Griffin O'Neal
Griffin Patrick O'Neal is an American actor.
Early life
O'Neal was born in Los Angeles to actor Ryan O'Neal and his first wife, the late actress Joanna Moore. He has one sister, Tatum, and two half brothers, Patrick and Redmond. His grandfather was novelist/screenwriter Charles "Blackie" O'Neal.Films
Griffin O'Neal appeared in 11 movies between 1976 and 1992. Several of these were TV movies or films released directly to video. He appeared in films including The Escape Artist, April Fool's Day, The Wraith, Assault of the Killer Bimbos, and Ghoulies III.Film critic Vincent Canby of the New York Times wrote in 1982 that Griffin O'Neal "shares with his sister a natural screen presence." Likewise, film critic Leonard Maltin wrote that Griffin O'Neal has a "pleasing screen presence".
Personal life
Relationship with Ryan O'Neal
O'Neal is estranged from his father Ryan O'Neal. They have had a volatile relationship beginning from his childhood. O'Neal's struggle with addiction began when he was 9 years old. 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." He also suggested his family's problems stemmed from Ryan. "My father gave me cocaine when I was 11 and insisted I take it," he told Vanity Fair. He added, "He was a very abusive, narcissistic psychopath. He gets so mad he can't control anything he's doing."In 1983, O'Neal reported to authorities that his father punched out two of his front teeth, but refused to press charges.
In 2007, Ryan was arrested for shooting at Griffin, which he claimed was in self-defense; charges were dropped. "The last time I saw my dad, he shot at me because I was trying to help his son get sober so I haven't talked to him in nine years," he told People in 2015.
O'Neal was banned by his father from attending the funeral services for Farrah Fawcett in 2009.
Marriages
O'Neal married his first wife Rima Uranga in 1989; divorced in 1991. They have a daughter together. He has been married to Joanna Berry since 2008. In 2012, O'Neal was arrested on domestic battery charges for assaulting his wife.Accidents
In 1986, Griffin O'Neal had a boating accident in Annapolis, Maryland that took the life of film producer Gian-Carlo Coppola. 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. Prior to the accident, O'Neal was being directed by Francis Ford Coppola in the film Gardens of Stone, and afterward O'Neal asked to be replaced in the film. He was convicted of negligently operating a boat, and received an 18-day jail sentence for not completing community service.In August 2011, while driving, O'Neal collided with another car. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison for driving under the influence of drugs in connection with that incident.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | Nickelodeon | Bicycle Boy | |
| 1982 | The Escape Artist | Danny Masters | |
| 1983 | Hadley's Rebellion | Hadley Hickman | |
| 1986 | The Children of Times Square | Rick | TV movie |
| 1986 | April Fool's Day | Skip | |
| 1986 | The Wraith | Oggie Fisher | |
| 1988 | Assault of the Killer Bimbos | Troy | |
| 1989 | Night Children | Blade | |
| 1989 | Jesse Hawkes | Cpl. Stevens | Episode: "The Centurians" |
| 1990 | Return to Justice | Bo Johnson | |
| 1991 | Ghoulies Go to College | Blane | Alternate title: Ghoulies III |
| 1992 | Soulmates | Brian |