Finding Farrah: OWN star O'Neal says he owns Fawcett's missing $30M Warhol

Ryan O'Neal is ready to defend himself in the case of the missing $30M Warhol, according to a new report on Radar Online. A rep for the star of the OWN cable network's The O'Neals -- which airs Sundays after the Duchess of York's docu-reality series Finding Sarah -- tells the website: “Ryan will clear his name. The University Of Texas is fully aware of the whereabouts of the painting. If he had stolen it do you really think it would be openly displayed in public like that?"

Astute viewers found Farrah on Ryan's bedroom wall during the premiere of The O'Neals. ABC News reported that an investigation was underway to determine why the actor appeared to possess the original artwork when Fawcett willed all of her art to her alma mater, the University of Texas. Helping with the investigation: Farrah's Story executive producer Craig Nevius, who in May 2009 sued O'Neal for seizing control of the NBC documentary he was spearheading with the ailing actress. 

"I told the university, 'Be patient and wait, because this man is so arrogant, he's going to show'" his possession of the artwork, Nevius told ABC last week. 

Fawcett friend Alana Stewart -- who was promoted to producer of the NBC special while O'Neal wrestled control away from Nevius -- told The Insider last week that O'Neal has been paying insurance on the Warhol and thus owned it.

An unnamed insider tells Radar Online, “Some people are trying to make mischief on the second anniversary of Farah’s death, which is really sad."

Last week we reported a united front of impassioned Fawcett devotees began a hard-hitting Facebook group called Farrah Fawcett: We Want the Truth. Supporters of O'Neal, Stewart and other Farrah's Story and/or Fawcett estate insiders singled out in suspicion by the FB group have lashed back at the fervent fans in anonymous postings on this blog.

"Eight is Enough" star winning war against cancer

As the world mourns the two-year anniversary today of Farrah Fawcett's death to anal cancer, we have some good news to share about another '70s TV blonde who is beating another form of the deadly disease.



Dianne Kay, who played Fawcett friend Dick Van Patten's daughter Nancy on the 1977-81 ABC family dramedy, recently announced she has conquered kidney cancer and is staging a career comeback. She's presently writing a sitcom pilot titled Seconds. The concept, she tells MORE magazine, "is about four women who are in their second stages of life. Our menopausal hormones are battling our kids’ raging hormones. I guess you can say our show is a parody, and we are really making fun of ourselves in a positive way."

Kay reunited (via satellite) with her TV family in spring 2010 for a Today Show interview. Among those in attendance: Kay's younger TV sister, Connie Needham-Newton, who, according to a Facebook source, recently announced she beat ovarian cancer.

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Alana Stewart defends Ryan O'Neal in Warhol controversy

Farrah's friend Alana Stewart gives her take on Ryan O'Neal's controversial cancer comments as well as his possession of one of Fawcett's Warhol portraits (estimated at $30M). Stewart serves as president of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation and was a producer on Farrah's Story. She also is the author of the 2009 book My Journey with Farrah and recently received acclaim for her role in the independent feature film Delivered.

CBS to "Happy Days" cast members seeking their (fair?) share in merchandising jackpot: Sit on it!

CBS has struck back at Happy Days cast members who've sued for money they say they're owed for series merchandising, including (oh, the irony) a recent slew of slot machines depicting their images.

Here's an interesting CNN report from April:



From CNN: "'Hollywood Hustle,' a story about celebrity merchandising controversies, will be part of a CNN Presents hour on August 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT."

Sharon Osbourne rips Ryan O'Neal a new one