MacGraw gained critical notice in the 1969 film Goodbye , Columbus .
Real stardom came in 1970 when MacGraw starred opposite Ryan O'Neal in Love Story , one of the highest - grossing films in U.S. history .
MacGraw gained critical notice in the 1969 film Goodbye , Columbus , but real stardom came in 1970 when she starred opposite Ryan O'Neal in Love Story , one of the highest - grossing films in U.S. history .