Francis Ford Coppola ‘shared family tragedy’ with Ryan O’Neal

When Ryan O’Neal died Friday at the age of 83, the “Love Story” actor’s troubled personal life presented challenges to those who wanted to remember his positive qualities, which family and colleagues said included his “lethal combo” of charm, humor, good looks and talent.

As it turns out, one of the more surprising but “gracious” tributes to this “complex” Hollywood star came from Francis Ford Coppola, who shared a particularly painful history with O’Neal. In 1986, Coppola’s 23-year-old son Gian-Carlo was killed in a boating accident involving O’Neal’s son Griffin.

But on Instagram over the weekend, Coppola praised O’Neal’s performances in three of the 1970s most memorable films — a decade when Coppola sealed his auteur status as the director of the first two “The Godfather” movies and “Apocalypse Now.”

Ryan O’Neal has passed, deserving of praise certainly for his fine work in BARRY LYNDON, WHAT’S UP DOC and PAPER MOON,” Coppola wrote.

But then the director movingly mentioned a loss that they both shared, though in different ways. “Our families are united in tragedy, which is another expression of love,” Coppola said. “Rest in peace, bless you Ryan.”

Gian-Carlo Coppola died during a break in production on his father’s 1987 military drama, “Gardens of Stone.” In the spring of 1986, Gian-Carlo was working as a crew member, as the movie was being filmed in Washington, D.C., and in and around Arlington National Cemetery. O’Neal’s oldest son, Griffin O’Neal, had a supporting role as a friend of the film’s protagonist.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Gian-Carlo Coppola and Griffin O’Neal, now 59, decided to rent a speed boat and take it out on the South River, near Annapolis, Maryland, according to reports at the time. O’Neal was driving the boat and tried to glide between two slower moving boats, not realizing one was being towed by the other, reports said. His 14-foot vessel ran into the tow line. While Griffin O’Neal was able to duck for safety, Gian-Carlo Coppola was struck by the tow line and suffered a fatal head wound.

At first, Griffin O’Neal claimed Gian-Carlo was driving the boat, as the Washington Post reported. After it was established that Griffin O’Neal was the pilot, he escaped manslaughter charges in a short, nonjury trial but was convicted of negligently operating a boat, the Washington Post also reported. He was fined $200 and sentenced to 18 months probation.

“It was an accident,” Griffin O’Neal said, according to the Post.  “I’m very sorry it had to happen. I loved him very much.” Ryan O’Neal expressed relief that his son had been cleared of manslaughter charges, but said, “Our hearts go out to the Coppola family.”

The trial received extensive coverage in the celebrity press, which also focused on Griffin O’Neal’s “fast lifestyle” and his turbulent relationship with his father.

According to People magazine, Griffin O’Neal received 27 speeding citations in 1982, the Washington Post said. He also spent three days in jail on suspicion of stealing a Los Angeles parking meter.

In 1983, Griffin and Ryan O’Neal got into a fight, and Ryan knocked out two of Griffin’s teeth. The younger O’Neal called police to their Bel-Air home but he later refused to press charges, the Los Angeles Times reported. Two days before Gian-Carlo Coppola’s boating death, Griffin O’Neal was charged in Arlington County with reckless driving and carrying a concealed weapon, the Washington Post said.

More than 10 years later, Ryan and Griffin O’Neal were involved in another fight, which led to Ryan being arrested on assault charges for firing a gun, though the actor claimed self-defense and the charges were dropped, Vanity Fair reported in 2009.

Griffin O’Neal later said that his struggle with drug addiction began when he was 9 years old, as his father also used drugs and insisted he try cocaine when he was 11, he told Vanity Fair. Griffin remembered his father being “violent all the way through my upbringing” and said he was “a very abusive, narcissistic psychopath.”

For his part, Ryan O’Neal reportedly banned Griffin from attending the funeral of his late partner, Farrah Fawcett, in 2009, saying “he’s a bad guy.” Not surprisingly, Griffin and Ryan O’Neal were estranged for many years, Griffin O’Neal told People in 2015.

As for the death of Gian-Carlo Coppola, Griffin O’Neal asked to be replaced on “Gardens on Stone” with another actor. His acting career never amounted to much, as he also dealt his substance abuse issues and multiple arrests for driving under the influence, leading to a 16-month prison sentenced in 2011.

It’s not immediately known if Francis Ford Coppola ever had any contact with Ryan O’Neal about his Gian-Carlo’s death. The director dedicated his next film, “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” to his late son.

Coppola’s tribute to O’Neal struck many of Instagram followers as incredibly gracious. One person wrote, “I have such respect and admiration for you to write such a kind post knowing the loss that you suffered.” Someone else said the post “exemplifies the true practice of magnanimity . . . may your heart feel the powerful presence of gentleness and peace.”

“The fruit of love is forgiveness,” someone else said. “What a beautiful post.”

When Ryan O’Neal died Friday at the age of 83, the “Love Story” actor’s troubled personal life presented challenges to those who wanted to remember his positive qualities, which family and colleagues said included his “lethal combo” of charm, humor, good looks and talent.

As it turns out, one of the more surprising but “gracious” tributes to this “complex” Hollywood star came from Francis Ford Coppola, who shared a particularly painful history with O’Neal. In 1986, Coppola’s 23-year-old son Gian-Carlo was killed in a boating accident involving O’Neal’s son Griffin.

But on Instagram over the weekend, Coppola praised O’Neal’s performances in three of the 1970s most memorable films — a decade when Coppola sealed his auteur status as the director of the first two “The Godfather” movies and “Apocalypse Now.”

Ryan O’Neal has passed, deserving of praise certainly for his fine work in BARRY LYNDON, WHAT’S UP DOC and PAPER MOON,” Coppola wrote.

But then the director movingly mentioned a loss that they both shared, though in different ways. “Our families are united in tragedy, which is another expression of love,” Coppola said. “Rest in peace, bless you Ryan.”

Gian-Carlo Coppola died during a break in production on his father’s 1987 military drama, “Gardens of Stone.” In the spring of 1986, Gian-Carlo was working as a crew member, as the movie was being filmed in Washington, D.C., and in and around Arlington National Cemetery. O’Neal’s oldest son, Griffin O’Neal, had a supporting role as a friend of the film’s protagonist.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Gian-Carlo Coppola and Griffin O’Neal, now 59, decided to rent a speed boat and take it out on the South River, near Annapolis, Maryland, according to reports at the time. O’Neal was driving the boat and tried to glide between two slower moving boats, not realizing one was being towed by the other, reports said. His 14-foot vessel ran into the tow line. While Griffin O’Neal was able to duck for safety, Gian-Carlo Coppola was struck by the tow line and suffered a fatal head wound.

At first, Griffin O’Neal claimed Gian-Carlo was driving the boat, as the Washington Post reported. After it was established that Griffin O’Neal was the pilot, he escaped manslaughter charges in a short, nonjury trial but was convicted of negligently operating a boat, the Washington Post also reported. He was fined $200 and sentenced to 18 months probation.

“It was an accident,” Griffin O’Neal said, according to the Post.  “I’m very sorry it had to happen. I loved him very much.” Ryan O’Neal expressed relief that his son had been cleared of manslaughter charges, but said, “Our hearts go out to the Coppola family.”

The trial received extensive coverage in the celebrity press, which also focused on Griffin O’Neal’s “fast lifestyle” and his turbulent relationship with his father.

According to People magazine, Griffin O’Neal received 27 speeding citations in 1982, the Washington Post said. He also spent three days in jail on suspicion of stealing a Los Angeles parking meter.

In 1983, Griffin and Ryan O’Neal got into a fight, and Ryan knocked out two of Griffin’s teeth. The younger O’Neal called police to their Bel-Air home but he later refused to press charges, the Los Angeles Times reported. Two days before Gian-Carlo Coppola’s boating death, Griffin O’Neal was charged in Arlington County with reckless driving and carrying a concealed weapon, the Washington Post said.

More than 10 years later, Ryan and Griffin O’Neal were involved in another fight, which led to Ryan being arrested on assault charges for firing a gun, though the actor claimed self-defense and the charges were dropped, Vanity Fair reported in 2009.

Griffin O’Neal later said that his struggle with drug addiction began when he was 9 years old, as his father also used drugs and insisted he try cocaine when he was 11, he told Vanity Fair. Griffin remembered his father being “violent all the way through my upbringing” and said he was “a very abusive, narcissistic psychopath.”

For his part, Ryan O’Neal reportedly banned Griffin from attending the funeral of his late partner, Farrah Fawcett, in 2009, saying “he’s a bad guy.” Not surprisingly, Griffin and Ryan O’Neal were estranged for many years, Griffin O’Neal told People in 2015.

As for the death of Gian-Carlo Coppola, Griffin O’Neal asked to be replaced on “Gardens on Stone” with another actor. His acting career never amounted to much, as he also dealt his substance abuse issues and multiple arrests for driving under the influence, leading to a 16-month prison sentenced in 2011.

It’s not immediately known if Francis Ford Coppola ever had any contact with Ryan O’Neal about his Gian-Carlo’s death. The director dedicated his next film, “Tucker: The Man and His Dream” to his late son.

Coppola’s tribute to O’Neal struck many of Instagram followers as incredibly gracious. One person wrote, “I have such respect and admiration for you to write such a kind post knowing the loss that you suffered.” Someone else said the post “exemplifies the true practice of magnanimity . . . may your heart feel the powerful presence of gentleness and peace.”

“The fruit of love is forgiveness,” someone else said. “What a beautiful post.”