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Maria O’Brien, Actor and ‘Days of Our Lives’ Acting Coach, Dies at 75

A longtime Days of Our Lives acting coach, she became a public voice on Alzheimer’s following her father’s illness.

Overview

  • O’Brien died on Feb. 24, according to obituaries, and no cause of death was disclosed.
  • Her film work included Smile (1975) and Protocol (1984), and she made guest appearances on shows such as Murder, She Wrote, Magnum P.I., Matlock and The Love Boat.
  • She moved into coaching on Sunset Beach and Passions, then spent about 15 years as acting coach on Days of Our Lives before retiring in 2022.
  • Survivors include her three children — Thomas, Danica and Sean Anderson — and her sister Bridget O’Brien Adelman.
  • In 1983 she testified before Congress about Alzheimer’s following her father’s diagnosis, an effort credited with helping secure federal research funding.