Ryan O'Neal (born Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal; April 20, 1941) is an American actor.

O'Neal was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Patricia (née O'Callaghan), who had an acting career, and Charles O'Neal, a Hollywood movie screenwriter who had also acted. His brother, Kevin, is an actor and screenwriter. His maternal grandfather was Irish and his maternal grandmother was Russian. He spent part of his childhood abroad, including Germany. He attended University High School and became a Golden Gloves contender.

O'Neal appeared in guest roles on series that included The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Bachelor Father, Leave It to Beaver, Westinghouse Playhouse and Wagon Train. In 1961, he and Leonard Nimoy guest starred in the episode "Doctor's Orders" on the syndicated western series Two Faces West. In 1962-1963, O'Neal was a regular on NBC's Empire, another western. He played 21-year-old rancher's son Tal Garrett. On October 3, 1962, a week after the premiere of Empire, O'Neal guest starred in the premiere episode of the ABC's Our Man Higgins, starring Stanley Holloway. O'Neal gained enormous popularity from 1964-1966 on the hit prime time ABC soap opera Peyton Place (with fellow newcomer Mia Farrow).