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

Maria O’Brien, a versatile actress with a career spanning film and television, and a respected acting coach, passed away on February 24, 2026, at the age of 75. She was known for her roles in projects like Protocol and her extensive operate guiding actors on the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Early Life and Family Legacy

Born on August 14, 1950, in Los Angeles, O’Brien came from a prominent acting family. Her father was Academy Award-winning actor Edmund O’Brien, recognized for his performance in The Barefoot Contessa (1954), and her mother was Olga San Juan, a celebrated musical comedy star.

Acting Career

O’Brien began her acting career in 1975 with a role in the film Smile, credited as Maria. She continued to build a diverse filmography, appearing in Shell Game (1975), The Choirboys (1977), Prime Time (1977), PSI Factor (1980), and The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1980). A notable role came in 1984 with Protocol, where she starred alongside Goldie Hawn, Richard Romanus, and Jean Smart.

Throughout her career, O’Brien shared the screen with numerous well-known actors, including Melanie Griffith, Lily Tomlin, Angela Lansbury, and Tom Selleck. She also made guest appearances on popular television series such as Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Good Morning, Miss Bliss, The Love Boat, L.A. Law, CHiPs, Matlock, Nash Bridges, Suddenly Susan, Jack & Jill, and For the People. She also appeared in multiple episodes of the web series Ave 43, a soap opera parody.

Transition to Acting Coaching

In the late 1990s, O’Brien transitioned into acting coaching, initially working on daytime dramas Sunset Beach and Passions. This led to a 15-year tenure as the acting coach for Days of Our Lives, a position she held until her retirement in 2022.

Alzheimer’s Advocacy

Beyond her work in entertainment, O’Brien was a dedicated advocate for Alzheimer’s disease research. Her father was among the first celebrities to be diagnosed with the disease, and in 1983, she testified before Congress regarding the impact of Alzheimer’s, contributing to securing government funding for research on the illness.

Legacy

Maria O’Brien is remembered for her vibrant personality, her passion for acting, and her talent as both an artist and a teacher. She was preceded in death by her brother, actor Brendan O’Brien, and is survived by three children, Thomas Anderson, Danica Anderson, and Sean Anderson, and her sister Bridget O’Brien Adelman.