Maureen O'Sullivan
Age: N/A | From: Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland
Person Details
Birthday:
Aliases: Maureen Paula O'Sullivan , Морин О’Салливан , Maureen O’Sullivan
Gender: Female
Place of birth: Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 65
TV Involvements: 9
Most Famous Work
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.
Most Famous Work
What's My Line?
(1950) Self - Mystery Guest
Lux Video Theatre
(1950) Intermission Guest
Climax!
(1954) Miriam
Tarzan the Ape Man
(1932) Jane Parker
Tarzan and His Mate
(1934) Jane Parker
Cavalcade of America
(1952) Sister Mary Benedict
Tarzan Finds a Son!
(1939) Jane Parker
Pride and Prejudice
(1940) Jane BennetActing
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 2007 | N/A | |
| 2004 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 2003 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 1998 | Herself | |
| 1994 | Eleanor Biddlecomb | |
| 1992 | Helen Taylor | |
| Aunt Mildred | ||
| 1988 | Aunt Sue | |
| 1987 | Grace Clark | |
| 1986 | Elizabeth Alvorg | |
| Norma | ||
| 1984 | Marian Hardwick | |
| 1982 | Esther "Esty" Crampton | |
| 1978 | Grandmother | |
| 1976 | Lady Conan Doyle | |
| (archive footage) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 1972 | Lillian Stanton | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 1970 | Maureen O'Sullivan | |
| 1965 | Edith Lambert | |
| 1961 | N/A | |
| 1958 | Emma Breslin | |
| 1957 | Julia Williams | |
| Doretta Mims | ||
| 1956 | Sister Mary Benedict | |
| 1955 | N/A | |
| Mother | ||
| 1954 | Gladys Duffy | |
| Lady Dominey | ||
| Miriam | ||
| N/A | ||
| Gladys Duffy | ||
| 1953 | Nancy Slocum | |
| Sara Harper | ||
| 1952 | Sister Mary Benedict | |
| Minna Baxter | ||
| Marion Gateson Drew | ||
| The Dishwasher (voice) | ||
| 1951 | N/A | |
| Nan Kyle | ||
| 1950 | Julie Dorn | |
| Agnes Fisher | ||
| Self - Intermission Guest | ||
| Stella | ||
| Mary | ||
| Intermission Guest | ||
| Self (uncredited) | ||
| Self - Mystery Guest | ||
| 1948 | Georgette Stroud | |
| 1942 | Jane | |
| 1941 | Jane | |
| Abby Rawlston | ||
| 1940 | Jane Bennet | |
| Linda Lockwood | ||
| Self | ||
| 1939 | Jane Parker | |
| Mary Roberts | ||
| 1938 | Alexandra Benson | |
| Sheila 'Shelia' Carson | ||
| Madelon | ||
| June Evans | ||
| Molly Beaumont | ||
| 1937 | Martha Aldrich | |
| Self | ||
| Claire Donahue | ||
| Maria Orlich | ||
| Judy Standish | ||
| 1936 | Jane | |
| Lorraine Lavond | ||
| Herself | ||
| Camden Terry | ||
| 1935 | Hester Grantham | |
| Kitty | ||
| Ann | ||
| Linda Belton | ||
| Lenore | ||
| 'Skip' Carter | ||
| Dora Spenlow | ||
| 1934 | Henrietta Barrett | |
| Pauline Miller | ||
| Dorothy Wynant | ||
| Jane Parker | ||
| Herself | ||
| 1933 | Shirley Lorraine | |
| Patricia 'Pat' Severn | ||
| Molly Kelly | ||
| 1932 | Helen Herrick | |
| Madeline Arnold | ||
| Winnie Marble | ||
| Sheila Barton | ||
| Lynn Harding | ||
| Sally | ||
| Joyce Moore | ||
| Jane Parker | ||
| 1931 | Doris Thompson | |
| Katherine Kearny | ||
| Alisande / Woman in Mansion | ||
| 1930 | Princess Louise | |
| LN-18 | ||
| Eileen | ||
| Elinor Worthing | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
