Love Story actor Ryan O’Neal died of heart failure, his death certificate has shown.
The 82-year-old suffered from cardiomyopathy – a disease of the heart muscle – and passed away in a California hospital on December 8.
O’Neal suffered from heart disease for years and had survived two bouts of cancer.
A friend said: ‘Ryan’s lifestyle caught up with him. He spent years partying and all those drugs weakened his heart. It’s amazing he lasted as long as he did.’
Cardiomyopathy causes a thickening of the heart wall and causes the muscle to weaken.
Love Story actor Ryan O’Neal died of heart failure at the age of 82, his death certificate shows
O’Neal was in a 30-year on-off relationship with Charlie’s Angels star Farrah Fawcett until her death in 2009
O’Neal was best known for his movies in the 1970s which included Paper Moon, alongside his daughter Tatum, 60, who became the youngest person ever to win an Oscar, aged ten.
He starred with Barbra Streisand in What’s Up Doc? and featured in 1970 tearjerker Love Story about a wealthy student who falls for a working-class girl.
The actor was more famous for his off-screen antics.
O’Neal starred opposite Barbra Streisand in boxing comedy The Main Event in 1979, as well as What’s Up Doc? in 1972
He was in a 30-year on-off relationship with Charlie’s Angels star Farrah Fawcett until her death in 2009.
O’Neal had three sons, Patrick, 56, Griffin, 59, and Redmond, 38 – his child with Ms Fawcett.
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