Beloved 'Matlock' Actress Maria O'Brien Dead at 75
Beloved 'Matlock' Actress Maria O'Brien Dead at 75
Kayla AldecoaThu, March 5, 2026 at 4:18 AM UTC
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Maria O'Brien, perhaps best known for her roles in Matlock and Protocol, died at age 75 on February 24, according to Deadline.
Born in August 1950, O'Brien got her start in Hollywood in the early 1960s with appearances in shows such as Sam Benedict, Ironside and Police Woman.
The Los Angeles native was destined for stardom, following in the footsteps of her father, Oscar-winning actor Edmond O’Brien, and mother, musical comedy star Olga San Juan.
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Throughout her decades on screen, O'Brien starred alongside A-list talent such as Goldie Hawn, Melanie Griffith, Lily Tomlin, Angela Lansbury, and Tom Selleck.
Later in her career, O’Brien worked off-camera as an acting coach for daytime drama series Sunset Beach and Passions. She would later spend 15 years as an acting coach on the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, where she remained until her retirement in 2022, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
O'Brien is survived by her three children, James Anderson, Danica Anderson, and Sean Anderson, and her sister Bridget O’Brien Adelman.
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
