Maureen O'Sullivan
Acting • Born 1911-05-17 – Died 1998-06-23
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.
Filmography
110 credits
Peggy Sue Got Married
Movie • 1986
Elizabeth Alvorg
The Thin Man
Movie • 1934
Dorothy Wynant
Where Danger Lives
Movie • 1950
Julie
Hannah and Her Sisters
Movie • 1986
Norma
The Crooked Hearts
Movie • 1972
Lillian Stanton
A Day at the Races
Movie • 1937
Judy Standish
Tarzan the Ape Man
Movie • 1932
Jane Parker
Tarzan's New York Adventure
Movie • 1942
Jane
Tarzan Finds a Son!
Movie • 1939
Jane Parker
Tarzan's Secret Treasure
Movie • 1941
Jane
Payment Deferred
Movie • 1932
Winnie Marble
The Devil-Doll
Movie • 1936
Lorraine Lavond
The Tall T
Movie • 1957
Doretta Mims
Pride and Prejudice
Movie • 1940
Jane Bennet
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Movie • 1934
Henrietta Barrett
David Copperfield
Movie • 1935
Dora Spenlow
The Phynx
Movie • 1970
Maureen O'Sullivan
All I Desire
Movie • 1953
Sara Harper
Hide-Out
Movie • 1934
Pauline Miller
Tarzan Escapes
Movie • 1936
Jane
Let Us Live
Movie • 1939
Mary Roberts
Tarzan and His Mate
Movie • 1934
Jane Parker
The Big Clock
Movie • 1948
Georgette Stroud
Okay, America!
Movie • 1932
Sheila Barton
Anna Karenina
Movie • 1935
Kitty
The Emperor's Candlesticks
Movie • 1937
Maria Orlich
Just Imagine
Movie • 1930
LN-18
Skyscraper Souls
Movie • 1932
Lynn Harding
Too Scared to Scream
Movie • 1984
Marian Hardwick
Tugboat Annie
Movie • 1933
Patricia 'Pat' Severn
Stranded
Movie • 1987
Grace Clark
Bonzo Goes to College
Movie • 1952
Marion Gateson Drew
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Movie • 1972
Self (archive footage)
West Point of the Air
Movie • 1935
'Skip' Carter
A Connecticut Yankee
Movie • 1931
Alisande / Woman in Mansion
Good Old Boy
Movie • 1988
Aunt Sue
The Steel Cage
Movie • 1954
Gladys Duffy
A Yank at Oxford
Movie • 1938
Molly Beaumont
Maisie Was a Lady
Movie • 1941
Abby Rawlston
Strange Interlude
Movie • 1932
Madeline Arnold
Port of Seven Seas
Movie • 1938
Madelon
My Dear Miss Aldrich
Movie • 1937
Martha Aldrich
The Voice of Bugle Ann
Movie • 1936
Camden Terry
Song o' My Heart
Movie • 1930
Eileen
Duffy of San Quentin
Movie • 1954
Gladys Duffy
Stage Mother
Movie • 1933
Shirley Lorraine
The Big Shot
Movie • 1931
Doris Thompson
Never Too Late
Movie • 1965
Edith Lambert
Between Two Women
Movie • 1937
Claire Donahue
Mandy's Grandmother
Movie • 1978
Grandmother
Wild Heritage
Movie • 1958
Emma Breslin
Hold That Kiss
Movie • 1938
June Evans
Woman Wanted
Movie • 1935
Ann
Spring Madness
Movie • 1938
Alexandra Benson
Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is
Movie • 1994
Eleanor Biddlecomb
The Flame Within
Movie • 1935
Linda Belton
The Crowd Roars
Movie • 1938
Sheila 'Shelia' Carson
Cardinal Richelieu
Movie • 1935
Lenore
The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story
Movie • 1955
Mother
Sporting Blood
Movie • 1940
Linda Lockwood
In Search of Tarzan with Jonathan Ross
Movie • 1998
Self
Mission Over Korea
Movie • 1953
Nancy Slocum
The Bishop Misbehaves
Movie • 1935
Hester Grantham
The Romance of Celluloid
Movie • 1937
Self
Hollywood - The Second Step
Movie • 1936
Herself
Tarzan Revisited
Movie • 2017
Self (archive footage)
Skyline
Movie • 1931
Katherine Kearny
Hollywood: Style Center of the World
Movie • 1940
Self
Robbers' Roost
Movie • 1932
Helen Herrick
Fast Companions
Movie • 1932
Sally
Complicated Women
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
Movie • 1976
(archive footage)
The Silver Lining
Movie • 1932
Joyce Moore
The Edge of Innocence
Movie • 1957
Julia Williams
So This Is London
Movie • 1930
Elinor Worthing
The Princess and the Plumber
Movie • 1930
Princess Louise
It's Showtime
Movie • 1976
Self (archive footage)
Ellis in Freedomland
Movie • 1952
The Dishwasher (voice)
With Murder in Mind
Movie • 1992
Aunt Mildred
Screen Snapshots No. 11
Movie • 1934
Herself
Checking Out: Grand Hotel
Movie • 2004
Self (archive footage)
The Habitation of Dragons
Movie • 1992
Helen Taylor
The Great Houdinis
Movie • 1976
Lady Conan Doyle
Morning's at Seven
Movie • 1982
Esther "Esty" Crampton
The Blessed Midnight
Movie • 1956
Sister Mary Benedict
Screen Actors
Movie • 1950
Self (uncredited)
Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie
Movie • 2007
No Resting Place
Movie • 1951
Nan Kyle
The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble
Movie • 1933
Molly Kelly
Jean Harlow: Platinum Bombshell
Movie • 1996
Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Movie • 1987
Self
Famous T&A 2
Movie • 2022
Jane Porter (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Agnes Fisher
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Climax!
TV • 1954
Lady Dominey
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Self - Intermission Guest
Matinee Theater
TV • 1955
Ben Casey
TV • 1961
The Whistler
TV • 1954
Cavalcade of America
TV • 1952
Sister Mary Benedict
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Intermission Guest
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Mary
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Stella
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Minna Baxter
Climax!
TV • 1954
Miriam
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self - Mystery Guest
Leg Work
TV • 1987
Dorothy Richardson
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self