Maria O’Brien, a longtime actress and cherished acting coach who guided multiple generations of soap opera talent on “Days of Our Lives,” has died at 75. She passed on February 24, 2026, concluding a career of nearly sixty years across film, TV, and theater.
Born August 14, 1950, in Los Angeles, O’Brien was raised in a show-business family. Her father, Edmond O’Brien, earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as a shady publicist in 1954’s “The Barefoot Contessa,” and her mother, Olga San Juan, appeared in several musical comedies such as “Are You with It?” and “One Touch of Venus.” Maria forged her own Hollywood identity, acting in films like “Smile” (1975), “The Incredible Shrinking Woman” (1981), “Table for Five” (1983), and “Protocol” (1984).
TV viewers encountered O’Brien through her many guest roles on major series. Over the 1980s and 1990s, she appeared on “Murder, She Wrote,” “Magnum, P.I.,” “The Love Boat,” “L.A. Law,” “CHiPs,” “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” and “Matlock,” performing alongside stars such as Melanie Griffith, Lily Tomlin, Angela Lansbury, Tom Selleck, and Goldie Hawn.
By the late 1990s, O’Brien shifted her focus to coaching, joining the daytime dramas “Sunset Beach” and “Passions.” The transition became a turning point. From 2007 to her retirement in 2022, she spent 15 years as an acting coach on “Days of Our Lives”, guiding performers through challenging emotional material and intricate scenes. Her work behind the camera shaped many of the show’s most memorable moments.
“Maria was an unsung hero in our industry,” said Eric Martsolf, who collaborated with her on both “Passions” and “Days of Our Lives.” “She shed light wherever she was.”
Following her passing, current “Days of Our Lives” cast members shared numerous tributes online. Robert Scott Wilson wrote that her “soul and unrelenting passion for the craft will never be forgotten.” Casey Moss, who portrays JJ, expressed gratitude for how she made his early steps into acting feel safe and encouraging.
True O’Brien, the Daytime Emmy-winning actress who played Paige on the series and is married to Moss, offered an especially heartfelt message. She remembered Maria’s “smile was contagious” and her “passion intoxicating,” and thanked her for “all the sessions we had together and for your undying commitment and love for the craft of acting.”
O’Brien also earned acclaim on the stage. In 1990, she received a Drama-Logue award for her role in Jean Genet’s “The Maids” at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, highlighting her skill beyond screen acting. The production reflected the classical training that later informed her coaching work.
Outside the arts, O’Brien became deeply involved in advocating for Alzheimer’s disease research after her father was diagnosed early on. She testified before Congress in 1983 about its impact on families, playing a key role in securing federal research funding during a time when the illness received minimal attention. Edmond O’Brien passed in 1985.
Her brother, Brendan O’Brien, also worked in acting and voice acting, best known as the original voice of Crash Bandicoot and several other characters in the franchise during the Naughty Dog era from 1996 to 2004. His final performance as Crash was in 2001’s “Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex,” though his archived audio continued to appear in later games. He died in March 2023 at age 60, preceding Maria in death.
Throughout her career, O’Brien balanced mainstream roles with artistic pursuits. Her film appearances ranged from comedic works like “Smile” and “The Incredible Shrinking Woman” to dramatic projects such as “Table for Five.” She was also featured in “The Choirboys” (1977), “Shell Game” (1975), “Prime Time” (1977), and “PSI Factor” (1980). Her screen career began in 1963 with a role on the TV series “Sam Benedict,” kicking off more than fifty years in the industry.
Her television resume stretched far beyond her best-known parts. O’Brien also appeared in shows such as “Nash Bridges,” “Jack & Jill,” “Suddenly Susan,” “Quincy, M.E.,” and “For the People,” among many others during network TV’s peak period. She held recurring roles on series like “Ave 43” and “The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts.”
Colleagues remembered her not only for her expertise but for her sincere devotion to lifting up other actors. Her long tenure coaching on soap operas—a genre sometimes overlooked by critics but adored by viewers—showcased her belief in the craft regardless of status.
O’Brien is survived by her three children—James Anderson, Danica Anderson, and Sean Anderson—and her sister, Bridget O’Brien Adelman. She was predeceased by her brother Brendan and her parents. Her impact endures through the countless actors she mentored and the performances she helped shape onstage and onscreen.
The cause of death has not been released.
