Loved Ron in Superfly. its very unfortunate that he never did anything again on that level. this interview clearly shows what's been building in him. this is the first forum he's had where he could really unleash what he's been feelin about the business all these years. great stuff. RIP my brother.
Awesome interview. Ron O'Neal tells it like it is. 1970s Black actors and actresses went through a lot Hollyweird racism (bullshit). These black actors and actresses should NEVER be forgotten. Ashe.
This interview is wonderful and heartbreaking. I just saw Superfly on the big screen. It is better now in 2017 than when I saw it in NYC in 1972. I guess I finally caught up with it. This movie is GREAT.
Ditto that. Of interest is his brave statement showing the lack of respect he got from noted Black members of the art world. Critics etc who used his Superfly production as a soap box to build themselves up while bashing O'Neal down. I expected the resentment of the White, often Jewish power wielders in the film arena. He politely doesn't say "Jewish" but it was on his mind. I don't blame him for avoiding the categorization. Call Steven Spielberg an unfavorable name? Never work again in acting again...
Such a sweet comment, I have a Ron O'Neal shirt with his picture on it, that I wear. And I am watching his movie, The Hitter as we speak. They don't make men or actors like this anymore.
About 30 yrs ago,, always used to listen to a weekly radio show called "Soul corner" Mainly about so called black (?) music. It had an instrumental theme tune I really liked but it was never said what it was,, until Curtis Mayfield was subject for one entire program. When they played Freddie's dead I recognized the tune. I really like Mr Mayfields work of music and help spreading it the best I can. I think he was one of those greatest musicians in his days. About 10 yrs later I saw the movie "Superfly" on a badly recorded VHS, the end was missing. Kinda Ok movie great music of course ( had a hard time accepting the look of that Eldorado ) Hmm.. Now as Internet makes it easy to find any information some things come out of the shadows the way I see it related to me and my space and time.I can see you now Mr Ron O Neal. But Why did u had to go and die. Still, thank you,, both you and Curtis."White"guy Northern Europe.
One of the "GREATEST ACTOR" on the planet. "THANK YOU" Mr. Ron O'Neal. "THANK YOU" for your HONESTY. I Loooooooooooove his work. He's right, Black People Want Entertainment. I still watched his movie. Very intelligent Man. Beautiful Interview. Ron O'Neal was the TRUTH!
Ron O'Neal was always a role model for me as a kid and even now i see the brilliance of his acting and personality. It's very sad that someone so enlightened had to endure such embarrassments,it's generational discouragement for a race that looks back on these beautiful and talented black actors.
Being an actor myself....I get Ron O'Neal's point on the film makers desire to cast Muhammad Ali and that role of Frederick Douglass. That makes no sense when you are considering the craft of acting and the importance of the role and its depiction. Ron O'Neal is a brilliant actor and his point is greatly understood. May he R.I.P.
Thank you for doing this interview. A true rare treasure. Grateful to hear him in his own words. I don't think he's bitter, I think he's sad and resigned to the reality of a black actors life.
We all know that we were not given the same chances back in the 1970s, and probably not even in 2018. He had a right to be bitter. I loved the original Superfly, despite all of its shortcomings.
Sad that Ron couldn't have lived to see Black Panther (2018) as that was a water shed moment for black cinema .. to a certain degree. He is missed greatly.
Ron just like most artist born ahead of their time, they don't get to receive the monetary benefit from their craft, but you left behind a legacy that will live on like the builders of the pyramids, so rest in peace to my great brother.
Bill Duke is another that came up during this era and has some of the same kind of wisdom to share about the industry. He is still living and would be worth your time to listen to about his path in the business. Bill Duke.
today september 1, 2014..it's the wonderful.ron o'neal's birthday. wish you were offered the more meaty roles you wished so hard for. still love superfly though. miss you so.
In 1916 Blk Actor Noble Johnson and his postal employee brother set up the first Black owned Movie Company. Oscar Micheaux released his first film in 1919 Blks then were making their own movies and controlling their images. Motown put out good music and positive images of it's artists in the 1960s Unfortunately many of those Blaxploitation movies of the 1970s portrayed blacks as degenerates. Bw were hookers , sexually promiscuous , hip shaking finger popping , hyper sexed, and did many nude scenes. So there was no Historical r*ping of these women. Bm were pimps, junkies drug dealers, hustlars, studs. This justified incarceration, discrimination, police brutality -shootings. And it told the world subliminally that this is why these people can't get ahead in America, not because of historic racism & Jim crow. This is why Blks began protesting those images by the late 70s These Blk Actresses and Actors knew these were the images of Blk Americans seen around the world. But they were about profits.
just imagine if they had the multimedia access like we do today they would be making there own films fearless we have youtube, vimeo adobe final cut in almost every person home
I loved the original Superfly, but I have not seen the newer one. Ron was a very intelligent brother and he should have schooled others once he peeped the game. We could have all been educated.
it's quite understandable why he felt the way he did. the shame is how he was and still is ignored in ALL the media. they'll show scareface on tv which is crammed with drug peddling and gratuitous graphic slaughters but i haven't seen 'super fly' on tv in years.
Ibby Khan in one part of this interview ron explains that a black publicist was bitter because he didn't get the super fly account. he then coined the word blaxploitation to describe super fly and all the the black films that followed. also the owners of ebony and jet wanted to get in on some advertising with the movie to which the producer sig shore rudely refused them. after that they constantly trashed ron and the movie. otherwise he was the invisible man as far as they were concerned. even when he died the grudge went on. my brother who just told me he loved super fly had no idea ron o'neal had passed until i told him...last week! a slew of his other fans were not aware of his death for years. sad!!
Ibby Khan jet did feature an interview with his first wife when she was promoting her book of poems in which she writes about the pain on losing the man she loved to another woman and the eventual healing and discovering love for one's self. it's called 'hello to me with love'. it's absolutely beautiful. from the interview she sounded like a sweet wonderful woman.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, LOOKS AT HOW MUCH BLACKS MILLIONS & BILLIONAIRES THEY HAVE IN UNITED STATES, WHY THEY SHOULD BUILDS A MOVIES THEATERS IN EVERY MAJOR BLACKS COMMUNITY ETC
The great ones always suffer. if you are honest about your experience and feelings people blame you for being human. he prepared himself he was due everything he deserved and desired. so unfair and even black people have no empathy for him in these comments.
He was only getting by screaming "Freddie's Dead". That was, I think 1971. They used him. I hear the flood in Jamaica, Queens was in 1974 (Cooley High is coming in 1975). Thanks Skyfire/Sasquatch/Hulk/Juggernaut. Things REALLY get interesting when I was born in 1976. Wonder what year John Amos was dropped from Good Times?
After watching all four segments of this interview with Ron. Though it was at times painful to watch it surprised me just how angry and bitter my man is and probably died that way. I realize that "Superfly" placed him in a narrow scope for future roles, he was surely intelligent enough to know the name of the game and how it's placed. From black plays that were underfinanced to movie and TV roles not up to par with his acting ability........I hate to say it but damn, Ron......you knew the name of the game before you got in it. I hate to see my man geeked up like this even if it is all true. I only hope he found something to be happy about with his skills before passing. Peace.
ron had every reason in the world to be bitter in a major way. he made a movie that surprisingly grossed millions and powers that be (sadly, black powers tturned on him.
correct and continue: the black powers who turned on him purposely misconstrued the message of the movie and constantly attacked him. when he passed away none of the black publications barely bothered to report it to any degree. i was informed of him passing when i happened to catch it on a crawl on a white video station. many fans were not aware of his death for almost a year. oh yes, bitterness is more than appropriate for the way this handsome and talented man was treated!!!
i noted that many of ron's fans were not aware of his passing for almost a year. i've since then found that a surprisingly large number were clueless for Mannny Years. among them being by brother who became informed just a couple of weeks ago when were discussing how enjoyably real super fly was and what a magnificent job ron did in his role as priest.
Ron O’Neal was a supreme actor.His sentiments are shared by many,& it’s a travesty of how minorities have been shunned in Hollywood.Billy Dee Williams,Ivan Dixon,Calvin Lockhart,Lou Gosset Jr,Eartha Kitt,Rosalind Cash etc.etc.etc…These brilliant artist have had to endure sooo much…I appreciate them all
Yeah but, that's the problem... We, Blacks, have enough wealth to open a large venue in every major city SIMULTANEOUSLY for our productions, but we don't.
I suspect it may have been because he looks so much like Billy Dee Williams and in the 70s the powers that be decided "We have one Billy Dee Williams" and decided they didn't need another.
When ever people feel threatened they will erase who, or whatever makes them feel that way Hollywood. But now the covers are off and guess whose at the top.
Too bad Ron O'Neal didn't live long enough to see a Black movie become the highest grossing superhero movie in North America, namely The Black Panther.
Loved Ron in Superfly. its very unfortunate that he never did anything again on that level. this interview clearly shows what's been building in him. this is the first forum he's had where he could really unleash what he's been feelin about the business all these years. great stuff. RIP my brother.
Damn this was real. I wish we had more actors like him to speak up. You are missed King.
Awesome interview. Ron O'Neal tells it like it is. 1970s Black actors and actresses went through a lot Hollyweird racism (bullshit). These black actors and actresses should NEVER be forgotten. Ashe.
I agree
NAACP, CORE and Jews lethal combination
Listen to what Ron O'Neal says about Black Singers. It still true today. He spoke so much truth about the Entire entertainment industry.
This interview is wonderful and heartbreaking. I just saw Superfly on the big screen. It is better now in 2017 than when I saw it in NYC in 1972. I guess I finally caught up with it. This movie is GREAT.
I miss you Ron O'Neal I thank you so much you were the best actor.I wish you were here
Ditto that. Of interest is his brave statement showing the lack of respect he got from noted Black members of the art world. Critics etc who used his Superfly production as a soap box to build themselves up while bashing O'Neal down. I expected the resentment of the White, often Jewish power wielders in the film arena. He politely doesn't say "Jewish" but it was on his mind. I don't blame him for avoiding the categorization. Call Steven Spielberg an unfavorable name? Never work again in acting again...
Such a sweet comment, I have a Ron O'Neal shirt with his picture on it, that I wear. And I am watching his movie, The Hitter as we speak. They don't make men or actors like this anymore.
About 30 yrs ago,, always used to listen to a weekly radio show called "Soul corner" Mainly about so called black (?) music. It had an instrumental theme tune I really liked but it was never said what it was,, until Curtis Mayfield was subject for one entire program. When they played Freddie's dead I recognized the tune. I really like Mr Mayfields work of music and help spreading it the best I can. I think he was one of those greatest musicians in his days. About 10 yrs later I saw the movie "Superfly" on a badly recorded VHS, the end was missing. Kinda Ok movie great music of course ( had a hard time accepting the look of that Eldorado ) Hmm.. Now as Internet makes it easy to find any information some things come out of the shadows the way I see it related to me and my space and time.I can see you now Mr Ron O Neal. But Why did u had to go and die. Still, thank you,, both you and Curtis."White"guy Northern Europe.
Interesting interview. He kept it real
Superfly!!!!!!! I wish Ron O'Neal made more movies. He's a good actor
One of the "GREATEST ACTOR" on the planet.
"THANK YOU" Mr. Ron O'Neal.
"THANK YOU" for your HONESTY. I Loooooooooooove his work. He's right, Black People Want Entertainment.
I still watched his movie. Very intelligent Man.
Beautiful Interview. Ron O'Neal was the TRUTH!
Ron O'Neal was always a role model for me as a kid and even now i see the brilliance of his acting and personality. It's very sad that someone so enlightened had to endure such embarrassments,it's generational discouragement for a race that looks back on these beautiful and talented black actors.
Being an actor myself....I get Ron O'Neal's point on the film makers desire to cast Muhammad Ali and that role of Frederick Douglass. That makes no sense when you are considering the craft of acting and the importance of the role and its depiction. Ron O'Neal is a brilliant actor and his point is greatly understood. May he R.I.P.
! WOW !
Such clear, concise, BRUTAL honesty... GREAT JOB :)!
Thank you for doing this interview. A true rare treasure. Grateful to hear him in his own words. I don't think he's bitter, I think he's sad and resigned to the reality of a black actors life.
We all know that we were not given the same chances back in the 1970s, and probably not even in 2018. He had a right to be bitter. I loved the original Superfly, despite all of its shortcomings.
Sad that Ron couldn't have lived to see Black Panther (2018) as that was a water shed moment for black cinema .. to a certain degree. He is missed greatly.
man, this guy is good. Real good. Superfly is on the top 10 films of all time.
Ron just like most artist born ahead of their time, they don't get to receive the monetary benefit from their craft, but you left behind a legacy that will live on like the builders of the pyramids, so rest in peace to my great brother.
Drop-in real truth pay attention Ron was the man speaking truth
RON is the "TRUTH"👑he paved the way 💯
Bill Duke is another that came up during this era and has some of the same kind of wisdom to share about the industry. He is still living and would be worth your time to listen to about his path in the business.
Bill Duke.
I loved this man. He was too on to be tolerated. He was about forging play cinema even though Hollywood was about curtailing it.
Great actor, I feel for him.
Truth.........U r dearly missed
👑Ron O'Neal was the man
Very intelligent brother I wish you was here.
Great explanation of the Industry. The great equalizer will always be control of your own infrastructure and platform. Great video.
He made me feel his plight as a blk man
Wow, amazing interview!!! Love it.
today september 1, 2014..it's the wonderful.ron o'neal's birthday. wish you were offered the more meaty roles you wished so hard for. still love superfly though. miss you so.
This man's heart is understandably BROKEN and I offer that heartbreak is really what killed him.Cancer was just the final biology.
In 1916 Blk Actor Noble Johnson and his postal employee brother set up the first Black owned Movie Company.
Oscar Micheaux released his first film in 1919
Blks then were making their own movies and controlling their images.
Motown put out good music and positive images of it's artists in the 1960s
Unfortunately many of those Blaxploitation movies of the 1970s portrayed blacks as degenerates. Bw were hookers , sexually promiscuous , hip shaking finger popping , hyper sexed, and did many nude scenes.
So there was no Historical r*ping of these women.
Bm were pimps, junkies drug dealers, hustlars, studs. This justified incarceration, discrimination, police brutality -shootings. And it told the world subliminally that this is why these people can't get ahead in America, not because of historic racism & Jim crow. This is why Blks began protesting those images by the late 70s
These Blk Actresses and Actors knew these were the images of Blk Americans seen around the world.
But they were about profits.
Very interesting viewing. Ron spoke the truth, eloquently, and it clearly hurt his career. American tragedy.
I agree
just imagine if they had the multimedia access like we do today they would be making there own films fearless we have youtube, vimeo adobe final cut in almost every person home
I truly love Mr. RON O'NEIL! Brilliant, Handsome, Intelligent Actor!!!! ❤💋🎬❤💋❤🎬📽🎬❤💋🎬🎵📽He speaks the truth!!!!
I’m so shook , I’ve loved this actor for most of my life and now I know why I didn’t see more of his work , heartbreaking 💔
Amazing person.
Ron O'neal was a great guy , his father AKA catfish , lived in DC, owned a club back in the 70's , Ron O'Neal looks just like his father , handsome ,
His father was killed when Ron O'Neal was a teenager. Where are you getting your facts from, fool?
Ummm his father died in the 1950s 🤦🏽♀️
Good actor. 🤗
I loved the original Superfly, but I have not seen the newer one. Ron was a very intelligent brother and he should have schooled others once he peeped the game. We could have all been educated.
Prophetic
Such a shame he felt like this, great talent sadly gone.
it's quite understandable why he felt the way he did. the shame is how he was and still is ignored in ALL the media. they'll show scareface on tv which is crammed with drug peddling and gratuitous graphic slaughters but i haven't seen 'super fly' on tv in years.
Is that why he was ignored?
Ibby Khan
in one part of this interview ron explains that a black publicist was bitter because he didn't get the super fly account. he then coined the word blaxploitation to describe super fly and all the the black films that followed. also the owners of ebony and jet wanted to get in on some advertising with the movie to which the producer sig shore
rudely refused them. after that they constantly trashed ron and the movie. otherwise he was the invisible man as far as they were concerned. even when he died the grudge went on. my brother who just told me he loved super fly had no idea ron o'neal had passed until i told him...last week! a slew of his other fans were not aware of his death for years. sad!!
Ibby Khan
jet did feature an interview with his first wife when she was promoting her book of poems in which she writes about the pain on losing the man she loved to another woman and the eventual healing and discovering love for one's self. it's called 'hello to me with love'. it's absolutely beautiful. from the interview she sounded like a sweet wonderful woman.
Very much understood
Powerful
Ron O'Neal Black movie actor of the 70's a great era for the Black movie screen writers. It's a pleasure to watch.
Too bad he didn’t live long enough to see Black Panthers success! RIP!
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, LOOKS AT HOW MUCH BLACKS MILLIONS & BILLIONAIRES THEY HAVE IN UNITED STATES, WHY THEY SHOULD BUILDS A MOVIES THEATERS IN EVERY MAJOR BLACKS COMMUNITY ETC
The great ones always suffer. if you are honest about your experience and feelings people blame you for being human. he prepared himself he was due everything he deserved and desired. so unfair and even black people have no empathy for him in these comments.
I'm glad I got to really listen to how it really went down!
I have empathy for him. I will have support and respect my black artists more.
He was only getting by screaming "Freddie's Dead". That was, I think 1971. They used him. I hear the flood in Jamaica, Queens was in 1974 (Cooley High is coming in 1975). Thanks Skyfire/Sasquatch/Hulk/Juggernaut. Things REALLY get interesting when I was born in 1976.
Wonder what year John Amos was dropped from Good Times?
After watching all four segments of this interview with Ron. Though it was at times painful to watch it surprised me just how angry and bitter my man is and probably died that way. I realize that "Superfly" placed him in a narrow scope for future roles, he was surely intelligent enough to know the name of the game and how it's placed. From black plays that were underfinanced to movie and TV roles not up to par with his acting ability........I hate to say it but damn, Ron......you knew the name of the game before you got in it. I hate to see my man geeked up like this even if it is all true. I only hope he found something to be happy about with his skills before passing. Peace.
ron had every reason in the world to be bitter in a major way. he made a movie that surprisingly grossed millions and powers that be (sadly, black powers tturned on him.
correct and continue: the black powers who turned on him purposely misconstrued the message of the movie and constantly attacked him. when he passed away none of the black publications barely bothered to report it to any degree. i was informed of him passing when i happened to catch it on a crawl on a white video station. many fans were not aware of his death for almost a year. oh yes, bitterness is more than appropriate for the way this handsome and talented man was treated!!!
i noted that many of ron's fans were not aware of his passing for almost a year. i've since then found that a surprisingly large number were clueless for Mannny Years. among them being by brother who became informed just a couple of weeks ago when were discussing how enjoyably real super fly was and what a magnificent job ron did in his role as priest.
Yes he was bitter. Had every right to be. His own people shitted on him. EVERYTHING he said was TRUE.
@@dorothybrewer2773 I learned about his passing on ABC News.
Ron O’Neal was a supreme actor.His sentiments are shared by many,& it’s a travesty of how minorities have been shunned in Hollywood.Billy Dee Williams,Ivan Dixon,Calvin Lockhart,Lou Gosset Jr,Eartha Kitt,Rosalind Cash etc.etc.etc…These brilliant artist have had to endure sooo much…I appreciate them all
Yeah but, that's the problem...
We, Blacks, have enough wealth to open a large venue in every major city SIMULTANEOUSLY for our productions, but we don't.
I suspect it may have been because he looks so much like Billy Dee Williams and in the 70s the powers that be decided "We have one Billy Dee Williams" and decided they didn't need another.
When ever people feel threatened they will erase who, or whatever makes them feel that way Hollywood. But now the covers are off and guess whose at the top.
Very interesting person
On point!
Too bad Ron O'Neal didn't live long enough to see a Black movie become the highest grossing superhero movie in North America, namely The Black Panther.
The sad thing is we only get 1 box office hit like every 10 years smh .. wont be anymore Black Panthers for a while ...
Was this the last interview? When was this done?
This Interview happened in the summer of 1996.
Agreed 👍🏾
What year is this?
This s#!+ got deep... quick.
He'd have been a freind of mine.
They cheated him him kelly Fred Williamson and Ryan oneil blacklisted blackuala
He felt he was cheated in life as a black african American actor who's career who is spiraling outa control
he said we were cut down at the knees. NAACP owes him more than an apology.
View a black film thru the perspective of a black person.
Makes way too much common sense!
Who is racist...
Crazy old man