Tatum O'Neal
Considered for lead role in *She's Funny That Way* (mid-1990s).
Tatum Beatrice O'Neal, born on November 5, 1963, in the Westwood area of Los Angeles, is an American actress who achieved historic fame as a child performer. She is the daughter of actors Ryan O'Neal and Joanna Moore, and her brother Griffin was born the following year. Her parents divorced in 1967, after which her father quickly married actress Leigh Taylor-Young, with whom he had Tatum's half-brother, Patrick; that marriage ended in 1973. She also has another half-brother, Redmond, from her father's relationship with Farrah Fawcett. Her mother died of lung cancer at age 63. O'Neal's paternal ancestry includes Irish, English, and Ashkenazi Jewish roots.
At just ten years old, O'Neal became the youngest person ever to win a competitive Academy Award, taking home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar and the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year for her role in *Paper Moon* (1973). She played Addie Loggins, a child con artist mentored by a Depression-era grifter portrayed by her father. She turned nine during the autumn 1972 filming. On the 2010 show *RuPaul's Drag Race*, she noted that her father did not attend the Academy Awards with her due to his schedule. She went on to star in *The Bad News Bears* (1976), *International Velvet* (1978), *Little Darlings* (1980), and co-starred in *Nickelodeon* (1976) with her father and *Circle of Two* (1980) with Richard Burton. She was cast in *Split Image* but was replaced by Karen Allen because she was too young for night scenes. She later appeared in the *Faerie Tale Theatre* episode "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" (1984). After a sparse period of only five films in fifteen years, including *Basquiat* (1993), she returned to acting in the early 2000s with guest roles on *Sex and the City*, *8 Simple Rules*, and *Law & Order: Criminal Intent*. She had a recurring role on *Rescue Me* as Maggie Gavin, and in 2006 competed on *Dancing with the Stars*, being eliminated in the second round. She later played the vengeful Blythe Hunter on *Wicked Wicked Games* and appeared in the film *My Brother* (2007) and the Lifetime film *Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal* (2008). In 2021, she appeared in *Not to Forget*, a film about Alzheimer's disease. Her personal life includes a relationship with tennis player John McEnroe, whom she married in 1986; they had three children before divorcing in 1994. Following the divorce, she s
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Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
In the mid-1990s, *People* reported that *Squirrels to the Nuts* (later retitled *She's Funny That Way*) would feature Tatum O'Neal in the leading role. Director Peter Bogdanovich, who had directed O'Neal in *Paper Moon* (1973) and *Nickelodeon* (1976), was quoted as saying, "This movie is my gift to her." The script was co-written by Bogdanovich and his ex-wife Louise Stratten around 1999 and 2000. However, the project was shelved after the death of John Ritter, who was originally cast in a different role. When the film was officially announced in 2012, O'Neal was no longer attached; Brie Larson was initially signed for the role, and later Imogen Poots was cast. O'Neal's involvement was limited to this early development phase.
Reader's Guide
Tatum O'Neal's connection to *She's Funny That Way* is a footnote in the film's long development history. In the mid-1990s, she was the intended star of what was then titled *Squirrels to the Nuts*, with director Peter Bogdanovich calling the project a gift to her. This was a planned reunion for the pair, who had worked together on *Paper Moon* (1973) and *Nickelodeon* (1976). However, the film went through multiple delays and cast changes over nearly two decades. By the time production finally began in 2013, O'Neal was no longer involved, and the role of the call-girl-turned-actress was played by Imogen Poots. O'Neal's early casting is a notable piece of trivia about the film's origins.
Did You Know?
- Tatum O'Neal was considered for the lead role in *She's Funny That Way* in the mid-1990s, when it was still titled *Squirrels to the Nuts*.
- Director Peter Bogdanovich said of the planned project, "This movie is my gift to her."
- O'Neal had previously worked with Bogdanovich on *Paper Moon* (1973) and *Nickelodeon* (1976).
- The film's script was co-written by Bogdanovich and his ex-wife Louise Stratten around 1999 and 2000.
- By the time the film was officially announced in 2012, O'Neal was no longer attached to the project.
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