Ryan O’Neal Wins Warhol’s Farrah Fawcett Portrait

February 10, 2014

By Mary Elizabeth Williams

Last month a jury awarded title of a disputed Andy Warhol portrait of Farrah Fawcett to Ryan O’Neal, her long-term partner.  The decision was a result of the case The Board of Regents for the University of Texas System on Behalf of the University of Texas v. Ryan O’Neal [CITATION].

Warhol created two portraits of “Charlie’s Angels” icon Farrah Fawcett in 1980.  At the time of Fawcett’s death in 2009 one of the portraits hung in Fawcett’s home and the other in O’Neal’s in Malibu.

Fawcett willed her art collection to her alma mater, the University of Texas.  The University requested that O’Neal return the portrait from his home  and argued that the two paintings belong with estate.  O’Neal refused and the University turned to the courts. Their Complaint, filed on July 8, 2o11 in the Central District of California Western Division, stated: “Ms. Fawcett owned the Warhol Portraits for almost three decades until her death on June 25, 2009.  Ms. Fawcett obtained insurance and paid the premiums for that insurance on the Warhol Portraits, and publicly and privately represented that the portraits belonged to her.”

O’Neal claimed he is the rightful owner of the painting, but could not confirm that the painting was given to him in person during a visit to Warhol’s studio in 1980.  The case was decided based on testimony from Fawcett’s friends and family. 

The University questioned these statements, arguing that the portrait was given by O’Neal to Fawcett after a break-up. O’Neal acknowledged that he did ask Fawcett to store the painting for a brief period during an affair with another women. O’Neal stated in court that he removed the painting from above his bed at his then girlfriend’s request. O’Neal and Fawcett did reunite and were rumored to be engaged at the time of Fawcett’s death.

Todd S. Eagan, representing O’Neal, said the case never should have been filed and the University never had any claim over O’Neal’s Warhol. The University is planning to appeal the decision.

Sources: TMZ, “Ryan O’Neal — I’m Desperate To Keep Farrah Painting — ‘Or I’ll Die!'” December 13, 2013; CNN, “Ryan O’Neal can keep Farrah Fawcett portrait, jury says,” December 20, 2013; The Board of Regents for the University of Texas System on Behalf of the University of Texas v. Ryan O’Neal.

Disclaimer: This article is intended as general information, not legal advice, and is no substitute for seeking representation.