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Maureen O'Sullivan
Born · May 17, 1911
Died · June 23, 1998 (87 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland
Bio
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.
Tarzan Revisited
Self (archive footage)
6.5
2017
Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie
0.0
2007
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Self (archive footage)
7.0
2004
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
6.7
2003
In Search of Tarzan with Jonathan Ross
Herself
0.0
1998
Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is
Eleanor Biddlecomb
6.2
1994
The Habitation of Dragons
Helen Taylor
0.0
1992
With Murder in Mind
Aunt Mildred
4.7
1992
Star Life
Self (archive footage) · (2 episodes)
10.0
1990
Good Old Boy: A Delta Boyhood
Aunt Sue
6.0
1988
Platinum Bombshell
Self
0.0
1987
Stranded
Grace Clark
5.3
1987
Leg Work
Dorothy Richardson · (1 episode)
5.0
1987
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
7.7
1987
Peggy Sue Got Married
Elizabeth Alvorg
6.1
1986
Hannah and Her Sisters
Norma
7.5
1986
Too Scared to Scream
Marian Hardwick
5.3
1984
Morning's at Seven
Esther "Esty" Crampton
0.0
1982
Mandy's Grandmother
Grandmother
4.5
1978
The Great Houdinis
Lady Conan Doyle
6.0
1976
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
6.9
1976
It's Showtime
Self (archive footage)
7.0
1976
The Crooked Hearts
Lillian Stanton
7.8
1972
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
6.0
1972
The Phynx
Maureen O'Sullivan
3.5
1970
Never Too Late
Edith Lambert
5.0
1965
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
7.4
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
5.1
1961
Ben Casey
(1 episode)
5.6
1961
Wild Heritage
Emma Breslin
4.5
1958
The Edge of Innocence
Julia Williams
0.0
1957
The Tall T
Doretta Mims
7.0
1957
The Blessed Midnight
Sister Mary Benedict
5.0
1956
Matinee Theater
(1 episode)
4.6
1955
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story
Mother
2.0
1955
The Steel Cage
Gladys Duffy
0.0
1954
Climax!
Lady Dominey · (1 episode)
3.0
1954
Climax!
Miriam · (1 episode)
3.0
1954
The Whistler
(1 episode)
0.0
1954
Duffy of San Quentin
Gladys Duffy
6.0
1954
Mission Over Korea
Nancy Slocum
3.0
1953
All I Desire
Sara Harper
7.0
1953
Cavalcade of America
Sister Mary Benedict · (1 episode)
3.5
1952
Four Star Playhouse
Minna Baxter · (1 episode)
6.1
1952
Bonzo Goes to College
Marion Gateson Drew
5.0
1952
Ellis in Freedomland
The Dishwasher (voice)
0.0
1952
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
(1 episode)
7.0
1951
No Resting Place
Nan Kyle
0.0
1951
Where Danger Lives
Julie Dorn
6.4
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Agnes Fisher · (1 episode)
6.0
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Self - Intermission Guest · (2 episodes)
6.0
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Intermission Guest · (1 episode)
6.0
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Mary · (1 episode)
6.0
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Stella · (1 episode)
6.0
1950
Screen Actors
Self (uncredited)
6.0
1950
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · (1 episode)
6.8
1950
The Big Clock
Georgette Stroud
7.3
1948
Tarzan's New York Adventure
Jane
6.3
1942
Tarzan's Secret Treasure
Jane
5.7
1941
Maisie Was a Lady
Abby Rawlston
6.8
1941
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Bennet
6.9
1940
Sporting Blood
Linda Lockwood
4.3
1940
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Self
5.5
1940
Tarzan Finds a Son!
Jane Parker
6.1
1939
Let Us Live
Mary Roberts
6.8
1939
Spring Madness
Alexandra Benson
3.9
1938
The Crowd Roars
Sheila 'Shelia' Carson
6.5
1938
Port of Seven Seas
Madelon
0.0
1938
Hold That Kiss
June Evans
6.5
1938
A Yank at Oxford
Molly Beaumont
6.7
1938
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Martha Aldrich
6.1
1937
The Romance of Celluloid
Self
7.0
1937
Between Two Women
Claire Donahue
5.5
1937
The Emperor's Candlesticks
Maria Orlich
5.2
1937
A Day at the Races
Judy Standish
7.1
1937
Tarzan Escapes
Jane
6.3
1936
The Devil-Doll
Lorraine Lavond
6.8
1936
Hollywood - The Second Step
Herself
8.0
1936
The Voice of Bugle Ann
Camden Terry
5.8
1936
The Bishop Misbehaves
Hester Grantham
4.0
1935
Anna Karenina
Kitty
6.6
1935
Woman Wanted
Ann
6.3
1935
The Flame Within
Linda Belton
5.2
1935
Cardinal Richelieu
Lenore
7.4
1935
West Point of the Air
'Skip' Carter
6.0
1935
David Copperfield
Dora Spenlow
6.6
1935
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Henrietta Barrett
6.0
1934
Hide-Out
Pauline Miller
7.1
1934
The Thin Man
Dorothy Wynant
7.5
1934
Tarzan and His Mate
Jane Parker
6.6
1934
Screen Snapshots No. 11
Herself
0.0
1934
Stage Mother
Shirley Lorraine
5.0
1933
Tugboat Annie
Patricia 'Pat' Severn
7.0
1933
The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble
Molly Kelly
0.0
1933
Strange Interlude
Madeline Arnold
5.7
1932
Robbers' Roost
Helen Herrick
5.5
1932
Payment Deferred
Winnie Marble
5.9
1932
Okay, America!
Sheila Barton
5.3
1932
Skyscraper Souls
Lynn Harding
5.6
1932
Fast Companions
Sally
6.0
1932
The Silver Lining
Joyce Moore
0.0
1932
Tarzan the Ape Man
Jane Parker
6.6
1932
The Big Shot
Doris Thompson
0.0
1931
Skyline
Katherine Kearny
0.0
1931
A Connecticut Yankee
Alisande / Woman in Mansion
6.0
1931
The Princess and the Plumber
Princess Louise
0.0
1930
Just Imagine
LN-18
5.6
1930
So This Is London
Elinor Worthing
7.0
1930
Song o' My Heart
Eileen
4.4
1930