Claim: Ryan O'Neal formerly was a boxer.

Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal -LRB- born April 20 , 1941 -RRB- , known professionally as Ryan O'Neal , is an American actor and former boxer . O'Neal trained as an amateur boxer before beginning his career in acting in 1960 . In 1964 , he landed the role of Rodney Harrington on the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place . The series was an instant hit and boosted O'Neal 's career . He later found success in films , most notably Love Story -LRB- 1970 -RRB- , for which he received Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations as Best Actor , What 's Up , Doc ? -LRB- 1972 -RRB- , Paper Moon -LRB- 1973 -RRB- , Stanley Kubrick 's Barry Lyndon -LRB- 1975 -RRB- , and A Bridge Too Far -LRB- 1977 -RRB- . Since 2007 , he has had a recurring role in the TV series Bones as Max , the father of the series ' protagonist .