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Maureen O'Sullivan

Maureen O'Sullivan

Actor · Died June 23, 1998, aged 87 · Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 17, 1911
Died
June 23, 1998 (aged 87)
From
Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland
Works as
Actor
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 89 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are Maureen O'Sullivan's films like?

Across their 34 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
37%
Morality
21%
Self
13%
Survival
9%
Power
8%
Ideas
6%
Society
5%
Family bonds13 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 16 · Serious 10 · Dark 8

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 17 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 16 · Intense 5

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 19 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 19 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 16 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 10 of 14 analyzed roles.

Ally
10 of 14
Mentor
2 of 14
Herald
1 of 14
Hero
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Joyful
9
Melancholic
11
Warm
9
Thrilling
8
Other
34

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Maureen O'Sullivan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Maureen O'Sullivan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

89 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Famous T&A 2(2022)

    as Jane Porter (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Eleanor Biddlecomb

  • The Habitation of Dragons(1992)

    as Helen Taylor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • With Murder in Mind(1992)

    as Aunt Mildred

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Good Old Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Aunt Sue

  • Stranded(1987)

    as Grace Clark

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Leg Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorothy Richardson

  • September(1987)

    as Diane (rehearsed only)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Peggy Sue Got Married(1986)

    as Elizabeth Alvorg

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Hannah and Her Sisters(1986)

    as Norma

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Too Scared to Scream(1984)

    as Marian Hardwick

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Morning's at Seven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Esther "Esty" Crampton

  • Mandy's Grandmother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Grandmother

  • The Great Houdinis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Lady Conan Doyle

  • That's Entertainment, Part II(1976)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Crooked Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Lillian Stanton

  • The Phynx(1970)

    as Maureen O'Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Never Too Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Edith Lambert

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wild Heritage(1958)

    as Emma Breslin

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Edge of Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Julia Williams

  • The Tall T(1957)

    as Doretta Mims

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Blessed Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Sister Mary Benedict

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Little Lamb: A Christmas Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Mother

  • The Steel Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Gladys Duffy

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Dominey · as Miriam

  • The Whistler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Duffy of San Quentin(1954)

    as Gladys Duffy

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Mission Over Korea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Nancy Slocum

  • All I Desire(1953)

    as Sara Harper

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Sister Mary Benedict

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Minna Baxter

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Bonzo Goes to College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Marion Gateson Drew

  • Ellis in Freedomland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as The Dishwasher (voice)

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • No Resting Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Nan Kyle

  • Where Danger Lives(1950)

    as Julie

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 2 episodes · as Agnes Fisher · as Intermission Guest · as Mary · as Self - Intermission Guest · as Stella

  • The Big Clock(1948)

    as Georgette Stroud

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan's New York Adventure(1942)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan's Secret Treasure(1941)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Maisie Was a Lady(1941)

    as Abby Rawlston

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Pride and Prejudice(1940)

    as Jane Bennet

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Sporting Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Linda Lockwood

  • Tarzan Finds a Son!(1939)

    as Jane Parker

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Let Us Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mary Roberts

  • Spring Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Alexandra Benson

  • The Crowd Roars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Sheila 'Shelia' Carson

  • Port of Seven Seas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Madelon

  • Hold That Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as June Evans

  • A Yank at Oxford(1938)

    as Molly Beaumont

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • My Dear Miss Aldrich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Martha Aldrich

  • Between Two Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Claire Donahue

  • The Emperor's Candlesticks(1937)

    as Maria Orlich

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • A Day at the Races(1937)

    as Judy Standish

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Tarzan Escapes(1936)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Devil-Doll(1936)

    as Lorraine Lavond

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Voice of Bugle Ann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Camden Terry

  • The Bishop Misbehaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Hester Grantham

  • Anna Karenina(1935)

    as Kitty

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Woman Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Ann

  • The Flame Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Linda Belton

  • Cardinal Richelieu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Lenore

  • West Point of the Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as 'Skip' Carter

  • David Copperfield(1935)

    as Dora Spenlow

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Barretts of Wimpole Street(1934)

    as Henrietta Barrett

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Hide-Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Pauline Miller

  • The Thin Man(1934)

    as Dorothy Wynant

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan and His Mate(1934)

    as Jane Parker

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Stage Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Shirley Lorraine

  • Tugboat Annie(1933)

    as Patricia 'Pat' Severn

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Molly Kelly

  • Robbers' Roost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Helen Herrick

  • Strange Interlude(1932)

    as Madeline Arnold

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Payment Deferred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Winnie Marble

  • Okay, America! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sheila Barton

  • Skyscraper Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Lynn Harding

  • Fast Companions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sally

  • The Silver Lining (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Joyce Moore

  • Tarzan the Ape Man(1932)

    as Jane Parker

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Big Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Doris Thompson

  • Skyline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Katherine Kearny

  • A Connecticut Yankee(1931)

    as Alisande / Woman in Mansion

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Princess and the Plumber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Princess Louise

  • Just Imagine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as LN-18

  • So This Is London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Elinor Worthing

  • Song o' My Heart(1930)

    as Eileen

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 88 titles from 1930 to 2022.

Biggest box office

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

$40M worldwide

Highest rated

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout

Top draw in 10 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting88 of 88: 88 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score69th

By decade

1930s43 · acting1940s6 · acting1950s20 · acting1960s2 · acting1970s5 · acting1980s7 · acting1990s3 · acting2000s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 0% of 20 roles
3040

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Maureen O'Sullivan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Famous T&A 2 (2022)

82nd percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 31 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 52. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Maureen O'Sullivan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 25 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles5–50 · median 16 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 5 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Maureen O'Sullivan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Maureen O'Sullivan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Johnny Weissmuller shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers