To many, Maureen O’Hara is best remembered as the motherly figure in The Parent Trap (1961) and Miracle on 34th Street (1947), but her legacy goes far beyond those roles.
Dubbed the “Queen of Technicolor” for her striking red hair, brilliant green eyes, and flawless complexion, O’Hara’s career spanned 75 years and over 60 films. Born in Dublin, Ireland, she achieved numerous milestones, becoming one of Hollywood’s first action stars and the first woman to run an airline.
Widely regarded as Ireland’s most celebrated actress, she also recorded albums and appeared on Broadway. In 1999, she famously said, “My first ambition was to be the No. 1 actress in the world. And when the whole world bowed at my feet, I would retire in glory and never do anything again.”
Married three times, with a daughter named Bronwyn from her second marriage, O’Hara—born Maureen FitzSimons—lived a remarkable life. Among the most influential figures in her life were actor Charles Laughton, who gave her the name O’Hara, John Wayne, her co-star in five films, and director John Ford, who launched her to stardom with How Green Was My Valley, a film that won five Oscars.
When Maureen O’Hara passed away peacefully in her sleep in 2015 at the age of 95, she was surrounded by her family in Boise, Idaho. To honor her life, they played music from her favorite film, The Quiet Man (1952).
Now, let’s take a moment to reflect on her remarkable journey and the legacy she left behind.
#1. Maureen O’Hara: The early years
As the second of six children born to football-club owner Charles and opera-singer Marguerite, Maureen O’Hara’s passion for performing began early.
By the age of 5, she was studying at the Ena Mary Burke School of Elocution and Drama, and by 10, she had joined the Rathmines Theatre Company. Soon after, she was performing in radio plays for Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE), which aired throughout Ireland.
Acting ran in the family, with three of her siblings—James, Charles, and Margot—also pursuing careers in the arts.
O’Hara’s determination was clear from a young age. As a teenager, she worked nights at a local laundromat to support herself. But it wasn’t long before her hard work and talent led her away from odd jobs and toward a bright future in acting.
#2. A star was born
At the age of 17, Maureen O’Hara was discovered by Charles Laughton, who renamed her O’Hara. She was cast alongside him in the 1939 film Jamaica Inn, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and later played Esmeralda to his Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame the same year.
That year marked a significant turning point for O’Hara; she left for America aboard the Queen Mary and ultimately settled in Hollywood.
Her first marriage was to producer George Hanley Brown in 1938. However, after moving to Hollywood while he stayed in England, the marriage was annulled in 1941.
#3. Fast friendship with Lucille Ball
While working on her films, O’Hara not only met various male companions but also formed a close friendship with Lucille Ball when they starred together in the comedy Dance, Girl, Dance in 1940. It was during a lunch with Ball that O’Hara first met Desi Arnaz.
Years later, their children, Lucille Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., attempted to reunite their parents by playing O’Hara’s comedy The Parent Trap, hoping it would send a subtle message for them to get back together. As O’Hara recalled, “Unfortunately, it didn’t work.”
#4. Overnight stardom
Director John Ford cast Maureen O’Hara in the 1941 family drama How Green Was My Valley, which won five Oscars, including Best Picture. During this time, she also became a popular pinup during World War II.
O’Hara married Ford in 1941, but their relationship was fraught with challenges, leading to their divorce in 1952. He directed her again in the 1950 historical action-adventure film Tripoli, and together they welcomed their only child, daughter Bronwyn, in 1944. Reflecting on their marriage, O’Hara remarked, “It was a terrible mistake, and we divorced in 1952.”
Bronwyn followed in her mother’s footsteps and pursued an acting career, adopting her mom’s maiden name, FitzSimons.
#5. Maureen O’Hara, the first female action star
Maureen O’Hara is often credited as the first female action star, thanks to her impressive ability to perform many of her own stunts and sword-fighting scenes in romantic adventure films.
Notable examples include her roles in The Black Swan (1942) and At Sword’s Point (1952), where she showcased her remarkable talent and fearlessness.
#6. Maureen O’Hara and The Duke
Directed by John Ford and featuring O’Hara alongside John Wayne, the romantic comedy The Quiet Man tells the story of a retired American boxer who returns to his Irish hometown and falls for a spirited redhead, despite her brother’s skepticism about their relationship. O’Hara considered this film her favorite.
Throughout her career, O’Hara collaborated frequently with Wayne, appearing in five films together: Rio Grande (1950), The Quiet Man (1952), The Wings of Eagles (1957), McLintock! (1963), and Big Jake (1971). O’Hara was thrilled when Wayne remarked that he preferred working with men “except for Maureen O’Hara; she’s a great guy.”
In a 1991 interview, O’Hara shared how she met Wayne through Ford, saying, “We hit it right off. I adored him, and he loved me. But we were never sweethearts. Never, ever.”
#7. Musical foray
Maureen O’Hara’s singing talents were highlighted when she starred in the short-lived 1960 Broadway musical Christine, set in contemporary India and centered around the story of an Irish woman and a Hindu doctor. The show ran for only twelve performances.
In addition to her stage work, O’Hara recorded two albums: Love Letters From Maureen O’Hara in 1958 and Maureen O’Hara Sings Her Favorite Irish Songs in 1961, showcasing her love for music and her Irish heritage.
#8. Family fare
Maureen O’Hara is best remembered by later generations for her iconic roles as mothers in beloved films like Miracle on 34th Street, where she starred alongside Natalie Wood, and The Parent Trap, with Hayley Mills.
Her family-oriented roles extended to other films, including Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962), McLintock! (1963), and Spencer’s Mountain (1963), the latter inspired by the same novel by Earl Hamner that also inspired The Waltons.
According to Biography, O’Hara decided to step back from her film career after Big Jake in 1971. She relocated to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands to be with her third husband, Charles Blair, whom she married in 1968 and remained with until his death in 1978.
Charles Blair was an aviation pioneer, known for being the first pilot to complete a solo flight over the Arctic Ocean and the North Pole. He spent 30 years as a Pan Am pilot, authored the autobiography Red Ball in the Sky, and ran the Caribbean commuter airline, Antilles Airboats.
Tragically, Blair lost his life in a commuter plane crash involving his own airline on September 2, 1978.
Despite this heartbreak, O’Hara stepped into his role as an aviation leader, becoming the first female president of a scheduled airline at Antilles Airboats. After his passing, she also wrote a column for the tourist magazine The Virgin Insider.
In a 1995 interview with the Associated Press, she reflected on her life with Blair, saying, “Being married to Charlie Blair and traveling all over the world with him, believe me, was enough for any woman. It was the best time of my life.”
#9. The last chapter
Twenty years after her last film, Maureen O’Hara made a comeback in 1991, portraying John Candy’s mother in Only the Lonely. She continued to act in made-for-TV movies, including The Christmas Box (1995), Cab to Canada (1998), and The Last Dance (2000), which marked her final project.
In 2004, she published her autobiography, Tis Herself. A decade later, in 2014, she was honored with an Academy Award at the Governors Awards, presented by Clint Eastwood and Liam Neeson.
During her acceptance speech, O’Hara, who was in a wheelchair, expressed her gratitude to her leading men. “I wouldn’t be here tonight if it wasn’t also for other gentlemen who I was lucky to work with along the way,” she said in her lilting Irish accent.
She recognized Charles Laughton for signing her first movie contract and credited John Wayne as well, saying, “The Duke, John Wayne, who signed me to my first movie contract and is responsible for my career; and of course, that old divel himself, the great John Ford.”
O’Hara lived a quiet life until she passed away in her sleep on October 24, 2015, at her home in Boise, Idaho, surrounded by family who celebrated her life by playing music from her favorite film, The Quiet Man.
She was survived by her daughter, Bronwyn FitzSimons of Glengarriff, Ireland; her grandson, Conor FitzSimons of Boise; and two great-grandchildren.
