Tatum O’Neal is smiling brightly alongside her daughter, Emily McEnroe. That’s an amazing triumph, considering the Oscar winner nearly died of a stroke almost six years ago.
O’Neal, 62, rose to fame as a child with her star turn in Paper Moon, the 1973 American road comedy-drama directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The daughter of actor Ryan O’Neal, she was so successful in the role that she scored an Academy Award at the age of 10. She went on to roles in films like the teen flick Little Darlings and The Bad News Bears, but struggled in subsequent years with personal problems, including widely-reported addiction issues and a fractured marriage to tennis star John McEnroe.
While O’Neal has struggled to get her strength back following her 2020 stroke, a new photo posted to her Instagram on Tuesday shows she seems to be doing great. Smiling brightly alongside her daughter, O’Neal sported a pair of glasses and rosy cheeks as she held up the camera for a selfie. After everything O’Neal has been through, it’s great to see her feeling healthy again.
Her Debilitating Stroke
O’Neal suffered a severe stroke in 2020 when she overdosed on pills in her Century City apartment. Dealing with chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis, her doctor had prescribed her morphine, O’Neal recalled to Variety. Ultimately, the stroke forced her to fall into a coma for about six weeks. When she woke up, she was unable to talk, walk, or see.
O’Neal Triumphs at Her Son’s Wedding
In June 2025, O’Neal showed how far she’s come when she gave a speech at her sonKevin McEnroe‘s wedding to actress Fern Cozine. The moment was a tremendous triumph for O’Neal, considering she nearly died just a few years before.
“My mother — who suffered a stroke in 2020 that left her temporarily nonverbal and immobile, but who fought her way back with grit and, at times, a kind of abridged elegance — got up and gave a speech,” Kevin told Vogue. “She thanked my father and stepmother for having her, told a bit of her wild life story, which she can’t seem to help, but also spoke of a future filled with love, hope, and joy. She was brave and gracious, and I was proud of her for doing so.”
Related: Tennis Legend, 66, Makes Bold Admission About His Life Falling Apart
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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