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Farrah Fawcett's Death Battle | 05/15/2009 10:15 am

Farrah Fawcett Confronts Death as Ryan O'Neal Hides a Lawsuit

Craig Nevius accuses Farrah Fawcett’s lover Ryan O’Neal and friend Alana Stewart of wrestling control of his documentary.
By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© NBC News

Farrah Fawcett’s former friend and business partner has filed a civil lawsuit against the dying 62-year-old actress — claiming that Fawcett’s loved ones unjustly stole his documentary. Craig Nevius accuses Fawcett’s life companion Ryan O’Neal and friend Alana Stewart of interfering with his role as producer, according to published reports.

Fawcett reportedly insisted that Nevius lose creative control of the project because she disliked his vision for the piece. According to the New York Post, Nevius, who originally titled the film "A Wing and a Prayer," pushed for a story line that blamed the paparazzi for her failing health. After much disagreement, on April 20 Fawcett signed control over to O’Neal.

The lawsuit disgusted O’Neal so much that he chose not to inform his bedridden partner of the goings-on. Paul Bloch, a representative for Stewart and O’Neal, told Entertainment Weekly, "We hope and we pray that Farrah doesn’t hear or see of this lawsuit. We didn’t expect this at all, we didn’t get any warning — it’s very sad."

Fawcett’s documentary, "Farrah’s Story," follows the icon’s  two-and-a-half-year struggle with rectal cancer, which includes her travel to Germany for experimental stem-cell treatment as well as brief confrontations with the paparazzi. "Farrah’s Story" airs Friday at nine o’clock PM on NBC. Click here for photographs of scenes from the documentary.

29 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

nanchan u

This is all over the news, so unfortunately, Farrah will hear about it.

I hope that this is resolved as soon as possible.

By nanchan u on 05/15/2009 10:45 am
karena karson
they have a tribute video over at http://jjpeg.com/watch28015.html if anyone wants to see some of her clips throughout the years
By karena karson on 06/25/2009 1:54 pm
Jeannot Kensinger
Too bad this has to happen. I hope she does not hear much of the news at this time in her life.
By Jeannot Kensinger on 05/15/2009 11:04 am
Norma Grooms
Our thoughts are with Farrah and her family and friends.  Truly, a very special "Angel."
By Norma Grooms on 05/15/2009 11:04 am
michele T
Sue her?  Talk about greedy people in the world!  People are so sad anad sick at times..Trying to make a buck out of a sad event in someones life,  talk about a creep!
By michele T on 05/15/2009 12:29 pm
Deena B.
If she did not like his "vision" for the piece she had every right to sign it over to someone whose vision she did trust.  Sadly, it is her story to tell, not that of Craig Nevius. 
By Deena B. on 05/15/2009 3:35 pm
Patricia Sprofera
Mr. Nevius’s actions are unbelievable and they only add to the sadness of Ms. Fawcett, her family and her friends.
By Patricia Sprofera on 05/16/2009 12:45 am
Mary Utrup
The girl is dying in the most tragic way after displaying more courage than I know I have and this guy wants to know where his money is? It saddens and disolusions me to know that there actually are people like that in this world. I think it can be kept from Farrah given the level of medication she is on now. But my heart truly goes out to Ryan O’Neal and all those trying to help her during this terrible time.
By Mary Utrup on 05/16/2009 9:03 am
Mel Berg
I watched her documentary last night. I don’t believe the gall and greed of someone, suing over what is her story, and such a sad one at that. My she and her family find comfort and peace in the Lord.
By Mel Berg on 05/16/2009 1:43 pm
Sherry Dale
I agree Mel, I just watched the documentary as well.  At times was hard to watch (had similar nightmare going for the past 3 years) and being sick is NO fun.  I like Farrah willed myself to get better, but unfortunately that doesn’t work.  I am still pulling for her, she is a fighter, she is beautiful and I pray that the chemo eradicates the cancer.
By Sherry Dale on 05/16/2009 1:55 pm
kermie b

I saw the documentary on Friday and wondered throughout the entire first half why she was not losing her hair.  I had a dear friend, Jean, who died too young from a similar incurable cancer, diagnosed carelessly by doctors who missed the warning signs, too late, whose beautiful hair fell out very early on in her treatment.  When you are in a fight for your life vanity is the first thing to go out the window.  I did not understand if it was because of the alternative treatment Farrah had in Germany (so painful to watch), or if she did not have more aggressive chemo until it was too late, because a big fuss was made toward the end of the documentary (this was puzzling) about her losing her hair.  Tragically, also toward the end of the film, Farrah apparently did not have the strength to recognize her own son, and even O’Neal talked about her in the past tense.  The film was beyond incredible on Farrah’s part to show what cancer looks like, the pain, the ugliness, trying to be brave for everyone else.  This was an important work for pulling the blinders away from a ravaging disease. 

I kept thinking, if a famous woman who could afford to pick the best treatment available around the globe couldn’t win her battle, what does that say about the rest of us, stuck with our ordinary insurance, using up precious savings?  Unacceptable.  My friend Jean died doped up on drugs, surrounded by loved ones, unrecognizable, in excrutiating pain.  She was only 45.  Unacceptable.  She was told for a year that she only had a backache (she knew it was more than that) because the insurance company did not want to pay for more intensive tests.  Unacceptable.  Jean could have used her time suing the company or fighting her cancer; she chose the latter.  What they put her through was criminal.  This documentary brought it all flooding back. 

By kermie b on 05/17/2009 3:18 am
Renee B
Thank you for your input!
By Renee B on 05/17/2009 10:15 pm
Jeannot Kensinger

Have my head in the sand, could not watch it. Two out of four of my friends died from breast cancer, the other two heart attacks.

There comes a point when I can’t think about it anymore and I duck and hide. 

By Jeannot Kensinger on 05/17/2009 7:52 am
Mommy Dearest

My sentiments exactly, Jeannot, my dear. 

This hit much to close to home for me, too, dahling.

By Mommy Dearest on 05/20/2009 10:02 am
C jay
I agree with both of you … such hinges on voyeurism. Critical times cannot be shared; they serve no purpose. But even if they did, why?
By C jay on 05/21/2009 3:45 am