O’Neal’s personal life was far less glamorous. His tumultuous, decades-long relationship with Farrah Fawcett fascinated the public, and their son, Redmond, faced lifelong struggles with addiction and severe mental health issues. In 2023, Redmond was confined to a state hospital and declined to see his father. He had also been shackled when visiting Farrah during her final days in 2009.

Family fractures were evident at Ryan’s small funeral at Westwood Memorial Park Cemetery. Redmond wasn’t the only child missing — Griffin O’Neal said he wasn’t invited, calling himself “the hated son who told the truth.” Though estranged for 17 years, he still traveled from Texas hoping to say goodbye, only to discover the memorial was scheduled later. Tatum O’Neal, whose relationship with her father had long been strained, was also absent, though the two had reconciled before his death.

Ryan was buried beside Farrah, a choice that sparked its own controversy, with some friends claiming it went against her wishes. Others defended him, insisting their love was complicated but genuine. Despite a fractured family and mixed legacy, Ryan O’Neal remains remembered as a major Hollywood figure whose impact endures beyond the turmoil that surrounded him.