Acting
Maureen O'Sullivan
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
Famous T&A 2
Film · 2022
Tarzan Revisited
Film · 2017
Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie
Film · 2007
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Film · 2004
Complicated Women
Film · 2003
In Search of Tarzan with Jonathan Ross
Film · 1998
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
Film · 1996
Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is
Film · 1994
With Murder in Mind
Film · 1992
The Habitation of Dragons
Film · 1992
Good Old Boy
Film · 1988
Stranded
Film · 1987
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Film · 1987
Leg Work
Series · 1987
Peggy Sue Got Married
Film · 1986
Hannah and Her Sisters
Film · 1986
Too Scared to Scream
Film · 1984
Morning's at Seven
Film · 1982
Mandy's Grandmother
Film · 1978
That's Entertainment, Part II
Film · 1976
It's Showtime
Film · 1976
The Great Houdinis
Film · 1976
The Crooked Hearts
Film · 1972
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Film · 1972
The Phynx
Film · 1970
Never Too Late
Film · 1965
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Series · 1962
Ben Casey
Series · 1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961
Wild Heritage
Film · 1958
The Tall T
Film · 1957
The Edge of Innocence
Film · 1957
The Blessed Midnight
Film · 1956
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story
Film · 1955
Matinee Theater
Series · 1955
The Steel Cage
Film · 1954
Duffy of San Quentin
Film · 1954
Climax!
Series · 1954
The Whistler
Series · 1954
Climax!
Series · 1954
All I Desire
Film · 1953
Mission Over Korea
Film · 1953
Bonzo Goes to College
Film · 1952
Ellis in Freedomland
Film · 1952
Cavalcade of America
Series · 1952
Four Star Playhouse
Series · 1952
No Resting Place
Film · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Series · 1951
Where Danger Lives
Film · 1950
Screen Actors
Film · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
What's My Line?
Series · 1950
The Big Clock
Film · 1948
Tarzan's New York Adventure
Film · 1942
Tarzan's Secret Treasure
Film · 1941
Maisie Was a Lady
Film · 1941
Pride and Prejudice
Film · 1940
Sporting Blood
Film · 1940
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Film · 1940
Tarzan Finds a Son!
Film · 1939
Let Us Live
Film · 1939
A Yank at Oxford
Film · 1938
Port of Seven Seas
Film · 1938
Hold That Kiss
Film · 1938
Spring Madness
Film · 1938
The Crowd Roars
Film · 1938
A Day at the Races
Film · 1937
The Emperor's Candlesticks
Film · 1937
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Film · 1937
Between Two Women
Film · 1937
The Romance of Celluloid
Film · 1937
The Devil-Doll
Film · 1936
Tarzan Escapes
Film · 1936
The Voice of Bugle Ann
Film · 1936
Hollywood - The Second Step
Film · 1936
David Copperfield
Film · 1935
Anna Karenina
Film · 1935
West Point of the Air
Film · 1935
Woman Wanted
Film · 1935
The Flame Within
Film · 1935
Cardinal Richelieu
Film · 1935
The Bishop Misbehaves
Film · 1935
The Thin Man
Film · 1934
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Film · 1934
Hide-Out
Film · 1934
Tarzan and His Mate
Film · 1934
Screen Snapshots No. 11
Film · 1934
Tugboat Annie
Film · 1933
Stage Mother
Film · 1933
The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble
Film · 1933
Tarzan the Ape Man
Film · 1932
Payment Deferred
Film · 1932
Okay, America!
Film · 1932
Skyscraper Souls
Film · 1932
Strange Interlude
Film · 1932
Robbers' Roost
Film · 1932
Fast Companions
Film · 1932
The Silver Lining
Film · 1932
A Connecticut Yankee
Film · 1931
The Big Shot
Film · 1931
Skyline
Film · 1931
Just Imagine
Film · 1930
Song o' My Heart
Film · 1930
So This Is London
Film · 1930
The Princess and the Plumber
Film · 1930