The troubled life of actress Tatum O'Neal took another turn for the worse this weekend. O'Neal, who is in the record books for being the youngest Oscar winner for Paper Moon at the age of 10, was busted purchasing crack and cocaine in New York City on Sunday, says The New York Daily News.
The 44-year-old Rescue Me actress initially claimed that she was researching a role when cops saw her exchanging cash for drugs on East Broadway, but later pleaded with police to let her off the hook.
O'Neal has had a rocky past, admitting to promiscuity and drug use as a teenager as a result of a troubled domestic life at the hands of her father, actor Ryan O'Neal (he denied the allegations). She chronicled many of her problems, including heroin addiction, in her memoir A Paper Life.
Cops found her with a bag of crack cocaine, a bag of regular cocaine, and a crack pipe. O'Neal was charged with a misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The man dealing to her was also arrested.
O'Neal told cops that this was her first relapse since her much-publicized cleanup.
In addition to her role on FX's critically acclaimed Rescue Me, O'Neal was thrust into the spotlight with a turn on the 2006 edition of Dancing with the Stars and also starred in MyNetwork TV's Wicked Wicked Games.
everyone has an addiction. hope she fights on. 420
skaizun - it isn't her show - it's about firefighters in NY post 9.11. She's a much better actress than any of the people you mention.
Crack is F@@@@D she's very naughty. KIDS - dont do drugs, stick to weed instead.
@ cybernaut_ev must be nice to be so high and mighty that u can judge addicts and call them weak. Never judge somebody until you walk a mile in their shoes, it just makes an a$$ of you.
Once the drugs get 'em, forget it.
I disagree that just because you won an oscar at 10, you're ruined for life. What do you know at 10?
People get hooked on drugs because of weakness of the psyche.
Well, when you win an academy award at 10 yrs old, or you are on top of the world and music industry at age 18 like Spears was, you get a bit older and realize that, not only have you done more in your career than almost everyone that enters your industry, but you look in the mirror and realize that no matter what you do in the future; no matter how hard you work, you are never going to be and will never be more than you already were. You are forever a shadow of your former self, whereas most people continue to "work their way up." I can understand where these addictions come from, simply because a realization that if at my age of 22 I would never be more than I already am, and nothing to truly look forward to in my life, I'd probably be at risk too. Though, I admit crack is some serious crap.moreless
If it's true that this is her first relapse, I'm glad that the cops got to her before she actually took the drugs so she has a second chance to continue staying clean. God Help and Bless.
I don't know what the big deal is! She's just the same as Spears/Lohan/Hilton, but without the money or fan following! Seriously, though, I've never seen (or even heard of!) her show, but I think the title says it all.
I'm so sad about this, she's my favorite. Hope she can get out of this :(
lol, yeah she is really "researching" a role very deep isn't she!
I hope she really gets the help she needs. She's too talented to waste herself on something damaging like that. Wisen up and get clean.
Cops found her with a bag of crack cocaine, a bag of regular cocaine, and a crack pipe and she was buying crack - that's some through crack research!
Too bad :(
"initially claimed that she was researching a role when cops saw her exchanging cash for drugs on East Broadway"
Ahhh...the old research excuse. Didn't help Chris Langham much when he got arrested for owning child porn either.
Damn that sux.
It's sad to see someone with so much talent to fall victim to addiction
She doesn't have a dealer that delivers?!
dang you wuld think a star like that would have better conections
Mmmmm, crack!