By ANTHONY McCARTNEY (AP Entertainment Writer)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ryan O’Neal, the heartthrob actor who went from a TV soap opera to an Oscar-nominated role in “Love Story” and delivered a wry performance opposite his charismatic 9-year-old daughter Tatum in “Paper Moon,” died Friday, his son said.

“My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us,” Patrick O’Neal, a Los Angeles sportscaster, posted on Instagram.

Attempts to reach O’Neal representatives were not immediately successful.

He did not give a cause. Ryan O’Neal was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012, a decade after he was first diagnosed with chronic leukemia. He was 82.

“My father, Ryan O’Neal, has always been my hero,” Patrick O’Neal wrote, adding, “He is a Hollywood legend. Full stop.”

O’Neal was among the biggest movie stars in the world in the 1970s, who worked with many of the era’s most celebrated directors including Peter Bogdanovich on “Paper Moon” and Stanley Kubrick on “Barry Lyndon. He often used his boyish, blond good looks to play men who hid shadowy or sinister backgrounds behind their clean-cut images.

O’Neal maintained a steady television acting career into his 70s in the 2010s, appearing for stints on “Bones” and “Desperate Housewives,” but his longtime relationship with Farrah Fawcett and his tumultuous family life kept him in news.

Twice divorced, O’Neal was romantically involved with Fawcett for nearly 30 years, and they had a son, Redmond, born in 1985. The couple split in 1997, but reunited a few years later. He remained by Fawcett’s side as she battled cancer, which killed her in 2009 at age 62.

With his first wife, Joanna Moore, O’Neal fathered actors Griffin O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal, his co-star in the 1973 movie “Paper Moon,” for which she won an Oscar for best supporting actress. He had son Patrick with his second wife, Leigh Taylor-Young.

Ryan O’Neal had his own best-actor Oscar nomination for the 1970 tear-jerker drama “Love Story,” co-starring Ali MacGraw, about a young couple who fall in love, marry and discover she is dying of cancer. The movie includes the memorable, but often satirized line: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

The actor had at times strained relationships with three of his children, including estrangement from his daughter, squabbles with son Griffin and a drug-related arrest sparked by a probation check of his son Redmond. The personal drama often over-shadowed his later career, although his attempts to reconcile with Tatum O’Neal were turned into a short-lived reality series.

O’Neal played bit parts and performed some stunt work before claiming a lead role on the prime-time soap opera “Peyton Place” (1964-69), which also made a star of Mia Farrow.

From there O’Neal jumped to the big screen with 1969’s “The Big Bounce,” which co-stared his then-wife, Leigh Taylor-Young. But it was “Love Story” that made him a movie star.

The romantic melodrama became one of Paramount Pictures’ biggest hits and collected seven Oscar nominations, including one for best picture. It won for best music.

O’Neal then starred for Bogdanovich as a bumbling professor opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1972 screwball comedy “What’s Up, Doc?” The filmmaker cast him the next year in the Depression-era con artist comedy “Paper Moon.”

O’Neal played an unscrupulous Bible salesman preying on widows he located through obituary notices. His real-life daughter, Tatum, played a trash-talking, cigarette-smoking orphan who needs his help — and eventually helps redeem him.

Although critics praised both actors, the little girl’s brash performance overshadowed her father’s and made her the youngest person in history to win a regular Academy Award. She was 10 when the award was presented in 1974. (Younger performers such as Shirley Temple have won special Oscars.)

The elder O’Neal’s next major film was Kubrick’s 18th century epic “Barry Lyndon,” in which he played a poor Irish rogue who traveled Europe trying to pass himself off as an aristocrat.

Filming the three-hour movie was tedious work, however, and Kubrick’s notorious perfectionism created a rift between him and the actor that never healed.

O’Neal then reteamed with Tatum in Bogdanovich’s early Hollywood comedy “Nickelodeon” (1976). But the film was a flop and they never worked together again. An attempt to capitalize on his “Love Story” character, Oliver Barrett, with the sequel “Oliver’s Story” (1978) resulted in another flop.

Father and daughter drifted apart as Tatum O’Neal grew older, with the elder actor learning about his daughter’s marriage to tennis great John McEnroe by a belated telegram, Ryan O’Neal wrote in a 2012 book about his relationship with Fawcett.

“A door inside me locked the morning the telegram came, and I am still blindly searching for the key to open it,” O’Neal wrote in “Both of Us.”

O’Neal’s career cooled further in the 1980s with the emerald heist drama “Green Ice” (1981) and the 1984 comedy “Irreconcilable Differences,” in which he played a busy father in an unhappy marriage whose daughter, played by 9-year-old Drew Barrymore, tries to divorce her parents.

The decade was also a low-point in O’Neal’s personal life. His son Griffin faced numerous brushes with the law, including a 1986 boating accident that killed Gian-Carlo Coppola, 23, son of movie director Francis Ford Coppola in Maryland. Griffin O’Neal was convicted of negligently and recklessly operating a boat, received a community service sentence and later served a brief stint in jail as a result.

With his Hollywood status diminishing, Ryan O’Neal began appearing in TV movies and eventually returned to series television opposite then-lover Fawcett with the 1991 sitcom “Good Sports,” but the show ran only one season.

Both acknowledged the work put a strain on their relationship.

“We get into fights,” O’Neal said in 1991. “She’s tough. She expects to be treated well. On a set that can get lost when you’re trying to create a moment and you’re fighting the clock.”

O’Neal began accepting more supporting roles with the 1989 film “Chances Are.” He began a second career as a character actor, playing a husband who hires a hitman to kill his wife in “Faithful” (1996) and a mysterious tycoon in the blackmail comedy “Zero Effect” (1998).

By then his relationship with Fawcett had ended, although they remained close and eventually rekindled their romance in the 2000s. The volatile O’Neal family dynamics that had taxed their relationship before, however, remained.

In 2007 the elder O’Neal was arrested in 2007 for alleged assault and firing a weapon in an altercation with Griffin, but charges were never pursued. Their son Redmond was repeatedly arrested, jailed and spent several years in court-mandated rehab.

A probation check on Redmond O’Neal in September 2008 at his father’s Malibu home led to the actor’s arrest for methamphetamine possession. Ryan O’Neal pleaded guilty to the charge and entered a drug diversion program, but he publicly denied the drugs were his. He said he confiscated them from his son and was trying to protect him.

Charles Patrick Ryan O’Neal was born on April 20, 1941 and was the son of screenwriter Charles O’Neal and actor Patricia Callaghan O’Neal. O’Neal spent time as a lifeguard and an amateur boxer before finding his calling as a performer.

The man shot by a St. Paul police officer during an exchange of gunfire died early Friday, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension announced.

Brandon Daleshaun Keys, 24, of Maplewood, was taken to Regions Hospital after the Thursday afternoon shooting.

Officer Michael Tschida was shot in the leg during the incident. He was treated at Regions and released from the hospital Thursday.

St. Paul police responded to a report of a violation of an order for protection, the BCA said of its preliminary investigation. A woman reported she was driving with a man in her passenger seat when Keys pulled behind her and starting hitting her vehicle with his. She also told police that Keys had a gun.

The woman stopped at Cretin and Marshall avenues, and Keys got out of his car and approached the woman’s vehicle, the BCA said.

Tschida arrived, exited his squad and ordered Keys to get on the ground.

“The two exchanged gunfire, during which Keys was struck in the head and Tschida was struck in the leg,” the BCA said in Friday’s statement.

BCA crime scene personnel found a handgun at the scene. The incident was captured on Tschida’s body-worn camera, along with other video cameras, the BCA said.

Tschida, who has 14 years of law enforcement experience, is on standard administrative leave.

The BCA said, when they complete the investigation, they will forward the findings to the Ramsey County attorney’s office for review.

Related Articles

Oakdale man receives 4-year prison term for role in downtown St. Paul robbery, fatal shooting

St. Paul police: Man shoots officer, who returns fire

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer’s son charged with manslaughter in crash that killed North Dakota sheriff’s deputy

Charges: Barber started Shoreview fire to get owner to move barbershop to Columbia Heights

25 schools, 9 Jewish facilities ‘swatted’ with threats about bombings, shootings, says MN law enforcement

Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. started to turn heads as soon as he stepped foot onto the practice field at TCO Performance Center in the spring. Never mind that he was an undrafted rookie out of the University of Cincinnati at the time. The 22-year-old was hellbent on proving he belonged with the Vikings.

After impressing enough people to make the team out of training camp, Pace continued to stack days on top of each other, eventually carving out a role for himself on defense. Meanwhile, head coach Kevin O’Connell remembers waiting for Pace to hit that rookie wall

“You’re just kind of waiting for, ‘When’s that drop-off going to be? When are those times where he’s going to look like a rookie?’ ” O’Connell said. “It just never really happened.”

That’s good news for the Vikings considering Pace has stepped into an important role on defense in the absence of injured veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks.

Now every time Pace trots onto the field, he does so as the only player with a direct line of communication to defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

There’s a headset built into his helmet — denoted by a green dot on the back — so Pace can get the play call from Flores on the sideline. As soon as he does, Pace is in charge of relaying the information to the rest of the defense, then making the necessary checks at the line of scrimmage.

“It’s not really hard,” Pace said. “It’s just about staying confident.”

That’s a big thing for Pace as he has to take control of a huddle that features some very respected players, including veteran safety Harrison Smith and star pass rusher Danielle Hunter, among a handful of others. He slowly has started to grow into his voice over the past few months.

“I started out as a shy person on the team who really didn’t talk that much,” Pace said. “Just knowing I was going to take on the green-dot role, I had to open up a little bit, get used to my teammates and be loud.”

It’s been a pretty seamless transition for Pace, who has played 100 percent of the snaps on defense since Hicks went on injured reserve.

“This will go a long way for him and his future in this league,” Flores said. “I think his confidence is growing each time he goes out there with the green dot. He understands that responsibility and what goes with that. He’s starting to elevate his play in large part because of that.”

Though it seems as if Hicks might be able to return sooner rather than later — and more than likely would reclaim the green dot in the process — the experience has been invaluable for Pace as he continues to prove himself as player who could be a key piece of the Vikings’ defense in the future.

” I’m excited about him,” O’Connell said. “He just keeps getting better and better and more comfortable. Now he’s the green dot and communicating throughout the whole defense. You can’t put an amount on that as far as the importance in his development and where he’s going to get to.”

Related Articles

Vikings at Raiders picks: What happens in Vegas belongs in the win column

Vikings at Raiders: What to know ahead of Week 14 matchup

How the Vikings grew without Justin Jefferson and the domino effect of his return

The Loop NFL Picks: Week 14

Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson adjusts goals after returning from hamstring injury

When entering a garden center or grocery store this time of year, you may see displays of amazing winter flower bouquets, poinsettias, potted rosemary and Norfolk Island pine plants. Close by are buckets of bright winterberry, fresh greenery, cheerful Christmas cactus, cyclamen, and blooming orchids.

There’s more green, white and red staring you in the face than at an Italian flag factory.

Garden centers and even some grocery stores carry bright winterberry, fresh greenery, cheerful Christmas cactus, cyclamen, and blooming orchids this time of year. (Betty Cahill, Special to The Denver Post)

You’re torn over whether to splurge on one or more of these seasonal splendors or hold tight to your budget and continue walking straight to the dairy aisle. You can’t help but dream about guests walking into your aromatic, cinnamon-spiced holiday party oohing and aahing over the house filled with dazzling seasonal floral eye candy. Darn you, Santa!

Lacking self-restraint, you fill your basket with green finery and a quart of milk. Getting it all safely to your house is the next decision. If not well protected from cold on the ride home, your holiday poinsettia will turn into a holiday “poin-dead-ia’”(groan).

Getting live flowers home

Try to choose a shopping day when the outside temperature is well above 32 degrees. Independent garden centers and most stores will gladly wrap temperature-sensitive bouquets and plants using cellophane and paper (ask them to kindly double the paper).

For additional fool-proof plant protection from the cold, bring a large cooler (which also keeps food warm) into the store and let it warm up while shopping. A sturdy box with a plastic or folding cover works, too. Bring along some paper for extra padding around the edges if needed. After checking out, carefully place the plants in the container and secure the top so no cold air gets inside. Greenery bundles and winterberry branches aren’t cold-sensitive and should be fine without extra protection.

Hopefully your plants and greenery include an attached tag that provides care instructions. (Take a photo of the tag just in case it gets misplaced.)

When back home, carefully unpack plants that are wrapped in foil. Cut some holes or slits in the bottom of the foil and then place the plant on top of a tray so water will freely drain. Place fresh greenery and winterberry in a bucket or vase with room temperature water until used for decorating.

Check for flying fungus gnats near or on the soil and if present isolate the plant until they die off. Just let the soil dry out for a couple of days before watering again. Fungus gnat eggs and larvae use damp soil to finish their life cycle, so drying them out works well initially.

With a quick online search, you’ll find other easy home remedies using cinnamon or mild soap to kill off fungus gnats. Use care and avoid overdoing any home treatment.

Poinsettias, cyclamen, Norfolk Island pine, orchids and rosemary plants all need around six hours of bright, natural light from south-, east- or west-facing windows. (Betty Cahill, Special to The Denver Post)

Another very helpful and safe biological product to have on hand for all your indoor plants will have the active ingredient Bti, used to kill mosquito larvae in outdoor features. This product works well for indoor plants that have fungus gnats. Look for the tan-colored, small round dunks or kibble bits sold at garden centers. Simply crumble a dunk or add the bits on top of the potted plant soil and water. As the Bti bits dissolve over time, they kill off fungus gnat eggs and larvae.

Keep seasonal greenery merry and bright through the holidays

Poinsettias, cyclamen, Norfolk Island pine, orchids and rosemary plants all need around six hours of bright, natural light from south-, east- or west-facing windows. North windows can work if using indoor plant sunlamps with a timer. One exception is Norfolk Island pine, which will do fine with less bright daily sunlight. Plants shouldn’t touch the windows and be kept away from cool drafts and heat vents. Remember to turn plants every week to prevent them from leaning toward windows and sunlight. This group of plants grows well in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. Rosemary can take it warmer.

Fertilizer needs for many indoor plants slow down during the winter months. Read the plant tag for specific recommendations.

Grouping house plants together and using small pebble rocks that are slightly submerged in water in a tray under the plants will help increase humidity levels as the water slowly evaporates. Many indoor plants benefit from this technique, especially Norfolk Island pines and orchids.

For poinsettias, water when the surface feels dry to the touch. If the soil is allowed to dry out for too long, leaves will drop and plants will wilt. Too much water leads to root rot, insects and death. Poinsettia plants are not poisonous to people or pets, but the milky sap may irritate the skin.

Christmas tree lots often have a box of trimmed fir branch cuttings that are free for the taking; just ask first. (Betty Cahill, Special to The Denver Post)

Cyclamen, Norfolk Island pine, and rosemary plants should be watered when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. Finessing and mastering the watering needs of individual indoor plants comes with experience and paying attention to the plant. In general, it is better to underwater than overwater.

Garden retailers and many grocery stores sell Christmas trees, wreaths and attractive bundles of assorted greenery for holiday decorating. Christmas tree lots often have a box of trimmed fir branch cuttings that are free for the taking; just ask first. Or consider getting a permit to cut a Christmas tree, then use trimmed branches for additional decorating. Go to fs.usda.gov for permitting and more information.

The key for longer-lasting, fresh-cut greenery is regular moisture from misting and using anti-desiccant sprays (sold at garden centers) to seal the leaves and pores on the bark to hold in moisture.

Related Articles

Christmas 2023: Here are 12 new holiday albums to enjoy this season

Holiday spirits: Five fancy seasonal cocktails you can make at home

Wear gloves for trimming and cutting fresh greens and do it over a tarp — they will be sticky and messy. When making garlands, swags or wreaths for decorating, keep the stems in room-temperature water before making the display. Use a hand pruner to make diagonal cuts through the stems, and then gently crush the exposed end — this will help with water uptake. Set the stems back in the water for a few hours before assembly and decorating.

Wishing you a happy, healthy and joyous December holiday season. And after family and friends leave, sit down with a 2024 seed catalog and dream of you know what!

Betty Cahill speaks and writes about gardening in the Rocky Mountain Region. Visit her site at http://gardenpunchlist.blogspot.com/ for even more gardening tips.