Griffin O'Neal

Last updated
Griffin O'Neal
Born
Griffin Patrick O'Neal

(1964-10-28) October 28, 1964 (age 59)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1976–1992
Spouses
Rima Uranga
​
​
(m. 1989;div. 1991)​
JoAnna Berry
​
​
(m. 2008)​
Children4
Parent(s) Ryan O'Neal
Joanna Moore
Relatives Tatum O'Neal (sister)
Patrick O'Neal (half-brother)

Griffin Patrick O'Neal (born October 28, 1964) is an American actor. He has appeared in films such as The Escape Artist , April Fool's Day , The Wraith , Assault of the Killer Bimbos , and Ghoulies III .

Contents

Early life and career

O'Neal was born in Los Angeles to actor Ryan O'Neal and his first wife, actress Joanna Moore (born Dorothy Joanne Cook). [1] He has an older sister, Tatum O'Neal, and two younger half brothers, Patrick O'Neal and Redmond O'Neal. His grandfather was novelist and screenwriter Charles "Blackie" O'Neal. [2] His paternal ancestry is Irish, English, and Ashkenazi Jewish. [3]

Early in his childhood, O'Neal and his sister lived with their mother in squalid conditions. Their mother struggled with drug and alcohol addiction while they were in her care. [4] She eventually lost custody of them. [5]

Griffin O'Neal appeared in 11 movies between 1976 and 1992. Several of these were TV movies or films released directly to video. [6] Film critic Vincent Canby of the New York Times wrote in 1982 that Griffin O'Neal "shares with his sister a natural screen presence." [7] Likewise, film critic Leonard Maltin wrote that Griffin O'Neal has a "pleasing screen presence". [8]

O'Neal was cast in Francis Ford Coppola's 1987 film Gardens of Stone , but he asked to be replaced after he caused a boating accident that killed Coppola's son Gian-Carlo. [9]

Personal life

Griffin left Los Angeles in 2007 and moved to a small town near the Mexico border. [5]

Marriages

O'Neal married his first wife Rima Uranga in 1989; they divorced in 1991. [10] They have a daughter together. He has been married to Joanna Berry since 2008.

Substance abuse and relationship with Ryan O'Neal

O'Neal was estranged from his father Ryan O'Neal. They had a volatile relationship since his childhood. O'Neal's struggle with addiction began when he was 9 years old. [5] He told People magazine, "My life has been a reign of drug and alcohol degradation. I had to self-medicate my entire life because there was pain everywhere. There were drugs everywhere in my family all day, every day." [5] He claims that his family's problems stemmed from his father, who gave him cocaine at the age of 11. [11] "He was a very abusive, narcissistic psychopath. He gets so mad he can't control anything he's doing," O'Neal said. [11]

In 1983, O'Neal reported to authorities that his father punched out two of his front teeth, but he decided not to press charges. [12]

In 2007, Ryan O'Neal was arrested for assault after shooting at Griffin during a dispute. [13] Prosecutors decided not to file charges. [14] "The last time I saw my dad, he shot at me because I was trying to help his son [Redmond] get sober, so I haven't talked to him in nine years," he told People in 2015. [5]

O'Neal was banned by his father from attending the funeral services for Farrah Fawcett, the mother of his half-brother Redmond O'Neal, in 2009. [11]

O'Neal was reportedly three years sober in 2015. [5]

In 1986, Griffin O'Neal had a boating accident in Annapolis, Maryland, that took the life of film producer Gian-Carlo Coppola. [15] O'Neal, who was piloting the boat, tried to pass between two other boats, unaware that they were connected by a towline. O'Neal barely had time to duck, but Coppola was struck by the towline and killed. [16] O'Neal was convicted of negligently operating a boat, and later received an 18-day jail sentence for not completing community service. [17] [18] In 1987, Francis Ford Coppola sued O'Neal and seven others for negligence. [19]

O'Neal was arrested multiple times for driving under the influence. [5] He pleaded no contest to a drunk driving charge in 1989. [13] He also pleaded no contest in 1992 to charges that he shot at his estranged girlfriend's unoccupied car. [13]

In August 2011, O'Neal collided with another car while driving. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison for driving under the influence of drugs in connection with that incident. [20]

In January 2012, O'Neal was arrested for domestic battery after he pushed his wife out of the way in an attempt to drink and drive. [21] [22]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976 Nickelodeon Bicycle Boy
1982 The Escape Artist Danny Masters
1983 Hadley's Rebellion Hadley Hickman
1986 The Children of Times Square RickTV movie
1986 April Fool's Day Skip
1986 The Wraith Oggie Fisher
1988 Assault of the Killer Bimbos Troy
1989Night ChildrenBlade
1989 Jesse Hawkes Cpl. StevensEpisode: "The Centurians"
1990Return to JusticeBo Johnson
1991 Ghoulies Go to College BlaneAlternate title: Ghoulies III
1992SoulmatesBrian

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan O'Neal</span> American actor (1941–2023)

Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal was an American actor. Born in Los Angeles, he trained as an amateur boxer before beginning a career in acting in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leif Garrett</span> American actor and singer (born 1961)

Leif Garrett is an American actor, singer, and television personality. He worked as a child actor, then in the 1970s became famous as a teen idol in music. He later received much publicity for his drug abuse and legal troubles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farrah Fawcett</span> American actress (1947–2009)

Farrah Leni Fawcett was an American actress. A four-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee and six-time Golden Globe Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she played a starring role in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Sizemore</span> American actor (1961–2023)

Thomas Edward Sizemore Jr. was an American actor. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he started his career with supporting appearances in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Lock Up (1989), and Blue Steel (1990). These appearances led to more prominent roles in films like Passenger 57 (1992), True Romance (1993), Striking Distance (1993), Natural Born Killers (1994), Strange Days (1995), Heat (1995), and The Relic (1997).

<i>The Bad News Bears</i> 1976 film by Michael Ritchie

The Bad News Bears is a 1976 American sports comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie and written by Bill Lancaster. It stars Walter Matthau as an alcoholic ex-baseball pitcher who becomes a coach for a youth baseball team known as the Bears. Alongside Matthau, the film's cast includes Tatum O'Neal, Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten, Ben Piazza, Jackie Earle Haley, and Alfred W. Lutter. Its score, composed by Jerry Fielding, adapts the principal themes of Bizet's opera Carmen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tatum O'Neal</span> American actress (born 1963)

Tatum Beatrice O'Neal is an American actress. At the age of 10, she became the youngest person ever to win a competitive Academy Award, for her performance as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon co-starring her father, Ryan O'Neal. She later starred in the films The Bad News Bears, Nickelodeon, and Little Darlings, and appeared in guest roles in the television series Sex and the City, 8 Simple Rules, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Bridges</span> American actor (born 1965)

Todd Anthony Bridges is an American actor. He portrayed Willis Jackson on the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and had a recurring role as Monk on the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. Bridges worked as a commentator on the television series TruTV Presents: World's Dumbest... from 2008 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Renfro</span> American actor (1982–2008)

Brad Barron Renfro was an American actor. He made his film debut at age 11 with a starring role in The Client (1994). Renfro went on to appear in 21 feature films and won several awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Robin Kelly</span> American actress (1970–2013)

Lisa Robin Kelly was an American actress. She was best known for her role as Laurie Forman on the TV series That '70s Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Douglas</span> American actor and stand-up comedian

Eric Anthony Douglas was an American actor and stand-up comedian. Douglas was the youngest son of actor Kirk Douglas and his second wife Anne Buydens. His half brother was actor and producer Michael Douglas. Douglas pursued a career in show business but did not attain the same level of success as his father and siblings. His career was overshadowed by his numerous run-ins with the law and problems with alcohol and drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Clinton Jr.</span> American actor and musician, half brother of former President Bill Clinton

Roger Cassidy Clinton is an American actor and musician. He is primarily known for being the younger half-brother of former United States President Bill Clinton.

<i>Paper Moon</i> (film) 1973 film by Peter Bogdanovich

Paper Moon is a 1973 American road comedy-drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and released by Paramount Pictures. Screenwriter Alvin Sargent adapted the script from the 1971 novel Addie Pray by Joe David Brown. The film, shot in black-and-white, is set in Kansas and Missouri during the Great Depression. It stars the real-life father and daughter pairing of Ryan and Tatum O'Neal as protagonists Moses and Addie.

<i>Nickelodeon</i> (film) 1976 film by Peter Bogdanovich

Nickelodeon is a 1976 American comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and stars Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds and Tatum O'Neal. According to Bogdanovich, the film was based on true stories told to him by silent film directors Allan Dwan and Raoul Walsh. It was entered into the 27th Berlin International Film Festival.

<i>High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell</i> 1995 American film

High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell is a 1995 American documentary film directed by Richard Farrell, Maryann DeLeo and Jon Alpert. It was a co-production of HBO and DCTV, produced by Farrell, DeLeo, and Alpert. It aired on HBO as part of its series America Undercover. The documentary takes place about 20 miles northwest of Boston in the economically depressed former mill city of Lowell, Massachusetts.

Charles Eldridge O'Neal was an American film and television screenwriter and novelist.

Patrick O'Neal is an American sportscaster and occasional actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gian-Carlo Coppola</span> American film producer and actor (1963–1986)

Gian-Carlo Coppola was an American film producer and actor. He was the oldest child of set decorator/artist Eleanor Coppola and film director Francis Ford Coppola, and brother to screenwriter/producer Roman Coppola and director Sofia Coppola.

<i>The Champ</i> (1979 film) Remake by Franco Zeffirelli

The Champ is a 1979 American neo noir drama sports film directed by Franco Zeffirelli and a remake of the 1931 Academy Award-winning film of the same name directed by King Vidor. It stars Jon Voight as Billy Flynn, a former boxer who attempts to support his son and reconcile with his ex-wife by fighting in the ring again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanna Moore</span> American actress (1934–1997)

Joanna Moore was an American film and television actress, who, between 1956 and 1976, appeared in 17 feature films and guest-starred in nearly a hundred television series episodes. After 1976, personal problems derailed her career and she landed only two minor film roles.

<i>Ryan and Tatum: The ONeals</i> American TV series or program

Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals is an American reality television show aired between June and August 2011 on the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. The series focused on actors Ryan and Tatum O'Neal and a reconciliation process the two began in an effort to redevelop their father/daughter relationship after twenty-five years.

References

  1. ↑ O'Neal, Tatum (2004). A Paper Life . Harper Entertainment. p.  14. ISBN   0-06-054097-4.
  2. ↑ O'Neal, Tatum (2004). A Paper Life . Harper Entertainment. p.  82. ISBN   0-06-054097-4.
  3. ↑ Profile, familysearch.org; accessed June 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ Baker, Steven; Effron, Lauren (June 14, 2011). "Tatum O'Neal Talks About Her Drug Abuse, Chaotic Childhood and Forgiving Estranged Father". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Liz, McNeil (May 30, 2015). "Griffin O'Neal: 'My Whole Family Has Been Destroyed to Smithereens From Addiction and Alcoholism'". People.
  6. ↑ Kleinbaum, Josh, O'Neal Woes: Redmond Arrested, Griffin Injured, NBC San Diego, 3 August 2011
  7. ↑ Canby, Vincent. The Escape Artist (1982): GRIFFIN O'NEAL (TATUM'S BROTHER) IN 'THE ESCAPE ARTIST', The New York Times (May 28, 1982).
  8. ↑ Maltin, Leonard. Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide, page 418 (Penguin, 2008).
  9. ↑ Cowie, Peter. Coppola: a biography, pg. 208 (Da Capo Press, 1994)
  10. ↑ "In Vegas, Vowing He Has Changed His Wild Ways, Griffin O'neal Takes the Plunge into Marriage". People. July 17, 1989.
  11. 1 2 3 Bennetts, Leslie (September 2009). "Beautiful People, Ugly Choices". Vanity Fair.
  12. ↑ "Griffin O'Neal has decided not to pursue assault charges..." UPI. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  13. 1 2 3 Silverstein, Stuart (February 5, 2007). "Actor Ryan O'Neal is arrested in assault case". Los Angeles Times.
  14. ↑ "Assault case against actor Ryan O'Neal dismissed". Reuters. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  15. ↑ Coppola's Son Killed, O'Neal's Injured , United Press International via The Los Angeles Times (27 May 1986).
  16. ↑ O'Neal, Tatum (2004). A Paper Life . Harper Entertainment. p.  158. ISBN   0-06-054097-4.
  17. ↑ Grossberg, Josh. "911 Calls Released in O'Neal Case", E! News (February 6, 2007), via Archive.org.
  18. ↑ Associated Press, "Ryan O'Neal accused of assaulting his son", The Independent, February 5, 2007.
  19. ↑ "Coppola sues O'neal and seven others over son's death". UPI. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  20. ↑ "Griffin O'Neal To Serve 16 Months For DUI, Crash", ABC10/10News.com, February 3, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Bench warrant issued for Griffin O'Neal when he fails to show up for sentencing on DUI crash case". cbs8.com. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  22. ↑ "Griffin O'Neal, son of Ryan O'Neal, faces domestic-battery charges". Los Angeles Times. January 6, 2012.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.