Ryan O’Neal sues over Warhol painting

Ryan O’Neal has sued a former associate of long-time partner Farrah Fawcett and claims the man is responsible for a Texas university’s attempts to reclaim an Andy Warhol portrait of the actress.

Mr O’Neal’s defamation lawsuit against Craig Nevius seeks more than one million US dollars in damages.

The lawsuit claims Mr Nevius’s comments that the actor was improperly keeping the Warhol painting led the University of Texas system to sue O’Neal last week for control of the painting.

Farah Fawcett, who died in 2009, granted all her artwork to the university. Mr O’Neal claims the disputed Warhol portrait was given to him by the artist and never belonged to Fawcett.

Mr Nevius claims Mr O’Neal’s lawsuit is an attempt to silence him.

The case was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.