edonline
01-17-2004, 01:01 PM
http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---20150,00.html
'Superfly' Actor O'Neal Dies at 66
Fri, Jan 16, 2004, 01:01 PM PT
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Actor Ron O'Neal, who contributed to 1970s blaxploitation movies, died Wednesday, Jan. 14 at the age of 66.
O'Neal passed away at Los Angeles' Cedars Sinai Medical Center after a long battle with cancer.
The actor acted on the stage, in TV and movies, but is best known for playing Youngblood Priest, a cocaine dealer in 1972's "Superfly" and its sequel a year later, "Superfly T.N.T," which he also wrote and directed. Playing the bad ass in the extremely violent films became his trademark but also his cross after typecasting made it difficult to get meaty roles.
At that time, O'Neal turned to playing minor characters in films and making guest appearances in shows such as "Hill Street Blues" and "A Different World." He also played the hero/villain in a number of low-budget action flicks including 1987's "Mercenary Fighters," 1988's "Trained to Kill" and "Up Against the Wall" (1991), which he also directed. In 1996, he joined other ex-blaxploitation stars Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, Richard Roundtree and Pam Grier in a revival of the violent genre called "Original Gangstas."
O'Neal was born in 1937 to a factory worker who aspired to be a jazz musician. He joined Cleveland's Karamu House where he studied acting for nine years. A few years later he received recognition in Joseph Papp's Public Theatre production of "No Place to Be Somebody." He received the Obie, Clarence Derwent and Theatre World awards for his performance.
It was this role that is responsible for landing him the lead in "Superfly."
O'Neal is survived by his wife Audrey Poole O'Neal. Funeral services will be private.
'Superfly' Actor O'Neal Dies at 66
Fri, Jan 16, 2004, 01:01 PM PT
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Actor Ron O'Neal, who contributed to 1970s blaxploitation movies, died Wednesday, Jan. 14 at the age of 66.
O'Neal passed away at Los Angeles' Cedars Sinai Medical Center after a long battle with cancer.
The actor acted on the stage, in TV and movies, but is best known for playing Youngblood Priest, a cocaine dealer in 1972's "Superfly" and its sequel a year later, "Superfly T.N.T," which he also wrote and directed. Playing the bad ass in the extremely violent films became his trademark but also his cross after typecasting made it difficult to get meaty roles.
At that time, O'Neal turned to playing minor characters in films and making guest appearances in shows such as "Hill Street Blues" and "A Different World." He also played the hero/villain in a number of low-budget action flicks including 1987's "Mercenary Fighters," 1988's "Trained to Kill" and "Up Against the Wall" (1991), which he also directed. In 1996, he joined other ex-blaxploitation stars Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, Richard Roundtree and Pam Grier in a revival of the violent genre called "Original Gangstas."
O'Neal was born in 1937 to a factory worker who aspired to be a jazz musician. He joined Cleveland's Karamu House where he studied acting for nine years. A few years later he received recognition in Joseph Papp's Public Theatre production of "No Place to Be Somebody." He received the Obie, Clarence Derwent and Theatre World awards for his performance.
It was this role that is responsible for landing him the lead in "Superfly."
O'Neal is survived by his wife Audrey Poole O'Neal. Funeral services will be private.