Ron O'Neal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ron O'Neal
O'Neal in Super Fly (1972)
Born	(1937-09-01)September 1, 1937 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	January 14, 2004(2004-01-14) (aged 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	The Ohio State University
Occupation	Actor, director, writer
Years active	1969–2002
Spouse(s)	Carol T. Banks ​ (m. 1973⁠–⁠1980)​ Audrey Pool ​ (m. 1993⁠–⁠2004)​

Ron O'Neal (born September 1, 1937 – died January 14, 2004) was an American actor, director, and screenwriter. He became well-known for his role as Youngblood Priest in the film Super Fly (1972). He also starred in its sequel, Super Fly T.N.T. (1973). O'Neal helped direct and write the sequel. He also worked as a writer and director for the movie Up Against the Wall.

Ron O'Neal's Early Life

Ron O'Neal grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents were Eunice and Ernest O'Neal. His father was a jazz musician who worked in a factory. Ron's father died when Ron was 16 years old. Six months later, his brother also passed away in an accident. After these sad events, his mother worked at a hospital to support the family.

Ron finished high school at Glenville High School. He then went to Ohio State University. There, he became interested in acting after seeing a play called Finian's Rainbow. From 1957 to 1964, he joined the Karamu House company in Cleveland. This was the oldest African-American theater company in the United States. During this time, he acted in plays like Kiss Me, Kate and A Streetcar Named Desire. He also worked as a housepainter to earn money. In 1964, he moved to New York City. He taught acting classes and performed in Off-Broadway plays.

Ron O'Neal's Acting Career

In 1969, Ron O'Neal appeared in the Broadway play Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. Later that year, he gained more attention for his role in No Place to Be Somebody. This play won a Pulitzer Prize. For his work, O'Neal won an Obie Award and other honors.

His big break came with the film Super Fly (1972). Even though it was made with a small budget, the movie became a huge success. This led to a sequel, Super Fly T.N.T. (1973). O'Neal directed this movie himself and played Youngblood Priest again. However, the sequel did not do as well at the box office.

In 1975, he returned to Broadway. He starred in All Over Town, directed by Dustin Hoffman. During the 1970s, he also performed in plays by Shakespeare. These included Othello, Macbeth, and The Taming of the Shrew.

Ron O'Neal also had many roles in television. He often played detective characters. He was a police detective named Isadore Smalls in the TV series The Equalizer. This show ran for three seasons in the mid-1980s. In 1984, he played Colonel Ernesto Bella in the movie Red Dawn. From 1988 to 1992, O'Neal had a recurring role on the NBC sitcom A Different World. He played Mercer Gilbert, the wealthy father of Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy). In 1996, he appeared in the film Original Gangstas.

Ron O'Neal's Personal Life

Ron O'Neal was married twice. His first marriage was to actress Carol Tillery Banks. They were married from November 1973 until 1980. Later, he married Audrey Pool in 1993. They remained married until his death in 2004.

Ron O'Neal's Death

Ron O'Neal passed away in Los Angeles on January 14, 2004. He had been battling pancreatic cancer for four years. Interestingly, this was the same day Super Fly was released on DVD in the United States.

The music group Wu-Tang Clan honored him in 2014. Their album A Better Tomorrow includes a song titled "Ron O'Neal".

Ron O'Neal's Filmography

Actor

Director and Writer

• Super Fly T.N.T. (1973)
• Up Against the Wall (1992)