Tatum O’Neal’s Dad Blamed Her for Farrah Fawcett’s Passing — She Found Strength to Forgive Reunited with Him Years after Rift

At the tender age of 10, Tatum O’Neal defied all expectations, triumphing as the youngest-ever Oscar winner for her outstanding performance in “Paper Moon.” Yet, beyond the glittering facade of stardom, a secret reality dwelled within her.

Tatum O’Neal’s childhood is a gripping tale of extraordinary circumstances. Even at a tender age, she faced a tumultuous journey that most people could hardly fathom.

Born to renowned actors Joanna Moore and Ryan O’Neal, Tatum burst onto the film set in 1973, captivating audiences with her exceptional talent in the film “Paper Moon,” which she shared with her father. At a mere 10 years old, the girl became the youngest winner ever of an Oscar in a competitive category, earning the esteemed title of Best Supporting Actress in 1974.

However, behind Tatum O’Neal’s rise to superstardom lay a hidden reality that few were aware of. While the world saw her shine in “Paper Moon,” the truth behind the scenes revealed the challenges faced by the young actress and those around her on set.

“A lot of those took 40 takes. I didn’t really read very well during the film. Everybody hated me… Pretty much,” O’Neill laughed.

In both “Paper Moon” and Tatum O’Neal’s subsequent acting venture, “The Bad News Bears,” she embodied tough, resilient children who seemed capable of conquering any challenge. However, the harsh realities of Tatum’s personal life remained a well-kept secret, unknown to those who admired her on the screen.

During her teenage years, Tatum basked in the glow of celebrity status, rubbing shoulders with renowned figures such as Cher and even finding herself romantically involved with the iconic Michael Jackson. Yet, the immense popularity she garnered proved to be a double-edged sword — a blessing intertwined with its fair share of challenges.

Behind Tatum O’Neal’s radiant smile lay a haunting tale of immense pain, a childhood overshadowed by hunger, neglect, and the unspeakable horrors of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.

In an honest interview with NBC News, O’Neal herself shared her tough experience,

“It’s just been a real struggle. And I’m glad I didn’t pass away and die.”

The tragic origins of Tatum O’Neal’s story can be traced back to her relationship with her mother, actress Joanna Moore, renowned for her role as the sheriff’s girlfriend on “The Andy Griffith Show.” However, behind the façade of fame, Joanna battled her own demons, grappling with addiction to alcohol and drugs — a struggle that intensified following her divorce from Tatum’s father, Ryan O’Neal.

“In the grip of addiction, she had virtually abandoned me and Griffin, leaving us in squalor — starving, shoeless, and ragged, as well as beaten and abused by the men in her life.”

In 1968, Moore made the difficult decision to relocate her two young children, 5-year-old Tatum and her younger brother Griffin, to an abandoned ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles. However, what awaited them within those walls was a living nightmare, where the innocent siblings became victims of various forms of abuse.

“In the grip of addiction, she had virtually abandoned me and Griffin, leaving us in squalor — starving, shoeless, and ragged, as well as beaten and abused by the men in her life,” Tatum O’Neal shared her terrible memories.

Recalling the difficult experience, Tatum admitted, “It was terrible. My mother stayed drunk for years and years and years. It just went on and on and on.”

Trapped within a real-life house of horrors, Tatum O’Neal recounted days filled with unimaginable hardships. As she and her brother endured the bleakness of their existence, they were deprived of basic necessities, left unfed, and locked in their house. Their childhood games took on a perilous edge as they played with fire and even resorted to dangerous leaps from the rooftop.

In a fortuitous turn of events, just when it seemed that the depths of despair were insurmountable, Tatum’s father, Ryan O’Neal, arrived to rescue her from the abyss. From that pivotal moment forward, their lives became inseparable. The actress recalled,

“I was just waiting for my dad to save me — please save me, please, you know, because I was getting hurt. I was getting in trouble. I wasn’t going to school. My teeth were rotting. Like, that was really happening, you know, and I was suffering.”

“I don’t know where my mother was actually… but by then she wasn’t even allowed really to be next to me because things had really separated, because now I was my dad’s girl,” Tatum O’Neal commented.

Although Ryan O’Neal appeared to be a caring father in public, in real life his relationship with his daughter was far from ideal.

The seeds of discord were sown when Tatum received an Oscar nomination, while her father, Ryan, did not. This marked a turning point in their relationship.

In her memoir “A Paper Life”, the actress wrote,

“In the press, he played the doting father, but in his eyes, I read the truth: deep resentment that his own brilliant performance was being dismissed.”

Tatum O’Neal also recalled filming alongside her dad, “In the long scenes, I wanted to make sure my dad wasn’t mad at me, and sometimes he was.” Tragically, as Tatum entered adolescence, the bond that once connected her with her father was shattered.

At the tender age of 15, Tatum O’Neal faced yet another devastating blow when her father made the decision to leave her behind and pursue a romantic relationship with Farrah Fawcett. This heart-wrenching abandonment came just two years after Tatum wanted to end her life.

Ryan left Tatum when she needed him the most. In the aftermath of their fractured relationship, Ryan himself would later come to grapple with overwhelming guilt for the choices he had made,

“I was so in love with Farrah that I was blind, and so yeah, she got left at the curb, but I always said just stay at the curb, I’ll be back.”

But the last straw was when Ryan O’Neal accused his own daughter, blaming her for the untimely death of Farrah Fawcett. “If she’d never met us, would she still be alive?” Ryan wondered. “Nobody knows what causes cancer, do they really? She didn’t smoke and she didn’t drink. And then we came along – the four of us – and gradually she got weaker,” he told Piers Morgan.

In 1997, Tatum O’Neal faced another profound loss as her mother, Joanna Moore, succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 63. Additionally, Tatum’s journey took a painful turn with the dissolution of her marriage to tennis star John McEnroe.

Despite enduring a painful 25-year estrangement from her father, Ryan O’Neal, Tatum discovered the capacity to forgive him. “He was the first love of my life… I can love unconditionally,” “Paper Moon” star gushed over her father fighting back tears in her interview with CBS 2020.

In a remarkable act of healing, she extended forgiveness not only to her father but also to her mother, Joanna Moore, calling her “supertalented” and “a really good actress”.

In a heartwarming display of reconciliation and familial love, 2020 marked a significant moment for Tatum O’Neal and her father, Ryan. A photograph shared by Tatum’s son, Sean McEnroe, on Instagram captured a long-awaited family reunion.

“My dad was absolutely everything to me.”

The image shows a vivid portrait of joy as Ryan O’Neal beamed, surrounded by his beloved daughter and three cherished grandchildren.

Tatum O’Neal revealed to People that Fawcett’s death played a “very big role” in her and father’s reconciliation.

“She brought us back together,” Tatum opened up. “He told me he’s sorry. He’s all I have in terms of family, and I needed him in my life. My dad was absolutely everything to me.”

Later on, the relationship between Tatum O’Neal and her father, Ryan, has blossomed even more. The positive trajectory of their bond is evidenced by Tatum’s regular Instagram posts dedicated to her father.

A poignant moment that encapsulates their renewed connection occurred during Ryan O’Neal’s 82nd birthday celebration, where Tatum tenderly embraced him in a gentle hug.”I will always be there for him if he ever needed me,” the actress admitted.

Today, Tatum O’Neal has found herself in a place of contentment and joy as a proud mother of three grown children. According to Tatum, motherhood had saved her, “I was really ready to kind of fall down. The kids gave me a rough reason to keep going and fighting.” O’Neal also has defied the odds by maintaining a warm and amicable relationship with her ex-husband.

“I was really ready to kind of fall down. The kids gave me a rough reason to keep going and fighting.”

Despite the less-than-ideal example set by her own parents, Tatum’s resilience and determination have paved the way for her children to forge their own paths and pursue their dreams.

One such testament to Tatum’s influence is her daughter, Emily McEnroe, who has chosen to follow in her mother’s footsteps and embark on a career in acting. “My mom brightens every room she enters, and it’s true,” Emily gushed.

“My mom brightens every room she enters, and it’s true.”

When asked if Tatum would like to change anything in her life, she replied, “I had the life that I have. I had the upbringing that I have. I had the experience that I have.”

Despite enduring a chain of tragic events, Tatum O’Neal has emerged as a resilient and strong individual. These experiences, rather than breaking her spirit, just made her stronger. Recently returning to the set, Tatum approached life with an unwavering sense of optimism, saying, “I think the best years are still ahead of me.”