(CNN) — Ryan O’Neal, the Oscar-nominated actor and star of several films such as “Love Story” and “Paper Moon,” passed away this Friday, his son Patrick confirmed, breaking the news on social media. O’Neill is said to be 82 years old.
“My father passed away peacefully today with his loving team supporting him and loving him as much as he loved us.” wrote Patrick O’Neill.
He added: “My father, Ryan O’Neill, was always my hero. I looked up to him and he was always bigger than life.”
O’Neill’s most notable role was in 1964 on the late-night soap opera “Peyton Place.”
After starring in several television shows throughout the 1960s, O’Neill made his indelible mark on film in 1970 with the adaptation of Erich Segal’s novel “Love Story,” in which he co-starred with Ali McGraw. The film tells the story of a wealthy Ivy Leaguer (Ryan O’Neill) who marries an outspoken and irreverent woman (McGraw) as he watches her die from a terminal illness. Among other things, O’Neill popularized the phrase “love means never having to forgive.”
The film was a huge success, introducing Ryan O’Neal as a classic leading man to Paramount Pictures (headed by McGraw’s then-husband Robert Evans), and earning him an Oscar nomination. However, the actor asked “What’s Up, Doc?” He also found success in the comedy starring Barbra Streisand in . and “main event.”
Ryan O’Neill later starred in a sequel to “Love Story” called “Oliver’s Story,” which failed at the box office.
The actor’s varied resume includes his daughter starring in “Paper Moon” with Tatum O’Neal, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress; as well as the period piece “Barry Lyndon” directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Off screen, O’Neill had a long relationship with actress and model Farrah Fawcett, which provided the tabloids with endless information. The relationship followed previous marriages to actresses Joanna Moore and Lee Taylor-Young.
Born in Los Angeles, O’Neill trained to become a professional boxer before returning to acting, appearing in several television westerns and eventually landing his regular role on “Peyton Place.”
O’Neal’s most recent appearances include recurring roles on the television shows “Bones” and “Pull,” and appearances on “Desperate Housewives” and the “90210” reboot.
CNN’s Brian Lowry contributed to this report.
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