Ryan O'Neal's Death Certificate: Official Cause of Death Revealed

Iconic actor Ryan O'Neal's death certificate has been revealed, showing the actor died of congestive heart failure.

As we reported, O'Neal died early in December, with his son, Patrick O'Neal, announcing his father's passing on social media with a heartfelt tribute to his legacy as a Hollywood star.

According to the death certificate obtained by The Blast, the 82-year-old died from "congestive heart failure" after suffering from "cardiomyopathy" for years.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body." The website notes that the disease "can lead to heart failure." The famous entertainer was hospitalized at St. John's Medical in Los Angeles when he passed.

The death certificate lists no other contributing factors to his passing. As for his final resting place, the document says he is buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park.

O'Neal's son announced his passing on December 8, along with a lengthy tribute to the late heartthrob. He noted that his father passed away in the company of his loved one at the age of 82.

Patrick wrote, "So this is the toughest thing I've ever had to say, but here we go. My dad passed away peacefully today, with his loving team by his side supporting him and loving him as he would us. This is very difficult for my wife Summer and me, but I will share some feelings to give you an idea of how great a man he is."

The actor continued, "My father Ryan O'Neal has always been my hero. I looked up to him and he was always bigger than life. When I was born in 1967 my dad was already a TV star on Peyton Place. That's where he met my mom Leigh Taylor-Young, and about 9 months later (give or take a date night or two) I was born."

O'Neal was popularly known for his role on the nighttime soap opera "Peyton Place." He appeared in top Hollywood movies such as the 1972 romcom, "What's Up Doc?" alongside legendary singer Barbara Streisand, and the 1973 crime comedy, "Paper Moon," where he appeared alongside his daughter, Tatum O'Neal.

O'Neal's son Patrick's heartfelt tribute included a touching statement on the legacy his father left behind. The 56-year-old even claimed that his father's popularity with the name Ryan was the reason behind the "growth spurt" of the first name.

"My dad became an international movie star with Love Story at the beginning of the 1970s, a decade he absolutely crushed by starring in movies like What's Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, Barry Lyndon, A Bridge Too Far, The Main Event, and The Driver," Patrick wrote.

He continued, "He is a Hollywood legend. Full stop. The growth spurt of the first name Ryan can be traced back to my dad. That's a fact. He was Rodney Harrington on Peyton Place 3 days a week (he starred in 500 shows over 5 years) and then of course the name Ryan peaked after Love Story (the film that saved Paramount Studios and earned my dad a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame)."

O'Neal's daughter Tatum paid tribute to her father with a heartbreaking photo of a scene from the movie, "Paper Moon," which they starred in together. She posted the image on Instagram, along with the caption, "i love you dad."

Tatum previously spoke on her father's death, revealing it had caused her "great sorrow." During an interview with People magazine, she said, "I feel great sorrow with my father's passing. He meant the world to me. I loved him very much and know he loved me too. I'll miss him forever and I feel very lucky that we ended on such good terms."

O'Neal fathered four children during his lifetime. He had his daughter Tatum and son  Griffin with his first wife, Joanna Moore. The actor then had a son, Patrick, with his second wife, Leigh Taylor-Young, and then his youngest son, Redmond, with actress Farrah Fawcett.

Rest in peace, Ryan O'Neal.