Maureen O'Sullivan
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Matinee Theater
1955
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest
1950
Series
Climax!
Lady Dominey
1954
Series
Climax!
Miriam
1954
Series
Four Star Playhouse
Minna Baxter
1952
Series
Ben Casey
1961
Series
Cavalcade of America
Sister Mary Benedict
1952
Lux Video Theatre
Agnes Fisher
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Self - Intermission Guest
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Intermission Guest
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Mary
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Stella
1950
Film
Hannah and Her Sisters
Norma
1986
Film
Peggy Sue Got Married
Elizabeth Alvorg
1986
Series
The Whistler
1954
Series
Leg Work
Dorothy Richardson
1987
Film
The Thin Man
Dorothy Wynant
1934
Film
David Copperfield
Dora Spenlow
1935
Film
Tarzan the Ape Man
Jane Parker
1932
Film
Tarzan Escapes
Jane
1936
Film
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Bennet
1940
Film
Tarzan and His Mate
Jane Parker
1934
Film
The Tall T
Doretta Mims
1957
Film
The Big Clock
Georgette Stroud
1948
Film
Where Danger Lives
Julie
1950
Film
Anna Karenina
Kitty
1935
Film
A Day at the Races
Judy Standish
1937
Film
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
1976
Film
Tarzan Finds a Son!
Jane Parker
1939
Film
Tarzan's New York Adventure
Jane
1942
Film
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987
Film
The Devil-Doll
Lorraine Lavond
1936
Film
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Henrietta Barrett
1934
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
Film
Just Imagine
LN-18
1930
Film
Tarzan's Secret Treasure
Jane
1941
Film
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
2003
Film
Famous T&A 2
Jane Porter (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
Film
Stage Mother
Shirley Lorraine
1933
Film
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Self
1940
Film
The Crooked Hearts
Lillian Stanton
1972
Film
The Romance of Celluloid
Self
1937
Film
A Yank at Oxford
Molly Beaumont
1938
Film
Let Us Live
Mary Roberts
1939
Film
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
1972
Film
The Emperor's Candlesticks
Maria Orlich
1937
Film
All I Desire
Sara Harper
1953
Film
The Phynx
Maureen O'Sullivan
1970
Film
West Point of the Air
'Skip' Carter
1935
Film
It's Showtime
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
Maisie Was a Lady
Abby Rawlston
1941
Film
The Great Houdinis
Lady Conan Doyle
1976
Film
Skyline
Katherine Kearny
1931
Film
The Steel Cage
Gladys Duffy
1954
Film
Skyscraper Souls
Lynn Harding
1932
Film
Tugboat Annie
Patricia 'Pat' Severn
1933
Film
So This Is London
Elinor Worthing
1930
Film
Spring Madness
Alexandra Benson
1938
Film
Port of Seven Seas
Madelon
1938
Film
The Bishop Misbehaves
Hester Grantham
1935
Film
Never Too Late
Edith Lambert
1965
Film
Too Scared to Scream
Marian Hardwick
1984
Film
Duffy of San Quentin
Gladys Duffy
1954
Film
Ellis in Freedomland
The Dishwasher (voice)
1952
Film
Wild Heritage
Emma Breslin
1958
Film
The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble
Molly Kelly
1933
Film
With Murder in Mind
Aunt Mildred
1992
Film
Stranded
Grace Clark
1987
Film
The Blessed Midnight
Sister Mary Benedict
1956
Film
Good Old Boy
Aunt Sue
1988
Film
Woman Wanted
Ann
1935
Film
Hold That Kiss
June Evans
1938
Film
The Crowd Roars
Sheila 'Shelia' Carson
1938
Film
The Edge of Innocence
Julia Williams
1957
Film
Fast Companions
Sally
1932
Film
Payment Deferred
Winnie Marble
1932
Film
Cardinal Richelieu
Lenore
1935
Film
A Connecticut Yankee
Alisande / Woman in Mansion
1931
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is
Eleanor Biddlecomb
1994
Film
Between Two Women
Claire Donahue
1937
Film
The Habitation of Dragons
Helen Taylor
1992
Film
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
Self
1996
Film
Okay, America!
Sheila Barton
1932
Film
Mandy's Grandmother
Grandmother
1978
Film
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Martha Aldrich
1937
Film
The Big Shot
Doris Thompson
1931
Film
Tarzan Revisited
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
Hide-Out
Pauline Miller
1934
Film
Sporting Blood
Linda Lockwood
1940
Film
The Flame Within
Linda Belton
1935
Film
The Voice of Bugle Ann
Camden Terry
1936
Film
Bonzo Goes to College
Marion Gateson Drew
1952
Film
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story
Mother
1955
Film
Mission Over Korea
Nancy Slocum
1953
Screen Actors
Self (uncredited)
1950
Film
In Search of Tarzan with Jonathan Ross
Self
1998
Film
Strange Interlude
Madeline Arnold
1932
Film
The Silver Lining
Joyce Moore
1932
Film
Robbers' Roost
Helen Herrick
1932
Film
Song o' My Heart
Eileen
1930
Film
Morning's at Seven
Esther "Esty" Crampton
1982
Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie
2007
Film
Hollywood - The Second Step
Herself
1936
Film
No Resting Place
Nan Kyle
1951
Film
The Princess and the Plumber
Princess Louise
1930
Film
Screen Snapshots No. 11
Herself
1934