MO
Maureen O'Sullivan
Actor
Born May 17, 1911Died June 23, 1998 (87 years)
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
Filmography
| 2004 | Tarzan: Silver Screen King of the Jungle · as Jane |
| 2003 | Inside the Marx Brothers · as Judy (clip From A Day At The Races (1937)) |
| 1994 | Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is · as Eleanor Biddlecomb |
| 1992 | The Habitation of Dragons · as Helen Taylor |
| 1992 | With Murder in Mind · as Aunt Mildred |
| 1988 | The River Pirates · as Aunt Sue |
| 1987 | September · as Diane (rehearsed Only) |
| 1987 | Stranded · as Grace Clark |
| 1987 | Leg Work (TV Series) · as Dorothy Richardson |
| 1987 | The 59th Annual Academy Awards · as Norma |
| 1986 | Peggy Sue Got Married · as Elizabeth Alvorg |
| 1986 | Hannah and Her Sisters · as Norma |
| 1984 | Too Scared to Scream · as Marian Hardwick |
| 1982 | Henry Fonda: The Man and His Movies · as Mary Roberts |
| 1976 | The Great Houdini · as Lady Conan Doyle |
| 1976 | That's Entertainment, Part II · as (archive Footage) |
| 1972 | The Crooked Hearts · as Lillian Stanton |
| 1970 | All My Children (TV Series) · as Olive Whelan |
| 1965 | Never Too Late · as Edith Lambert |
| 1961 | Alcoa Premiere (TV Series) · as Elizabeth Lozier |
| 1961 | Ben Casey (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Wild Heritage · as Emma Breslin |
| 1957 | The Tall T · as Doretta Mims |
| 1956 | The Blessed Midnight · as Sister Mary Benedict |
| 1956 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) · as Julia Williams |
| 1955 | Matinee Theater (TV Series) |
| 1955 | Crossroads (1955) (TV Series) · as Mrs. Day |
| 1955 | Casablanca (1955) (TV Series) · as Helen Randall |
| 1954 | The Steel Cage · as Gladys Duffy |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Lady Dominey |
| 1954 | The Whistler (TV Series) · as Marta |
| 1954 | Duffy of San Quentin · as Gladys Duffy |
| 1953 | All I Desire · as Sara Harper |
| 1953 | Mission Over Korea · as Nancy Slocum |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Edith |
| 1952 | Cavalcade of America (TV Series) · as Sister Mary Benedict |
| 1952 | Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) · as Minna Baxter |
| 1952 | Bonzo Goes to College · as Marion Gateson Drew |
| 1952 | Guiding Light (TV Series) · as Miss Emma |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) |
| 1951 | Search for Tomorrow (TV Series) · as Elaine Descot |
| 1950 | Where Danger Lives · as Julie Dorn |
| 1949 | Family Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1949 | Fireside Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1948 | Ford Theatre (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1948 | The Big Clock · as Georgette Stroud |
| 1942 | Tarzan's New York Adventure · as Jane |
| 1941 | Tarzan's Secret Treasure · as Jane |
| 1941 | Maisie Was a Lady · as Abby Rawlston |
| 1940 | Pride and Prejudice · as Jane Bennet |
| 1940 | Sporting Blood · as Linda Lockwood |
| 1939 | Let Us Live · as Mary Roberts |
| 1939 | Tarzan Finds a Son! · as Jane Parker |
| 1938 | Spring Madness · as Alexandra Benson |
| 1938 | The Crowd Roars · as Sheila 'shelia' Carson |
| 1938 | Port of Seven Seas · as Madelon |
| 1938 | Hold That Kiss · as June Evans |
| 1938 | A Yank at Oxford · as Molly Beaumont |
| 1937 | My Dear Miss Aldrich · as Martha Aldrich |
| 1937 | Between Two Women · as Claire Donahue |
| 1937 | The Emperor's Candlesticks · as Maria Orlich |
| 1937 | A Day at the Races · as Judy Standish |
| 1936 | Tarzan Escapes · as Jane |
| 1936 | The Devil-Doll · as Lorraine Lavond |
| 1936 | The Voice of Bugle Ann · as Camden Terry |
| 1935 | Anna Karenina · as Kitty |
| 1935 | The Bishop Misbehaves · as Hester Grantham |
| 1935 | Woman Wanted · as Ann |
| 1935 | David Copperfield · as Dora Spenlow |
| 1935 | The Flame Within · as Linda Belton |
| 1935 | Cardinal Richelieu · as Lenore |
| 1935 | West Point of the Air · as 'skip' Carter |
| 1934 | The Barretts of Wimpole Street · as Henrietta Barrett |
| 1934 | Hide-Out · as Pauline Miller |
| 1934 | The Thin Man · as Dorothy Wynant |
| 1934 | Tarzan and His Mate · as Jane Parker |
| 1933 | Stage Mother · as Shirley Lorraine |
| 1933 | Tugboat Annie · as Patricia 'pat' Severn |
| 1932 | Strange Interlude · as Madeline Arnold |
| 1932 | Robbers' Roost · as Helen Herrick |
| 1932 | Payment Deferred · as Winnie Marble |
| 1932 | Okay America! · as Sheila Barton |
| 1932 | Skyscraper Souls · as Lynn Harding |
| 1932 | Tarzan the Ape Man · as Jane Parker |
| 1931 | The Big Shot · as Doris Thompson |
| 1931 | Skyline · as Katherine Kearny |
| 1931 | A Connecticut Yankee · as Alisande / Woman In Mansion |
| 1930 | Just Imagine · as Ln-18 |
| 1930 | Song o' My Heart · as Eileen |