HOLLYWOOD—Golden Age of Hollywood actress Maureen O’Hara, best known for her roles in “Miracle on 34th Street,” and “The Parent Trap,” and known as the Queen of Technicolor, died on Saturday, October 24 at her home in Boise, Idaho. She was 95.
O’Hara was called the Queen of Technicolor because her red hair, green eyes, and creamy complexion dazzlingly showcased the new color-film technology.
“Maureen was our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family as they celebrated her life listening to music from her favorite movie, ‘The Quiet Man,’” her family said in a statement.
“Her characters were feisty and fearless, just as she was in real life. She was also proudly Irish and spent her entire lifetime sharing her heritage and the wonderful culture of the Emerald Isle with the world.”
Born in Dublin, Ireland on August 17, 1920, she moved to Hollywood when she was 19-years-old and later became a US citizen.
Her breakthrough film was “How Green Was My Valley,” which beat out Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane” for Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.
“The Quiet Man” was one of five films in which she starred alongside John Wayne. Other famous actors she starred alongside include Henry Fonda, James Stewart, and Tyrone Powers. Wayne once said that he prefers to work with men, “except for Maureen O’Hara. She’s a great guy.”
O’Hara took a break from filmmaking in the 1970s, during which she became CEO of Caribbean islands airline Antilles Air Boats. She also owned and wrote for the Virgin Islander, a monthly publication for tourists in the US and British Virgin Islands.
Her final performance was in the TV movie “The Last Dance.” Many celebrities took to Twitter to express their condolences.
