Ryan O'Neal & Farrah Fawcett to Wed

[Photo: Newscom]

Bones fans are aware of Ryan O’Neal as Temperance Brennan’s father on the show. But outside of the show, he’s living a real-life drama.

O’Neal has been involved with former Charlie’s Angel star Farrah Fawcett since 1980. He says that he’s asked her to marry him many times, so many that it’s actually become a shared joke for them.

But now, Farrah is suffering from cancer and her health is declining. So this time when he asked her, she said yes. Here’s a quote from People Magazine about the engagement:

“We will, as soon as she can, say yes,” O’Neal, 68, says about his companion since 1980. “Maybe we can just nod her head,” he said, with a laugh.

“I used to ask her to marry me all the time,” O’Neal said for the interview to air Friday on 20/20. “But … it just got to be a joke, you know. We just joked about it.”

How very sad, yet romantic…

UPDATE: Sadly, I must report that Farrah Fawcett succumbed to her cancer today in Los Angeles. My thoughts go out to Ryan O’Neal and to all the others who loved her.