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

The veteran performer became a formative acting coach on daytime soaps.

Overview

  • O’Brien died on Feb. 24 at age 75, and her cause of death has not been disclosed.
  • Her six-decade career included films such as Smile and Protocol and guest roles on series like Matlock, Magnum P. I., and Murder, She Wrote.
  • She transitioned to coaching in the late 1990s on Sunset Beach and Passions, then spent 15 years guiding actors on Days of Our Lives before retiring in 2022.
  • Born in Los Angeles to Oscar winner Edmund O’Brien and performer Olga San Juan, she earned her first onscreen credit in 1963.
  • She advocated for Alzheimer’s research after her father’s diagnosis, testifying before Congress in 1983 and helping secure federal funding; she is survived by three children and a sister, with outlets differing on one son’s given name.