice) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Kubrick Remembered | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Slumber Party Slaughter | William O'Toole | Flop | Similar → |
| 2009 | Farrah's Story | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | Malibu's Most Wanted | Bill Gluckman | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | Gentleman B. | Phil, Bank Manager | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | People I Know | Cary Launer | Flop | Similar → |
| 2001 | Epoch | Allen Lysander | Flop | Similar → |
| 2000 | The List | Richard Miller | Flop | Similar → |
| 1999 | Coming Soon | Dick | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn | James Edmunds | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Zero Effect | Gregory Stark | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Sink Or Swim | Dr. Applefield | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | Playboy: Farrah Fawcett, All of Me | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Faithful | Jack Connor | Flop | Similar → |
| 1995 | Man of the House | Man with Kite (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1992 | The Man Upstairs | Mooney Polaski | Flop | Similar → |
| 1989 | Small Sacrifices | Lew Lewiston | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Chances Are | Philip Train | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Sam Found Out: A Triple Play | Pimp | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | Tough Guys Don't Dance | Tim Madden | Flop | Similar → |
| 1985 | Fever Pitch | Taggart | Flop | Similar → |
| 1984 | Irreconcilable Differences | Albert Brodsky | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | James Bond: The First 21 Years | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Partners | Sgt. Benson | Flop | Similar → |
| 1981 | So Fine | Bobby Fine | Flop | Similar → |
| 1981 | Green Ice | Joseph Wiley | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Circle of Two | Theatre Patron (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Main Event | Eddie "Kid Natural" Scanlon | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | Oliver's Story | Oliver Barrett IV | Flop | Similar → |
| 1978 | The Driver | The Driver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | A Bridge Too Far | Brig. Gen. James M. Gavin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Nickelodeon | Leo Harrigan | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | Barry Lyndon | Barry Lyndon | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Paper Moon | Moses Pray | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Thief Who Came to Dinner | Webster McGee | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | What's Up, Doc? | Howard Bannister | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Screwball Comedies... Remember Them? | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | Wild Rovers | Frank Post | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Love Hate Love | Russ Emery | Flop | Similar → |
| 1971 | Mean Justice | Tal Garrett | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Love Story | Oliver Barrett IV | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Games | Scott Reynolds | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Big Bounce | Jack Ryan | Flop | Similar → |
Ryan O'Neal - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Ryan O'Neal?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ryan O'Neal is "Barry Lyndon" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Ryan O'Neal acted in?
Ryan O'Neal has been featured in at least 49 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Ryan O'Neal?
Other notable films include "Paper Moon", "Small Sacrifices", and "Unity".