AceShowbiz - Maria O'Brien, known for her roles in Protocol and Matlock, passed away on February 24 at the age of 75. Details regarding her cause of death have not been disclosed.

Born in Los Angeles on August 14, 1950, O'Brien was raised in a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. Her father was the Oscar-winning actor Edmond O'Brien, and her mother was the musical comedy star Olga San Juan. Following the footsteps of her parents, O'Brien made her television debut in 1963 on the series Sam Benedict.

Throughout her career, O'Brien appeared in numerous films, including the 1984 movie Protocol alongside Goldie Hawn and Chris Sarandon. Her other film credits include Smile, Good Luck, Promised a Miracle, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Table for Five, False Arrest, and In Sickness and in Health.

In addition to her film work, O'Brien had an extensive television career with appearances on a variety of shows such as Viva Valdez, The Love Boat, How the West Was Won, The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts, CHiPs, Quincy, M.E., Magnum, P.I., Good Morning, Miss Bliss, Matlock, Jake and the Fatman, Murder, She Wrote, Nash Bridges, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, Suddenly Susan, Jack & Jill, Spyder Games, and For the People.

Throughout her career, she shared the screen with notable actors such as Melanie Griffith, Lily Tomlin, Angela Lansbury, and Tom Selleck.

Beyond acting, O'Brien was a respected acting coach, contributing her expertise to daytime dramas including Sunset Beach, Passions, and notably Days of Our Lives, where she worked for 15 years until retiring in 2022.

She also earned a Drama-Logue Award for her performance in The Maids by Jean Genet, which was staged at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

Her family history includes a notable advocacy role, as her father Edmond O'Brien was among the first celebrities publicly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In 1983, O'Brien testified before Congress, highlighting the impact of the disease, helping secure government funding for Alzheimer's research.

Maria O'Brien is survived by her three children, James Anderson, Danica Anderson, and Sean Anderson, as well as her sister Bridget O'Brien Adelman. Her brother, actor Brendan O'Brien, passed away in 2023.