Ryan O'Neal Treated for Leukemia

May 2, 2001 -- Actor Ryan O'Neal, best known for the 1970 tearjerker Love Story, has chronic leukemia, but his condition is not life-threatening, his spokeswoman told Reuters today.

The 60-year-old actor's spokeswoman, Dede Binder, acknowledged the star's recent diagnosis but told Reuters, "It is treatable and he is doing very well." She said that O'Neal has already undergone treatment and is back at his Los Angeles-area home.

O'Neal is suffering from chronic myelogenous leukemia, which attacks bone marrow. It is usually treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplants. O'Neal's rep did not elaborate on what kind of treatment he has been receiving.

O'Neal, whose films include Barry Lyndon and What's Up Doc?, recently completed his latest film, People I Know, which stars Al Pacino and Kim Basinger.

The actor has a son, Redmond, from his 15-year relationship with Farrah Fawcett, and a daughter, Oscar-winning actress Tatum O'Neal, with whom he co-starred in the 1973 film Paper Moon.

O'Neal himself was nominated for an Oscar for his work in Love Story, as was his co-star Ali MacGraw. In the romance, MacGraw dies of cancer, prompting the famous line from O'Neal's character, "Love means never having to say you're sorry."

Reuters contributed to this story.