Dispute Over Ryan O'Neal's Andy Warhol Portrait Likely to go Before Jury

A judge Monday sounded inclined to allow a jury to determine whether Ryan O'Neal should have to hand over an Andy Warhol portrait of the late Farrah Fawcett to her alma mater, the University of Texas, but reserved a final ruling until later in the week.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maureen Duffy-Lewis, at the end of a hearing on a motion by the actor to dismiss the university's case, may have tipped her hand when she said, "I do expect to see you all at trial.''

O'Neal, 71, was romantically involved with Fawcett, the mother of his son Redmond, off-and-on for several decades. They never wed. The actress was 62 when she died of cancer on June 25, 2009.

The school sued O'Neal in August 2011 after the Warhol portrait of Fawcett was seen in the actor's home during an episode of the reality TV show "Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals,'' which is partially based in his Malibu home of 40 years. Lawyers for the university maintain the portrait is school property because Fawcett agreed to donate all her artwork to her alma mater after her death.

Both sides agree Warhol created two portraits. The school has one of them and wants the other, as well.

O'Neal says that when Warhol created the paintings, the artist said he wanted Fawcett to have one of the portraits and the "Love Story'' actor the other. His attorney, Martin Singer, told the judge that one of the most important decisions she will make is whether to allow the actor to tell a jury what Warhol -- a leading figure in pop art who died in 198 -- allegedly told him. UT attorneys maintain the testimony would be inadmissible hearsay.

"They don't have any evidence to dispute the evidence of ownership,'' Singer said.

After the hearing, UT lawyer Eric Nichols said it has always been his belief the case should be tried by a jury.

Nichols told Duffy-Lewis that it is undisputed that O'Neal removed the portrait from Fawcett's condominium when she died and that she intended through her living trust for her artwork to be passed to the university when she died.

He also said Fawcett's romantic relationship with O'Neal ended in 1997 when she caught him being unfaithful.

O'Neal says in two sworn statements that he reconciled with Fawcett in 2001, that they raised their son together and that they remained a romantic couple until her 2009 death. He denies ever relinquishing ownership of the disputed portrait.  

"I am shocked and appalled that the University of Texas has alleged that I (stole) the Warhol portrait, which was a gift from my good friend, the late Andy Warhol,'' O'Neal says. "It is a prized possession and a precious memento of my life with Ms. Fawcett. The allegations by the University of Texas are completely false.''

According to O'Neal, he met Warhol in the 1970s and Fawcett in 1979. He says he introduced Fawcett to Warhol in 1980 and that the artist asked if he could make a portrait of her in connection with the production of an episode of the television news program "20/20.''

"I told Mr. Warhol that of course he could create a portrait as long as he gave one copy to Ms. Fawcett and another copy to me,'' O'Neal says. "Mr. Warhol readily agreed to my request for two copies of the portrait.''

Warhol presented both with their copies several weeks later, according to O'Neal.

"Mr. Warhol thanked us and then handed one copy to me, saying, 'Ryan, this is for you,''' O'Neal says. "Similarly, he handed a copy to Ms. Fawcett and said, 'Farrah, this is for you.'''

O'Neal says he usually kept his copy at his Malibu home, although he sometimes displayed it at Fawcett's Los Angeles residence to protect it from the ocean air.

"At no time did I ever relinquish ownership of my copy of the Warhol portrait, regardless of whether it was displayed at my home or Ms. Fawcett's home,'' O'Neal says. "At no time have I represented to anyone that I did not own my copy of the Warhol portrait.''

The actor says Warhol gave him and Fawcett other gifts in the 1980s, as well. For example, the artist made napkin drawings, one featuring O'Neal's lips and another depicting one of Fawcett's eyes, according to O'Neal.

"On another occasion Mr. Warhol presented us with a joint gift of a napkin drawing featuring a montage of hearts and he inscribed it to both Ms. Fawcett and me,'' O'Neal says. "It is my recollection that the napkin drawing was primarily maintained at Ms. Fawcett's residence. I have never relinquished my ownership interest in the napkin drawing.''

O'Neal maintains the napkin was removed from Fawcett's home after her death and given to the University of Texas. He has countersued to get it back and also wants unspecified damages.