Hollywood icon Ryan O'Neal dies at 82 after battle with leukemia and prostate cancer, son Patrick shares heartfelt tribute

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ‘Love Story’ star Ryan O'Neal has died at age 82 while battling chronic leukemia and prostate cancer.

Patrick, his son, shared the news of his father's passing on Instagram on Friday, December 8.

In the caption, he wrote, “So this is the toughest thing I’ve ever had to say but here we go. My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us."

He added, "This is very difficult for my wife Summer and I, but I will share some feelings to give you an idea of how great a man he is."

Patrick honors his father as he breaks the news 

The Oscar-nominated actor played Harvard Preppie Oliver in the famous romantic movie ‘Love Story.’

His son wrote, "My father Ryan O’Neal has always been my hero. I looked up to him and he was always bigger than life. When I was born in 1967 my dad was already a TV star on Peyton Place. That’s where he met my mom Leigh Taylor-Young, and about 9 months later (give or take a date night or two) I was born."

"My dad became an international movie star with Love Story at the beginning of the 1970s, a decade he absolutely crushed by starring in movies like What’s Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, A Bridge Too Far, The Main Event, and The Driver,” his son added.

Ryan's bitter truth on 'Love Story' 

During his appearance on the show in 2011, Ryan conveyed to Piers Morgan, "In the ensuing years, watching Love Story actually upsets me."

He added, “I lost Farrah to cancer, and I just wonder [why] that played out that way for me. One was just a big deal and so successful, and then in real life it was just the opposite, a tragedy.”

In a 2009 interview with Vanity Fair, Paul Mazursky discussed his experience working with O'Neal on 'Faithful.' The filmmaker began by saying, "He's sweet as sugar, and he's volatile."

He added, "He's got some of that Irish stuff in him, and he can blow up a bit. One day he was doing a scene, and I said, ‘Bring it down a little bit,’ and Ryan said, ‘I quit! You can’t say “Bring it down” to me that loud!’"

Paul further stated, “I said, ‘If you quit, I’m going to break your nose.’ He started to cry. He’s sort of a big baby at times, but he’s a good guy, and he’s very talented. He’s had a strange career, but he was a monster star,” reports Hollywood Reporter.

Meanwhile, Patrick concluded the post by acknowledging some of his father's remarkable achievements, stating, "He is a Hollywood legend. Full stop. The growth spurt of the first name Ryan can be traced back to my dad. That’s a fact."

"He portrayed Rodney Harrington on Peyton Place three days a week, starring in 500 shows over five years," he added,

Patrick concluded, "And then, of course, the name Ryan reached its pinnacle after Love Story, the film that saved Paramount Studios and earned my dad a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."