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Ryan O’Neal’s Beach House of Horrors: The Notorious Malibu Party Pad Destroyed by Wildfire

BBG News

This week’s revelation that Ryan O’Neal’s beautiful Malibu beach house, which offered panoramic views of the Pacific, was turned into ruins signified much more than the loss of a family residence.

The house stands as mere rubble today, making it impossible to imagine its stories being shared, my neighbor from the adjacent coastal area reminisced with me. ‘There was a certain eeriness about that house… indeed, such a unique location in Hollywood will never be found again.’

The luxurious $3.5 million two-story residence offering stunning views of La Costa Beach was a popular hotspot for parties, drawing not only locals from Malibu but also the entire Hollywood community. This house was the venue where sports legend O’Neal charmed celebrities such as Angelica Houston, Ursula Andress, Diana Ross, Joan Collins, and his ultimate love, Farrah Fawcett of Charlie’s Angels fame.

Patrick O’Neal, the actor and sportscaster son of O’Neal, announced on Monday that their house located at 21368 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades was unfortunately destroyed by an ongoing wildfire. This fire is one of five currently raging around Los Angeles, causing at least two dozen fatalities, destroying over 12,000 homes, schools, and businesses, and compelling more than 100,000 individuals to evacuate.

Patrick shared videos and pictures on Instagram showing him navigating through the debris of his well-known father’s home. He added a heartening image of a rainbow above the burning remnants. As one might expect, given his emotional state, Patrick expressed: ‘It’s deeply saddening to have spent my childhood in Malibu and only now realize that our family house no longer exists.’

It’s undeniable that the loss is heart-wrenchingly sorrowful, yet not everyone cherishes the same nostalgic feelings about Ryan’s place as Patrick does.

The half-century contemporary building, balanced on a ledge above the sand, stood side by side with others, will always be known for being one of the most notorious party venues in history.

According to the source, stories about excessive behavior continuously emerged from that place. Ryan reportedly hosted week-long drug festivities that often escalated into chaos, with individuals firing guns from the balcony. That house was infamous for its wildness in Los Angeles.

It was mentioned to me that everyone who mattered would pass through there, including Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty, the notorious playboys. Naturally, they were surrounded by beautiful women. Additionally, the parties attracted numerous drug dealers. At Ryan’s place, you could easily obtain any drug you desired. I firmly believe that no party house has ever been as legendary as this one before or since.

Originally a semi-pro boxer with a rugged charm, O’Neal initially gained recognition as a D-list actor on the 60s TV series ‘Peyton Place’. However, it was his role in the 1970 film ‘Love Story’, where he portrayed an Ivy League graduate falling for a common girl (Ali McGraw’s character), that catapulted him to stardom.

The movie, featuring McGraw’s character passing away from cancer and carrying the tagline ‘Love Means Never Having To Say You’re Sorry’, solidified O’Neal as a top-tier actor commanding $1 million per film.

In 1973, the film ‘Paper Moon’, where he co-starred with his daughter Tatum O’Neal (who remains the youngest Oscar winner at 10 years old) was a significant success that made him immensely popular among women. This marked the start of a more active social life filled with parties.

In 1976, O’Neal purchased a spacious three-bedroom, three-bathroom house of approximately 2,344 square feet for $151,000. This property was constructed in 1952 and was situated on a large lot measuring around 6,764 square feet, overlooking the picturesque La Costa beach, locally referred to as ‘the Cove’. Notable features of this house included floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the living room and master bedroom, which were often left open to capture the soothing sounds of waves crashing.

From December 2023, when he passed away at the age of 82, until now, tales of O’Neal’s thrilling and adventurous past have continued to persist rather than diminish.

Every sunrise found me treading along the shore, where the remnants of the previous night’s revelers lay sprawled, unconscious on the sand. The police were often summoned, yet their efforts seemed futile as it felt like some of them themselves might have been part of the festivities.

During the time of unrestrained pleasure-seeking, drug use, excessive alcohol consumption, and lavish living in Hollywood, O’Neal achieved his highest professional success. He embodied the spirit of that era. However, the indulgence had its shadows, as well.

O’Neal, who honestly confessed he wasn’t the best father, was raising three young children: Tatum and Griffin, born during his first marriage to actress Joanna Moore, who struggled with alcoholism, and Patrick, from his second failed marriage to actress Leigh Taylor-Young.

In her 2004 memoir titled “A Paper Life,” Tatum, now 61 and sober, would later describe that due to her mother’s inability to care for them, she and her brother were placed under the guardianship of O’Neal. He raised them in a rather wild or uncivilized environment within his Malibu home.

In her own struggles with drug issues, Tatum eventually lost custody of the three kids she co-parented with former tennis champion John McEnroe. She described their Malibu residence as a chaotic environment.

According to the source from Malibu, it was often the case that Tatum would unexpectedly witness her father engaging in intimate acts with different women in the kitchen. Sadly, these were sights that no young girl should ever have to behold.

At the tender age of eight, she experimented with drugs for the first time. By the time she was 12, she found herself unwillingly participating in a drug-induced party, orchestrated by one of her father’s associates dealing in narcotics. Speaking about her harrowing experiences, she shared, ‘When my parents were preoccupied with drinking and using drugs, they failed to notice the harm inflicted upon their child. I endured years of emotional and sexual abuse.’

Years after, upon returning home one day, Tatum discovered her father in a compromising situation with her closest friend and actress, Melanie Griffith, who was only 18 years old at the time.

For younger son Griffin, 60, the Malibu house harbored equally painful memories. 

Back in the day, I had the privilege of chatting with Griffin, and he shared an eye-opening story about his past. He told me how, during a heated, alcohol-fueled argument, his father delivered a brutal punch that knocked out his teeth. On another chilling incident, O’Neal brandished a loaded revolver at me, threatening to end my life by saying he would shoot my brains out.

At the tender age of nine, he first encountered drug use as his father showed him how to make a marijuana cigarette. From that point onwards, his life took a turn for the worse. Later, at the age of 11, Griffin admitted that his father provided him with cocaine and encouraged him to use it.

‘Throughout my childhood, he consistently exhibited aggressive behavior. He was a highly self-centered and abusive individual with psychopathic tendencies.’

In 1986, it was unfortunate that Griffin met with an accident involving a boat, which resulted in the unintended demise of his close friend, Gian-Carlo Coppola, who happened to be the son of the renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola.

In 1979, shortly following her divorce from Lee Majors, the woman who held O’Neal’s deepest affection, actress Farrah Fawcett, moved into their shared Malibu residence.

Later on, O’Neal jokingly mentioned that when Majors, his closest friend, left town, he asked him to look after Farrah. In just one day, Farrah found herself in O’Neal’s bed, and Majors effectively lost his chance with her.

The source mentioned: ‘Farrah brought a sense of tranquility to the Malibu residence. There were fewer social gatherings. Ryan adored her, and she enjoyed living the domestic life. She’d host dinner parties every Friday evening, and it was always surprising who might be present. Farrah had an affinity for art and literature, often finding Andy Warhol engaged in conversation with Jack Nicholson at these events.’

In the living room, there hung a Warhol portrait of Farrah Fawcett. It’s been said that following Ryan’s passing, the family might have sold this artwork. I find it hard to picture them leaving it behind and allowing it to be destroyed by fire instead.

In 1985, Fawcett became pregnant with her and O’Neal’s son, Redmond. 

According to a friend, Ryan expressed a desire to return to the party scene, but Fawcett stepped into her maternal role and instead decided to move to Westwood on her own to ensure Redmond’s removal from that environment.

The stunning actress persistently tried to keep their relationship going until one day, she returned home unexpectedly to discover that Ryan was with actress Leslie Stefanson, a friend thirty years younger than him, in bed together.

Later on, O’Neal expressed: ‘I wasn’t anticipating her (Farrah) at the house like that. I attempted to pull up my pants, but unfortunately, I ended up putting both legs into one leg opening.’ Despite Fawcett’s efforts to shield Redmond from his father’s irresponsible lifestyle, she eventually found herself unable to do so. At the age of 15, Redmond moved in with his father and soon fell prey to addictions involving crystal meth, cocaine, and heroin. He underwent several rehab treatments over time.

In 2008, police found and arrested both Redmond and O’Neal at their home due to crystal meth possession charges. Currently, Redmond is thought to reside in a long-term psychiatric facility located in the Los Angeles area. Sadly, Fawcett passed away from cancer in 2009 at the age of 62.

This past week, the loss of our beloved Malibu home has deeply affected my family and me. The sorrow and turmoil we’ve experienced in connection with it are undeniable.

‘It’s unbearably sorrowful. So heartbreaking that tears come to mind. Departed, departed, departed, departed. It’s terrifying. I am incredibly sad beyond words.’

Son Patrick, who shared that he’d always maintained a strong bond with his dad, was equally heartbroken.

As a die-hard admirer, I can only speculate if the O’Neal abode will be resurrected; time will tell. However, one indisputable fact remains – the tale of Ryan O’Neal’s legendary party house is destined for eternal renown in Tinseltown lore.

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2025-01-16 19:50

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