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