Maria O’Brien — the longtime acting coach behind the scenes at Days of Our Lives and a familiar face in classic film and TV — has died. She was 75.
O’Brien passed away on Feb. 24, following a career that stretched across six decades and touched just about every corner of the entertainment world. While many fans know her for her connection to daytime TV, she also appeared on both the big and small screen, building a résumé packed with recognizable titles.
On the film side, O’Brien showed up in movies including 1975’s Smile, 1984’s Protocol, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, and Table for Five. On television, she made guest appearances on a long list of staples from the ’80s and ’90s, including Murder, She Wrote, Magnum P.I., The Love Boat, L.A. Law, and CHiPs.
Her path eventually led her into one of the most influential roles an actor can have: helping other performers shine. O’Brien began working as an acting coach in the late 1990s, landing jobs on daytime dramas Sunset Beach and Passions. She later became a key part of Days of Our Lives, holding the acting coach position for 15 years until retiring in 2022 — a behind-the-camera legacy that shaped countless performances viewers saw on screen.
O’Brien also earned recognition on stage. In 1990, she won a Drama-Logue award for her performance in The Maids by Jean Genet, staged at Los Angeles’ Mark Taper Forum.
Born Aug. 14, 1950, in Los Angeles, O’Brien came from Hollywood bloodlines. Her father was Oscar-winning actor Edmund O’Brien, who took home best supporting actor for The Barefoot Contessa. Her mother, Olga San Juan, was a musical comedy star known for film appearances including Are You with It?, The Countess of Monte Cristo, and One Touch of Venus.
Outside of acting, O’Brien was also an outspoken advocate. She played a significant role in pushing for government funding for Alzheimer’s research, and in 1983 she testified before Congress about the toll of the disease — a cause tied closely to her family after her father became one of the first celebrities publicly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
O’Brien is survived by her three children — James Anderson, Danica Anderson, and Sean Anderson — and her sister, Bridget O’Brien Adelman. She was preceded in death by her brother, actor Brendan O’Brien.
Leave a Reply