Oliver Barrett IV is the heir of an upper-class East Coast family who not only attends Harvard where he plays ice hockey, but his last name is plastered on buildings all over the campus. So Jenny’s nickname of ‘Preppy’ certainly has merit. Ryan O’Neal first stepped onto the scene in 1960, shortly after he had also made a career in boxing. He was even a favorite to play Rocky Balboa until Sly bullied his way into starring in the film he wrote. But I cannot disagree with how the rounds played out. We first saw him as a regular on NBC’s Empire in the early ‘60s. And most will remember him from his long stay on Peyton Place playing Rodney Harrington in over 500 episodes.
