Editing Ryan O'Neal (section)

=== 1981–1987: Career fluctuations ===
O'Neal was looking next to act in the lead role in the film version of ''[[The Thorn Birds]]'' to be directed by [[Arthur Hiller]], but the book ended up being adapted as a miniseries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ryan O'Neal: Hooked On 'Thorn Birds' And Farrah|last=Mann|first= Roderick|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 8, 1980|page= g1}}</ref> Instead O'Neal made a British-financed thriller, ''[[Green Ice]]'' (1981), for the most money he had ever received up front.<ref name="gene" /> The movie had a troublesome production (the original director quit during filming) and flopped at the box office. He had a cameo in ''[[Circle of Two]]'', a film his daughter made with [[Richard Burton]]. O'Neal said Burton told him during filming he was "five years away from winning acceptance as a serious actor" ... [and that] .. "On the other hand, my agent, [[Sue Mengers]] says I'm right on the threshold. Split the difference, that's two and a half years. One good picture, that's all I need..."<ref name="ice">{{cite news|title=Movies: The High Adventures of 'Green Ice'|last=Mann|first=Roderick|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 6, 1980|page= o25}}</ref>

However, in the early 1980s he focused on comedies. He received $2&nbsp;million for the lead in ''So Fine''.<ref name="fine">{{cite news|title=Movies: A 'Fine' Try For Laughs... At $12 Million|last=Taylor|first= Clarke|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 29, 1981|page= m26}}</ref> This was followed by ''[[Partners (1982 film)|Partners]]'' (1982), a [[farce]] written by [[Francis Veber]] in which O'Neal played a straight cop who goes undercover as one half of a gay couple. He then played a film director loosely based on Peter Bogdanovich in ''[[Irreconcilable Differences]]'' (1984); he received no upfront fee but got a percentage of the profits.<ref name="ryan2">{{cite news|title=Movies: Ryan O'Neal Wants The Reconcilable Role|last=Mann|first=Roderick|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 1, 1984|page= t21}}</ref> It was a minor box office success. A 1984 profile called him "the [[Billy Martin]] of Hollywood, whether it's his love affair with [[Farrah Fawcett]]... his precocious actor daughter Tatum or fisticuffs with his son Griffin. He just can't seem to stay out of the news." O'Neal said he felt more like [[Rocky Marciano]], "wondering why guys are always picking fights with me. If I'm in a good picture, they'll like me. If I'm not they'll hate me. Hey I'm mad too when I don't make good pictures."<ref>{{cite news|title=Star: Ryan's Hope: Movie Hit, Staying Fit And Famous|last=Manna |first=Sal |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 13, 1984 |page=ad3}}</ref>

O'Neal said too many of the roles he had played were "off the beaten path for me".<ref name="gene">{{cite news|title=Movies: Ryan revives--what happened to this guy, anyway?|last=Siskel|first=Gene|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 30, 1984|page=15}}</ref> In particular he regretted doing ''The Thief Who Came to Dinner'', ''A Bridge Too Far'', ''The Driver'', ''So Fine'', ''Partners'', and ''Green Ice''. He blamed this in part on having to pay [[alimony]] and [[child support]]. He also said agent Sue Mengers encouraged him to constantly work.<ref name="gene" /> "If I could get a good director to choose me for a picture, I was okay", he said. "But they stopped calling me in the mid-70s... I made a whole bunch of pictures that didn't make any money and people lost interest in me... Directors take me reluctantly. I feel I'm lucky to be here in the first place and they know it too. I'm a glamour boy, a Hollywood product. I have a TV background and they can point to the silly movies I've made."<ref name="gene" /> In 1985, O'Neal tried something different, playing an ''[[L.A. Herald Examiner]]'' sportswriter and sports columnist who also gambles far too much in ''[[Fever Pitch (1985 film)|Fever Pitch]]'' (1985),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Siskel |first1=Gene |title=FLAW-FILLED 'FEVER PITCH' CAPPED BY FLIP-FLOP ENDING |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-11-22-8503200744-story.html |access-date=December 10, 2023 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=November 22, 1985}}</ref> the final movie for director [[Richard Brooks]].<ref name="Britannica Richard Brooks">{{cite web |last1=Barson |first1=Michael |title=Richard Brooks {{!}} American Writer, Director & Oscar Winner {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Brooks |website=www.britannica.com |access-date=December 10, 2023 |language=en |date=November 30, 2023}}</ref> Even less conventional was ''[[Tough Guys Don't Dance (film)|Tough Guys Don't Dance]]'' (1987) for director [[Norman Mailer]].<ref name="The Guardian obit"/> Both movies flopped at the box office, and received poor reviews.<ref name="Britannica Richard Brooks"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rabin |first1=Nathan |title=My Year Of Flops, The Saga Continues, Case File #107: Tough Guys Don't Dance |url=https://www.avclub.com/my-year-of-flops-the-saga-continues-case-file-107-t-1798213893 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=December 10, 2023 |language=en |date=April 16, 2008}}</ref>