Maria O’Brien, the veteran actress and beloved acting coach who mentored generations of soap opera performers on “Days of Our Lives,” has died at age 75. O’Brien passed away on February 24, 2026, leaving behind a six-decade career that spanned film, television, and theater.
Born August 14, 1950, in Los Angeles, O’Brien came from entertainment royalty. Her father, Edmond O’Brien, won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a sleazy publicist in 1954’s “The Barefoot Contessa,” while her mother, Olga San Juan, starred in multiple musical comedies including “Are You with It?” and “One Touch of Venus.” O’Brien carved her own path through Hollywood, appearing in films including “Smile” (1975), “The Incredible Shrinking Woman” (1981), “Table for Five” (1983), and “Protocol” (1984).
Television audiences recognized O’Brien from guest appearances across dozens of popular series. She appeared in “Murder, She Wrote,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “The Love Boat,” “L.A. Law,” “CHiPs,” “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” and “Matlock” throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The roles put her alongside stars like Melanie Griffith, Lily Tomlin, Angela Lansbury, Tom Selleck, and Goldie Hawn.
O’Brien transitioned to coaching in the late 1990s when she joined the daytime dramas “Sunset Beach” and “Passions.” The move proved transformative. She spent 15 years as acting coach on “Days of Our Lives” from 2007 until retiring in 2022, helping actors navigate complex scenes and emotionally demanding storylines. Her behind-the-scenes work shaped the performances that millions of daytime television fans saw each week.
“Maria was an unsung hero in our industry,” said Eric Martsolf, who worked with O’Brien on both “Passions” and “Days of Our Lives.” “She shed light wherever she was.”
Current “Days of Our Lives” cast members flooded social media with tributes following news of her death. Robert Scott Wilson wrote that O’Brien’s “soul and unrelenting passion for the craft will never be forgotten.” Casey Moss, who plays JJ on the series, thanked her for making his “entrance into the world of storytelling” feel safe during his early career.
True O’Brien, the Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress who played Paige on the soap opera and is married to Moss, shared a particularly moving remembrance. She wrote that Maria’s “smile was contagious” and her “passion intoxicating,” thanking her for “all the sessions we had together and for your undying commitment and love for the craft of acting.”
O’Brien’s stage work earned critical recognition as well. In 1990, she won a Drama-Logue award for her performance in Jean Genet’s “The Maids” at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, demonstrating her range beyond screen work. The production showcased the classical training that would later make her such an effective coach for young soap opera performers.
Beyond entertainment, O’Brien became a passionate advocate for Alzheimer’s disease research after her father became one of the first celebrities diagnosed with the condition. In 1983, she testified before Congress about the disease’s devastating impact on families. Her advocacy proved instrumental in securing government funding for Alzheimer’s research during a period when the disease received little public attention or resources. Edmond O’Brien died two years later, in 1985.
O’Brien’s brother, Brendan O’Brien, also pursued acting and voice work, most notably as the original voice of Crash Bandicoot and several other characters in the popular video game franchise during the Naughty Dog years from 1996 to 2004. He voiced Crash for the final time in 2001’s “Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex,” though archival recordings of his voice continued to appear in subsequent games. He preceded Maria in death, passing away in March 2023 at age 60.
Throughout her career, O’Brien balanced commercial work with artistic integrity. Her film credits spanned comedies like “Smile” and “The Incredible Shrinking Woman” to dramas like “Table for Five.” She appeared in “The Choirboys” (1977), “Shell Game” (1975), “Prime Time” (1977), and “PSI Factor” (1980), building a diverse resume that showcased her versatility. Her first onscreen credit came in 1963 on the television series “Sam Benedict,” launching a career that would span more than five decades.
Her television appearances extended beyond her most recognized roles. O’Brien also appeared in “Nash Bridges,” “Jack & Jill,” “Suddenly Susan,” “Quincy, M.E.,” “For the People,” and numerous other series during the peak of network television’s golden age. She held recurring roles on series including “Ave 43” and “The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts.”
Industry colleagues remembered O’Brien not just for her technical skill but for her genuine dedication to helping others succeed. Her years coaching on soap operas—a genre often dismissed by critics but beloved by millions of viewers—reflected her commitment to the craft regardless of prestige. She will be remembered, as Deadline noted, “for her vivacious personality, her passion for acting, and her exceptional talent as an artist and teacher.”
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 Brendan and her parents. Her legacy lives on through the countless actors she mentored and the performances she helped bring to life on screen and stage.
The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
