Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the normal muscle in the heart can thicken, stiffen, thin out, or fill with substances that do not belong in the heart muscle.
As a result of his condition, the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood is reduced, which can lead to irregular heartbeats, blood backing up into the lungs or other parts of the body, and heart failure, as explained by the CDC.
Patrick O’Neal, the 56-year-old actor and son of the late actor, confirmed his father’s passing on Instagram. He described his father as his hero and expressed his admiration for him as a human being. Patrick spoke of their close bond, which included playing sports and sharing laughter.