Maureen O’Hara: A Screen Legend Dies At Age 95

Maureen O’Hara, born August 17, 1920 in Dublin, Ireland, passed away on October 24, 2015.

The actress lived to be 95 years old and leaves behind a string of successes in her wake.

Her first film, an Alfred Hitchcock production of Jamaica Inn (1938), caught the attention of Charles Laughton. He then cast her in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). In 1941, O’Hara starred in How Green Was My Valley and in 1947 starred in her most famous role, Miracle on 34th Street.

According to the Irish Examiner, O’Hara received multiple accolades.

“For her contributions to the film industry, O’Hara has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1993, she was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was also awarded the Golden Boot Award.

“In 2004, O’Hara released her autobiography ‘Tis Herself. In the same year, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Film and Television Academy in Dublin.”

Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne were a popular film duo. Over the course of 21 years they starred in five films together, including Rio Grande (1950), The Wings of Eagles (1957), the comedy film McClintock (1963), and Big Jake (1971). O’Hara’s personal favorite was the film The Quiet Man from 1952.

John Wayne, The Duke, is known for preferring to work with male actors, “except for Maureen O’Hara; she’s a great guy.”

In the 1960s, she began to delight audiences with her impressive singing. She also chose roles with a more light-hearted feel than she had previously selected.

The accomplishments and attributes of Maureen O’Hara are highlighted on Biography.com.

“She showcased her attractive singing voice in a series of television appearances, record albums, and the Broadway musical Christine (1960). A number of lighter roles in family comedies followed, including the 1961 Hayley Mills vehicle The Parent Trap, 1962s Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (with James Stewart) and 1970s How Do I Love Thee? (with Jackie Gleason.) “

O’Hara retired to the Virgin Islands after the 1971 film with John Wayne. However, she made a few film appearances after a 20-year break from acting. These movies include Only the Lonely (1991), The Christmas Box (1995), and Cab to Canada (1991). Her last film, The Last Dance, came out in 2000.

In 2005, O’Hara penned her open and honest autobiography. She comes forward about her personal relationships with actors and directors and discusses her marriages and the roles she played. Her fiery spirit, matching the flaming red of her hair, is revealed in her poignant and insightful book.

On November 8, 2014, Liam Neeson and Clint Eastwood presented her with the most coveted of all acting awards, a golden Oscar. The statue was presented to O’Hara for a lifetime of achievement. Her film career spanned over 70 years. In her movies, she showed poise and grace, along with a pride in her Irish heritage. Her variety of roles proved O’Hara’s innate acting abilities and earned her the respect of peers and viewers.

Maureen O’Hara’s life has been one of triumph and tragedy. She lost a husband in a mysterious plane crash, battled cancer on more than one occasion, and remained wheelchair bound later in her long life. Yet, through it all, she remained ever worthy of praise and admiration.

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