Maureen O'Sullivan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 17, 1911
- Died
- June 23, 1998 (aged 87)
- Birthplace
- Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland
Biography
Maureen Paula O'Sullivan was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, on May 17, 1911. The future mother of Mia Farrow was a schooldays classmate of Vivien Leigh at the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Roehampton in London. Even as a schoolgirl, Maureen desired an acting career; she studied hard and read widely. When the opportunity to be an actress came along, it almost dropped in her lap. The director Frank Borzage was in Dublin filming “Song o’ My Heart” (1930) when Maureen, then 18, met him. Borzage suggested a screen test, which she took. The results were more than favorable, as she won the part of Eileen O’Brien. The part was a substantial one, so much so that Maureen went on to Hollywood to complete the filming. Once in sunny California, Maureen wasted no time landing roles in other films such as “Just Imagine” (1930), “Princess and the Plumber” (1930), and “So This Is London” (1930). Maureen was on a roll that her contemporaries could only have wished for when they were coming up through the ranks. In 1932, Maureen was teamed up with Olympic medal winner Johnny Weissmuller for the first time in “Tarzan the Ape Man” (1932). Five other Tarzan films followed, the last being “Tarzan’s New York Adventure” (1942). The Tarzan epics rank as one of the most memorable series ever made. Most people agree that those movies would not have been successful had it not been for the fine acting talents, not to mention beauty, of Maureen O’Sullivan. But she was more than Jane Parker in the Tarzan films; she had great roles and played beautifully in films such as “The Flame Within” (1935), “David Copperfield” (1935), and “Anna Karenina” (1935). She turned in yet another fine performance in “Pride and Prejudice” (1940). After the 1940s, Maureen made far fewer films, not because she lost popularity but by choice. It isn’t always easy to walk away from a lucrative career, but she did because she wanted to devote more time to her husband, John Farrow, an Australian writer, and their seven children. The couple were married from 1936 until his death in 1963. She did not, however, retire completely; Maureen still found time to make an occasional appearance in films or TV or on the stage. Later movie-goers remember her as Elizabeth Alvorg in the hit film “Peggy Sue Got Married” (1986). Her final silver screen appearance was in “The River Pirates” (1988). Some TV movies followed, but only until 1996. She maintained homes in New Hampshire and Arizona, and it was in Scottsdale that Maureen died on June 23, 1998, of a heart attack. She was 87 years old.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Famous T&A 2
Movie · as Jane Porter (archive footage) (uncredited)
Tarzan Revisited
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie
Movie
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Complicated Women
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
In Search of Tarzan with Jonathan Ross
Movie · as Self
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
Movie · as Self
Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is
Movie · as Eleanor Biddlecomb
With Murder in Mind
Movie · as Aunt Mildred
The Habitation of Dragons
Movie · as Helen Taylor
Good Old Boy
Movie · as Aunt Sue
Stranded
Movie · as Grace Clark
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Movie · as Self
Leg Work
TV · as Dorothy Richardson · 1 ep
Peggy Sue Got Married
Movie · as Elizabeth Alvorg
Hannah and Her Sisters
Movie · as Norma
Too Scared to Scream
Movie · as Marian Hardwick
Morning's at Seven
Movie · as Esther "Esty" Crampton
Mandy's Grandmother
Movie · as Grandmother
That's Entertainment, Part II
Movie · as (archive footage)
It's Showtime
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Great Houdinis
Movie · as Lady Conan Doyle
The Crooked Hearts
Movie · as Lillian Stanton
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Phynx
Movie · as Maureen O'Sullivan
Never Too Late
Movie · as Edith Lambert
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Merv Griffin Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Ben Casey
TV · 1 ep
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Wild Heritage
Movie · as Emma Breslin
The Tall T
Movie · as Doretta Mims
The Edge of Innocence
Movie · as Julia Williams
The Blessed Midnight
Movie · as Sister Mary Benedict
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story
Movie · as Mother
Matinee Theater
TV · 1 ep
The Steel Cage
Movie · as Gladys Duffy
Duffy of San Quentin
Movie · as Gladys Duffy
Climax!
TV · as Lady Dominey, Miriam · 1 ep
The Whistler
TV · 1 ep
All I Desire
Movie · as Sara Harper
Mission Over Korea
Movie · as Nancy Slocum
Bonzo Goes to College
Movie · as Marion Gateson Drew
Ellis in Freedomland
Movie · as The Dishwasher (voice)
Cavalcade of America
TV · as Sister Mary Benedict · 1 ep
Four Star Playhouse
TV · as Minna Baxter · 1 ep
No Resting Place
Movie · as Nan Kyle
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV · 1 ep
Where Danger Lives
Movie · as Julie
Screen Actors
Movie · as Self (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
TV · as Agnes Fisher, Self - Intermission Guest, Mary, Stella · 1 ep
What's My Line?
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Big Clock
Movie · as Georgette Stroud
Tarzan's New York Adventure
Movie · as Jane
Tarzan's Secret Treasure
Movie · as Jane
Maisie Was a Lady
Movie · as Abby Rawlston
Pride and Prejudice
Movie · as Jane Bennet
Sporting Blood
Movie · as Linda Lockwood
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Movie · as Self
Tarzan Finds a Son!
Movie · as Jane Parker
Let Us Live
Movie · as Mary Roberts
A Yank at Oxford
Movie · as Molly Beaumont
Port of Seven Seas
Movie · as Madelon
Hold That Kiss
Movie · as June Evans
Spring Madness
Movie · as Alexandra Benson
The Crowd Roars
Movie · as Sheila 'Shelia' Carson
A Day at the Races
Movie · as Judy Standish
The Emperor's Candlesticks
Movie · as Maria Orlich
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Movie · as Martha Aldrich
Between Two Women
Movie · as Claire Donahue
The Romance of Celluloid
Movie · as Self
The Devil-Doll
Movie · as Lorraine Lavond
Tarzan Escapes
Movie · as Jane
The Voice of Bugle Ann
Movie · as Camden Terry
Hollywood - The Second Step
Movie · as Herself
David Copperfield
Movie · as Dora Spenlow
Anna Karenina
Movie · as Kitty
West Point of the Air
Movie · as 'Skip' Carter
Woman Wanted
Movie · as Ann
The Flame Within
Movie · as Linda Belton
Cardinal Richelieu
Movie · as Lenore
The Bishop Misbehaves
Movie · as Hester Grantham
The Thin Man
Movie · as Dorothy Wynant
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Movie · as Henrietta Barrett
Hide-Out
Movie · as Pauline Miller
Tarzan and His Mate
Movie · as Jane Parker
Screen Snapshots No. 11
Movie · as Herself
Tugboat Annie
Movie · as Patricia 'Pat' Severn
Stage Mother
Movie · as Shirley Lorraine
The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble
Movie · as Molly Kelly
Tarzan the Ape Man
Movie · as Jane Parker
Payment Deferred
Movie · as Winnie Marble
Okay, America!
Movie · as Sheila Barton
Skyscraper Souls
Movie · as Lynn Harding
Strange Interlude
Movie · as Madeline Arnold
Robbers' Roost
Movie · as Helen Herrick
Fast Companions
Movie · as Sally
The Silver Lining
Movie · as Joyce Moore
A Connecticut Yankee
Movie · as Alisande / Woman in Mansion
The Big Shot
Movie · as Doris Thompson
Skyline
Movie · as Katherine Kearny
Just Imagine
Movie · as LN-18
Song o' My Heart
Movie · as Eileen
So This Is London
Movie · as Elinor Worthing
The Princess and the Plumber
Movie · as Princess Louise