Actor Ryan O’Neal is dead at the age of 82. The Hollywood star passed away on Friday afternoon. His son Patrick confirmed the news, saying O’Neal “passed away peacefully” surrounded by friends and family.

The actor appeared in more than 500 episodes of the 1960’s primetime television soap opera “Peyton Place.” He later went on to star in such films as 1970’s movie melodrama “Love Story,” opposite Ali MacGraw and 1973’s “Paper Moon,” with his daughter Tatum. O’Neal was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 1970 for his role in “Love Story.”

The actor had been battling leukemia and prostate cancer since 2001. Known as a Hollywood heart throb, O’Neal was married to Joanna Moore and Leigh Taylor-Young, and was famously involved with Farrah Fawcett for many years. He is survived by four children and five grandchildren.

[ photo credit:  Reuters – Mario Anzuoni ]