Maria O’Brien, a veteran performer and beloved acting coach who helped shape generations of soap opera stars on “Days of Our Lives,” has passed away at 75. She died on Feb. 24, 2026, closing out a nearly six-decade career in film, television, and theater.
O’Brien was born August 14, 1950, in Los Angeles and grew up in a family firmly rooted in entertainment. Her father, Edmond O’Brien, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for playing a morally dubious publicist in 1954’s “The Barefoot Contessa,” while her mother, Olga San Juan, starred in musical comedies like “Are You with It?” and “One Touch of Venus.” Maria built her own legacy in Hollywood with roles in films such as “Smile” (1975), “The Incredible Shrinking Woman” (1981), “Table for Five” (1983), and “Protocol” (1984).
Audiences also knew O’Brien from her numerous guest appearances on major TV shows. Throughout 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,” sharing the screen with talents like Melanie Griffith, Lily Tomlin, Angela Lansbury, Tom Selleck, and Goldie Hawn.
By the late ’90s, O’Brien transitioned into coaching, joining the daytime dramas “Sunset Beach” and “Passions.” This career shift proved pivotal. From 2007 until she retired in 2022, she spent 15 years coaching actors on “Days of Our Lives,” helping them navigate emotionally demanding material and complex scenes. Her behind-the-scenes contributions influenced many of the show’s standout moments.
“Maria was an unsung hero in our industry,” said Eric Martsolf, who worked with her on “Passions” and “Days of Our Lives.” “She shed light wherever she was.”
After news of her death, current cast members of “Days of Our Lives” posted numerous tributes. Robert Scott Wilson wrote that her “soul and unrelenting passion for the craft will never be forgotten.” Casey Moss, who plays JJ, thanked her for making his early experiences as an actor feel secure and encouraging.
True O’Brien, the Daytime Emmy winner who portrayed Paige on the soap and is married to Casey Moss, also shared a moving message. She recalled that Maria’s “smile was contagious” and her “passion intoxicating,” expressing gratitude for “all the sessions we had together and for your undying commitment and love for the craft of acting.”
O’Brien received recognition onstage as well. In 1990, she earned a Drama-Logue award for her performance in Jean Genet’s “The Maids” at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, showcasing her abilities beyond screen acting. The production drew on the classical training that later informed her coaching career.
Beyond the entertainment world, O’Brien became an advocate for Alzheimer’s research after her father was diagnosed early. In 1983, she testified before Congress about the disease’s toll on families, helping secure federal funding at a time it received little public focus. Edmond O’Brien died in 1985.
Her brother, Brendan O’Brien, pursued a career in acting and voice work, best remembered as the original voice of Crash Bandicoot and other characters from the series during the Naughty Dog era from 1996 to 2004. His last new Crash performance was in 2001’s “Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex,” though archived recordings continued to be used in later games. He died in March 2023 at age 60, preceding Maria.
Throughout her life, O’Brien blended mainstream projects with more artistic roles. Her film credits spanned comedies like “Smile” and “The Incredible Shrinking Woman” as well as dramas such as “Table for Five.” She also appeared in “The Choirboys” (1977), “Shell Game” (1975), “Prime Time” (1977), and “PSI Factor” (1980). Her screen debut came in 1963 on the TV series “Sam Benedict,” launching a career that spanned over fifty years.
Her television work extended far beyond her best-known appearances. O’Brien also showed up on series including “Nash Bridges,” “Jack & Jill,” “Suddenly Susan,” “Quincy, M.E.,” and “For the People,” among many others during the height of network television. She held recurring roles on shows like “Ave 43” and “The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts.”
Colleagues celebrated her not only for her skill but for her heartfelt dedication to uplifting fellow performers. Her lengthy period coaching actors on soap operas—a medium occasionally undervalued by critics but beloved by fans—reflected her commitment to the craft regardless of prestige.
O’Brien leaves behind three children—James Anderson, Danica Anderson, and Sean Anderson—and her sister, Bridget O’Brien Adelman. She was preceded in death by her brother Brendan and her parents. Her legacy lives on through the countless actors she mentored and the performances she helped shape onstage and on camera.
The cause of death has not been disclosed.