- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMaureen Paula O'Sullivan
- Height5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
- Of Irish, English, and Scottish descent, Maureen Paula O'Sullivan was born on May 17, 1911 in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland. Her father was Charles Joseph O'Sullivan, an officer in the Connaught Rangers, and his wife, the former Mary Fraser (or Frazer). She was educated at Catholic schools in Dublin, Paris, and London (Convent of the Sacred Heart, Roehampton, where a fellow student was fellow future actress Vivien Leigh). Even as a schoolgirl, Maureen desired an acting career, despite her father's initial opposition. She studied hard and read widely. When the opportunity to be an actress came along, it almost dropped in her lap. American film director Frank Borzage was in Dublin in 1929, filming Song o' My Heart (1930), when the 18 year old met him. He suggested a screen test, which she took. The results were more than favorable and she won the substantial role of Eileen O'Brien, then went to Hollywood to complete filming.
Once in sunny California, Maureen wasted no time landing roles in other films such as Just Imagine (1930), The Princess and the Plumber (1930), and So This Is London (1930). She was perhaps MGM's most popular ingenue throughout the 1930s in a number of non-Tarzan vehicles. In 1932, she teamed up with Olympic medal winner Johnny Weissmuller for the first time in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932), as Jane Parker. 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 as successful as they were, had it not been for the talent, grace, and radiant beauty of O'Sullivan. But she was more than Jane Parker. She went on to roles in such films as The Flame Within (1935), David Copperfield (1935), and Anna Karenina (1935). She turned in another fine performance in Pride and Prejudice (1940). After the 1940s, however, she made fewer films, primarily for personal reasons, i.e. caring for her large family.
It isn't always easy to walk away from a lucrative career, but O'Sullivan did because she wanted to devote more time to her husband, John Farrow, an Australian-American writer, and their seven children: Michael, Patrick, Maria (a.k.a. Mia Farrow), John, Prudence, Theresa (a.k.a. Tisa Farrow), and Stephanie Farrow. The couple were married from 1936 until his death in 1963. After her last Tarzan venture she asked for release from her contract to care for her husband who had just left the U.S. Navy with typhoid. She did not retire completely and still found time to make occasional movies and television programs, as well as operate a bridal consulting service (Wediquette International).
O'Sullivan made her Broadway debut opposite Paul Ford in "Never Too Late" (November 27, 1962-April 24, 1965), a great success. She would appear on Broadway again in various vehicles through 1981, and later also co-produced two Broadway productions. Later movie patrons remember her as Elizabeth Alvorg in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) (playing opposite fellow silver screen film veteran Leon Ames). Her final celluloid role was in The River Pirates (1988). Some made-for-television movies followed and she retired completely in 1996, two years before her death in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 23, 1998 during heart surgery. She was 87 years old.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan and Denny Jackson
- SpousesJames Cushing(August 22, 1983 - June 23, 1998) (her death)John Farrow(September 12, 1936 - January 27, 1963) (his death, 7 children)
- Children
- ParentsCharles Joseph O'SullivanMary Lovatt O'Sullivan
- RelativesFletcher Previn(Grandchild)Ronan Farrow(Grandchild)
- The first time she met Clark Gable he was in old-man make-up for Strange Interlude (1932). He invited her to go horseback riding, but she turned him down. Later when she met him a second time to record voice-overs, she realized his true age and regretted her decision. He never asked her out a second time.
- She used to make Irish soda bread for Greta Garbo.
- Along with Joyzelle Joyner, she was one of only two credited cast members of Just Imagine (1930) who were still alive in 1980, the year in which the film takes place.
- Despised working with the chimpanzee Cheetah during the filming of the Tarzan movies at MGM and, according to daughter Mia Farrow, privately referred to the primate as "that ape son of a bitch".
- Her oldest son, Michael Farrow, was killed in a plane crash while taking flying lessons (1958).
- [in 1992, about Myrna Loy] What was her magic? I don't know. She was just magic!
- Hollywood was a fantasy world in more ways than one. But it must be said that the industry did a lot for the war effort by producing some marvelous propaganda movies.
- [on Johnny Weissmuller] An amiable piece of beefcake; a likeable, overgrown child.
- Will Rogers wasn't helpful to me at all. He was just concerned with his way of doing things. He didn't like me much because I used to wear slacks to the studio, and that was not done much in those days, so I guess he thought I was rather fast.
- I found Mervyn LeRoy an awfully nice director to work for on Tugboat Annie (1933). He was so nice he was not nice, if you know what I mean. Because he would promise people--in all good heart--a part, fully meaning to give it to them, but then they never got the parts so people turned against them.
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