Love Story star Ryan O'Neal passed away at the age of 82 on December 8, and now, weeks later, the cause of the actor's death has been made public. According to a death certificate shared by The Blast on December 23, O'Neal's passing was caused by congestive heart failure.

The document also revealed that Ryan O'Neal had been battling cardiomyopathy for years prior to his death. Cardiomyopathy is a condition that weakens the heart muscle and can lead to heart failure, as it reduces the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

Patrick O'Neal, one of Ryan's four children, announced the star's death on the day he passed away. Taking to Instagram, the 56-year-old wrote, "This is the toughest thing I've ever had to say. My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us." He added, "My father Ryan O'Neal has always been my hero. I looked up to him and he was always bigger than life."

Born in 1941, Ryan O'Neal rose to fame in the 1960s for his role as Rodney Harrington on ABC's Peyton Place. However, his breakthrough came in 1970 when he portrayed the preppy Harvard law student Oliver in the iconic film Love Story alongside Ali McGraw.

Throughout his career, O'Neal starred in several notable movies including Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, and What's Up, Doc?. He also made appearances on the television show Bones from 2006 to 2017, playing the recurring character Max Keenan.

Ryan O'Neal's cause of death, congestive heart failure, has shed light on the health struggles he faced in his final years. Fans and loved ones continue to mourn the loss of the talented actor.