Maria O’Brien, 1950 – 2026

Actress Maria O’Brien, 75, died on Feb. 24. The daughter of Edmond O’Brien and Olga San Juan, she appeared in such films and TV shows as Protocol, Smile, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, The Love Boat, How the West Was Won, CHiPs, Magnum, P.I., L.A. Law, Matlock, Murder, She Wrote, and Suddenly Susan; she also had costarring roles in The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts and Ave 43. O’Brien also worked as an acting coach (for 22 years on Days of Our Lives). Her brother is actor Brendan O’Brien; she was married to actor Michael Anderson, Jr. Also a stage actress, O’Brien won the Drama Logue Award in 1990 for Outstanding Performance in The Maids at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles.