Maureen Paula O'Sullivan was born on May 17, 1911, in Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland, to Charles Joseph O'Sullivan, an officer in the Connaught Rangers, and his wife, Mary Fraser. She was of Irish, English, and Scottish descent. Maureen was educated at Catholic schools in Dublin, Paris, and London, where she was a fellow student with future actress Vivien Leigh at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Roehampton.
Even as a schoolgirl, Maureen desired an acting career, despite her father's initial opposition. She studied hard and read widely, preparing herself for the opportunity to become an actress. That opportunity arose when American film director Frank Borzage was in Dublin filming Song o' My Heart in 1929. Borzage suggested a screen test, which Maureen took and passed with flying colors, winning a substantial role in the film.
Maureen's early success led to a string of films, including Just Imagine, The Princess and the Plumber, and So This Is London, all released in 1930. She became MGM's most popular ingenue throughout the 1930s, starring 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, playing the iconic role of Jane Parker. The pair went on to make five more Tarzan films together, the last being Tarzan's New York Adventure in 1942.
Maureen's performances in the Tarzan films, as well as her other roles, such as The Flame Within, David Copperfield, and Anna Karenina, cemented her status as a talented and radiant actress. She continued to work in film throughout the 1940s, but after the decade, she began to make fewer appearances, primarily due to her desire to devote more time to her family.
Maureen married Australian-American writer John Farrow in 1936, and they had seven children together: Michael, Patrick, Maria (Mia Farrow),John, Prudence, Theresa (Tisa Farrow),and Stephanie Farrow. After her husband's death in 1963, Maureen continued to work in film and television, as well as operate a bridal consulting service, Wediquette International.
Maureen made her Broadway debut in "Never Too Late" in 1962 and went on to appear in various productions throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She also co-produced two Broadway productions and appeared in a few made-for-television movies before retiring in 1996. Maureen passed away on June 23, 1998, at the age of 87, during heart surgery in Scottsdale, Arizona.
