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