Actors Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal rolled on to the Harvard campus in an antique convertible – as a throwback to the one from their 1970 film Love Story.

The duo reminisced about the film that made them household names nearly half a century ago.

Both actors said in a discussion with students that the movie, which was partly shot on campus, has special meaning now they’re in their 70s and in the twilight of their careers.

Love Story actors Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal Love Story actors Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal (Elise Amendola/AP)

 

They are co-stars in a national tour of the play Love Letters, which has a one-week run in Boston starting on Tuesday – bringing them back into the area and back to campus.

MacGraw said being at Harvard brought back fond memories that few of her subsequent experiences in film ever matched.

“It was a wonderful, wonderful adventure that was followed by some pretty dramatic stuff in my private life,” she said.

 

MacGraw, who now lives in New Mexico, walked away from acting in the years after her breakout role and has written about her struggles with addiction.

O’Neal said cancer had played a big part in his life – as it had for his character in the movie. He recently battled leukaemia, but the disease is now in remission.

He also alluded to the death of his long-time companion, actress Farrah Fawcett, who died of cancer in 2009.

Ryan O'Neal and Farrah FawcettO’Neal and Farrah Fawcett (Ray Stubblebine/AP)

 

Love Story was about a wealthy Harvard student who marries a less wealthy student over his parents’ objections. But the girl is diagnosed with leukaemia and dies.

It was a huge box office success that received seven Academy Award nominations and gave pop culture an oft-quoted line: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal in 1971MacGraw and O’Neal in 1971 (PA)

 

Both actors admitted they haven’t seen the movie in years. They also said they had a crush on each other during filming, though both were married at the time.

“Ryan and I clicked immediately,” said MacGraw. “We just had a chemistry.”

Love Story actors Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal MacGraw and O’Neal back at Harvard (Elise Amendola/AP)