Ron O'Neal
Actor

Ron O'Neal Net Worth

Ron O'Neal was a classically trained actor from Utica, New York, best known for his iconic role as Youngblood Priest in the 1972 crime drama Super Fly. After graduating high school, he attended Ohio State University and developed an interest in acting after seeing Finian's Rainbow at the Karamu House. He moved to New York in 1967 and taught acting classes in Harlem to support himself. His first big break came when he was cast in a Broadway production of Ceremonies In Dark Old Men. He was propelled into the spotlight after appearing in Charles Gordone's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, No Place to Be Somebody. He was then cast in Super Fly, which became a surprise box-office hit. However, the criticism of the film soured his career and he was typecast in roles of pimps and drug dealers. He returned to Broadway and appeared in a number of television guest spots. He also appeared in a number of stage productions, directed the 1991 drama Up Against A Wall, and appeared in the 1996 hit film Original Gangsters. He died in 2004 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Ron O'Neal is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor, Director, Writer
Birth Day September 01, 1937
Birth Place  Utica, New York, United States
Age 83 YEARS OLD
Died On January 14, 2004(2004-01-14) (aged 66)\nLos Angeles, California, United States
Birth Sign Libra
Cause of death Pancreatic Cancer
Education Glenville High School Ohio State University
Occupation Actor, Director, Writer
Years active 1970–2002
Spouse(s) Carol T. Banks (m. 1973–1980) Audrey Pool (m. 1993–2004)

💰 Net worth

Ron O'Neal, a multi-talented individual, is an acclaimed actor, director, and writer in the United States. With an illustrious career spanning several decades, he has gained recognition and acclaim for his remarkable skills and contribution to cinema. In 2024, it is estimated that Ron O'Neal's net worth ranges between $100K and $1M. His vast expertise, coupled with his diverse range of talents, has undoubtedly contributed to his financial success in the entertainment industry.

Biography/Timeline

1957

Ron O'Neal grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, to the parents of Eunice and Ernest O'Neal a former jazz musician who earned his living as a factory worker; Ernest died when Ron was 16 years old. Only six months later his brother, who worked as a truck driver, was killed in an accident. Following these tragedies his mother found a job in a hospital to sustain the family. He graduated from Glenville High School, then attended Ohio State University, and there became interested in acting after seeing the play Finian's Rainbow. He joined the Karamu House company in Cleveland, Ohio, working with the oldest African-American theatre company in the United States from 1957 until 1964, during which period he appeared in plays such as Kiss Me, Kate, A Streetcar Named Desire and A Raisin in the Sun, while working as a housepainter to earn his living. In 1964, he went to New York, teaching acting classes at the Harlem Youth Arts Program and appearing in Off-Broadway plays.

1969

In 1969, his theatrical breakthrough came in the Broadway play Ceremonies in Dark Old Men. In 1970, appearing in Charles Gordone's Pulitzer Prize-winning play No Place to Be Somebody, he garnered even more attention, winning an Obie Award and several other prizes. From there, he moved on to cinema with two minor roles in Move (1970) and The Organization (1971), after which he was contacted by a friend from Cleveland, Screenwriter Phillip Fenty, who suggested he star in an all-black film about a drug dealer. Although shot on a meager budget, the film, Super Fly (1972), went on to become a major hit at the box office.

1973

O'Neal was first married to Actress Carol Tillery Banks, from November 1973 until 1980 (divorced), and then to Audrey Pool, from 1993 until his death in 2004.

1977

During those years, film roles that went beyond stock characters were few and far between, notable exceptions being his roles in Brothers (1977), the television movie Brave New World (1980), and the miniseries The Sophisticated Gents (1981). He had a number of television guest appearances, frequently playing detective roles. In 1988, O'Neal had a recurring role as Mercer Gilbert on the popular NBC television sitcom A Different World, playing the wealthy father of the spoiled southern belle Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy). His appearances lasted through 1992. In 1996, he appeared in the Blaxploitation reunion film Original Gangstas.

2004

He died in Los Angeles on January 14, 2004, after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer, on the same day Super Fly was released on DVD in the United States.

2014

The Wu-Tang Clan's 2014 album A Better Tomorrow includes a song called "Ron O'Neal".

Some Ron O'Neal images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.