Superfly' Actor Ron O'Neal Dies at 66
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LOS ANGELES - Actor Ron O'Neal, best known for starring in two "Superfly" blaxploitation movies in the 1970s, has died. O'Neal, who was 66, died Wednesday night at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer, his wife said.
O'Neal played a cocaine dealer named Youngblood Priest in "Superfly" and the sequel, "Superfly TNT," which he also directed. Though known for his work as a street tough character in the films, O'Neal also was a stage actor. In fact, it was his performance in Joseph Papp's Public Theater production of "No Place To Be Somebody" that brought O'Neal to the attention of the producers of "Superfly."
Following the "Superfly" films, O'Neal had a long career as a character actor on television and in movies, appearing in low-budget films like "Mercenary Fighters" in 1987 and "Up Against the Wall" in 1991, which he also directed. In 1996, he joined Jim Brown (news), Fred Williamson, Richard Roundtree (news) and Pam Grier (news) in a reunion of blaxploitation superstars in the film "Original Gangstas."
O'Neal capped his career two years ago with a performance in "On The Edge," teaming again with Fred Williamson and Ice-T.
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