Francis Ford Coppola shares Ryan O’Neal tribute after household tragedy

The legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has shared an surprising tribute to Ryan O’Neal, who died December 8 on the age of 82.

The Godfather director, 84, posted a photograph of the late Barry Lyndon star from his heyday whereas complementing his work in iconic movies in his caption.

‘Ryan O’Neal has handed, deserving of reward actually for his tremendous work in BARRY LYNDON, WHAT’S UP DOC and PAPER MOON,’ the Oscar winner wrote.

He then talked about a sorrow the 2 Hollywood icons had shared for many years.  ‘Our households are united in tragedy, which is one other expression of affection. Rest in peace, bless you Ryan.’

The Outsiders director was referring to a 1986 boating accident involving O’Neal’s son Griffin that claimed the lifetime of Coppola’s son Gian-Carlo on the age of 23. 

The legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has shared an surprising tribute to Ryan O’Neal, who died December 8 on the age of 82. O’Neal’s son Griffin was concerned in a 1986 boating accident that killed Coppola’s son Gian-Carlo

The youthful Coppola was working as a crew member on his father’s drama Gardens Of Stone within the Washington, DC, space on the time when he and Griffin O’Neal, now 59, determined to lease a ship over the Memorial Day weekend.

O’Neal, who was driving the boat within the South River close to Edgewater, MD, tried to glide between two slower shifting boats, not realizing one was being towed by the opposite, inflicting his boat to run into the tow line between the 2 vessels.

O’Neal was capable of duck for security, however Coppola wasn’t as fortunate. He was struck by the tow line and suffered a devastating head wound  

O’Neal acquired a minor shoulder damage within the collision

His agent, Barbara Lawrence, advised the Washington Post the 2 males had met whereas making the movie and determined to go boating on the vacation. 

Griffin had a small half in Francis Ford Coppola’s Garden Of Stone, however he dropped out after the accident and left performing just a few years later.

The actor, who at first claimed it was Gian-Carlo driving the boat, was later judged not responsible of manslaughter, however he was convicted on a lesser cost of negligently working a ship. 

He was fined $200 and sentenced to 18-months probation. 

During the trial, Griffin was at instances accompanied by his father Ryan in courtroom. 

Gian-Carlo’s girlfriend, Jacqueline De La Fontaine, was on the boat across the time of the crash. She was pregnant and later gave start to their daughter Gia, now 36.

Like many members of her household, Gia went on to develop into a filmmaker.

Francis, who has acquired a number of Academy Awards and gained the Cannes Film Festival’s Palm D’Or prize for The Conversation and Apocalypse Now, acquired condolences and reward for his gracious feedback. 

‘A conflicted soul – Francis Ford Coppola – genius of our time- writes lovely phrases in his reminiscence,’ commented one fan.

The Godfather director, 84, posted a photograph of O’Neal from his heyday complementing his work in iconic movies and remembering they have been each ‘united in tragedy,’ referencing the boating accident

Fans praised the Godfather director for his kindness and style regardless of O’Neal’s connection to one in every of his most harrowing tragedies

Fans have been touched by what they referred to as the director’s ‘sterling instance,’ and referred to as him a ‘genius of our time’

Gian-Carlo Coppola (r) was killed at age 23 whereas using in a ship  pushed by Griffin O’Neal over the Memorial Day weekend in 1986 whereas engaged on Gardens Of Stone together with his father.  Pictured right here in New York in January 1986 with Roman Coppola, (l) and Francis Ford Coppola 

Francis later mentioned Gardens of Stone ‘price me all the pieces,’ and that he would ‘fantasize about having not made’ the movie, admitting ‘I would not have misplaced my son’ (Pictured in Beverly Hills together with his spouse Eleanor and Gian-Carlo in April 1980)

Griffin O’Neal was discovered responsible of negligence within the demise of Gian-Carlo Coppola and sentenced to 18 months probation and a $200 tremendous. He bowed out of Gardens Of Stone and left performing just a few years later  (Pictured in London in 1987)

‘Francis is a extremely developed human being. We ought to study from his sterling instance’ admonished one other. 

Writer, producer and actress Regina Banali advised the Youth Without Youth director, ‘Francis, that may be very massive of you. I actually respect you much more for posting this.’

In a 2020 interview with Vulture, the acclaimed director mentioned ‘There’s one film I wouldn’t have made as a result of it price me all the pieces, and that was one of many motion pictures I made at a time after I needed to make a film yearly to only hold my home and my family collectively,’ he acknowledged.

‘I fantasize having not made Gardens of Stone,’ he admitted, including, ‘I wouldn’t have misplaced my son.’