Maureen O’Sullivan

Maureen O’Sullivan (1911 – 1998), who at one time resided in Niskayuna, N.Y., was considered to be Ireland’s first film star. O’Sullivan’s career began when she was discovered by director Frank Borzage in Dublin filming “Song o’ My Heart” (1930), staring Irish tenor John McCormack. She left Ireland and traveled to the United States to complete the 20th Century Fox film in Hollywood.

She later signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and became Tarzan’s Jane, playing opposite Johnny Weissmuller from 1932 to 1942. O’Sullivan also starred in “The Thin Man” (1934) and played Kitty in “Anna Karenina” (1935).

In 1948 she appeared in “The Big Clock” directed by her husband John Farrow. She had her Broadway debut in the play “Never Too Late,” co-starring with Paul Ford. Shortly after it opened in 1963, John Farrow died. In 1983 O’Sullivan married James Cushing of Niskayuna, N.Y.

A notable later role was her appearance with daughter Mia Farrow in Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters,” as Farrow’s mother.