Ryan O’Neal Admits He Was A Bad Father

After Ryan O’Neal announced to the world about his stage 2 prostate cancer diagnosis, the actor and husband of the late Farrah Fawcett sat down for an emotional and revealing interview on the Today show on Tuesday morning.

During the interview O’Neal, who has been an on and off absentee father to troubled children Redmond, 27, Griffin, 25, and Tatum, 48, opens up to Matt Lauer about his lack of fathering skills. The original interview was scheduled on Monday, but was canceled due to O’Neal leaving the interview minutes before saying that he had, “broke out into a terrible sweat. You wouldn’t have wanted me.”

Ryan O’Neal admitted to Lauer that he “wasn’t trained” in being a father, and when Lauer pressed the issue as to whether or not he was admitting to being a bad father, a distressed O’Neal replied, “Looks like it, doesn’t it? Sure looks like it … I suppose I was.” Although he admits to making mistakes, O’Neal says he shouldn’t be held accountable for his children as they are adults.”Griffin is 45, Tatum is 49, who’s the other one? Redmond is 27. They have to take hold of their own existences.”

The “other one”, is Redmond which is the only child he shared with actress Farrah Fawcett who lost her own battle with cancer back in 2009, and has been battling drug addiction for the last decade or so. Redmond has been arrested numerous times with charges directly stemming from drug use, and at the time of his mother’s death was incarcerated.

His other children have all dealt with troubles with the law and drug abuse problems as well.