Margaret O'Brien
Biography
Margaret O'Brien is an American film and stage actress born as Angela Maxine O'Brien on January 15, 1937. Her birthplace is recorded as San Diego, California, and Los Angeles, California, in the provided sources. Her mother was Gladys Flores, a flamenco dancer, and her father was a circus performer who died before her birth. She changed her name to Margaret following the success of the film Journey for Margaret, in which she played the title role. Although her film career as a leading character was brief, she was one of the most popular child actors in cinema history, later appearing on stage and in supporting film roles. Her known credits include ninety acting entries, and she is of half-Irish and half-Spanish ancestry.
Career overview
Margaret O'Brien is an American film and stage actress born on January 15, 1937. She was born Angela Maxine O'Brien, and she later changed her name to Margaret following the success of the film Journey for Margaret, in which she played the title role. Although her film career as a leading character was brief, she became one of the most popular child actors in cinema history. In her later career, she appeared on stage and in supporting film roles.
She was born in California, with sources noting her birthplace as either San Diego or Los Angeles. Her father, Lawrence O'Brien, was a circus performer who died before she was born. Her mother, Gladys Flores, was a well-known flamenco dancer who often performed with her sister Marissa, who was also a dancer. Margaret O'Brien is of half-Irish and half-Spanish ancestry.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Margaret O'Brien.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
97 titles- Prepper's Grove (2018) as Gigi
- This Is Our Christmas (2018) as Mrs. Foxworth
- Impact Event (2018) as Amanda
- Near Myth: The Oskar Knight Story (2018) as Self
- Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill! (2017) as Bridgette's Grandmother
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2017) as Ms. Stevenson
- Marsha Hunt's Sweet Adversity (2015) as Self
- A Night at the Movies: Merry Christmas! (2011) as Self - Interviewee
- Frankenstein Rising (2010)
- Elf Sparkle Meets Christmas the Horse (2009) as Miss Coyote (voice)
- AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies (2004) as Self
- Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star (2002) as Self - Actress
- The Craven Cove Murders (2002) as Fan
- Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's (1998) as Self
- Hollywood Mortuary (1998) as Herself
- Creaturealm: From the Dead (1998) as Herself
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- Sunset After Dark (1996) as Betty Corman
- The Story of Lassie (1994) as Self
- Meet Me in St. Louis: The Making of an American Classic (1994) as Self
- The New Lassie (1989)
- When We Were Young: Growing Up on the Silver Screen (1989) as Self
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Jane
- Tales from the Darkside (1984) as Mildred Webster
- Hotel (1982) as Martha Connelly
- Showbiz Goes to War (1982) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood’s Children (1982) as Self (archive footage)
- Amy (1981) as Hazel Johnson
- Testimony of Two Men (1977) as Flora Bumpstead Eaton
- That's Entertainment! (1974) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Death in Space (1974) as Pam Rhodes
- The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli (1973) as Self (archive footage)
- Diabolic Wedding (1971)
- The Pledge of Allegiance (1971) as Narrator
- Love, American Style (1969)
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969) as Neva Phillips
- Adam-12 (1968) as Mrs. Pendleton
- Split Second to an Epitaph (1968) as Louise Prescott
- Ironside (1967) as Louise Prescott
- The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967) as Self
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Anne Lipscott
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Combat! (1962) as Marianne Fraisnet
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Nurse Lori Palmer
- The Aquanauts (1960) as Ellen Marstand
- Heller in Pink Tights (1960) as Della Southby
- Rawhide (1959) as Betsy Stauffer
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) as Phyllis Willoughby
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Jean
- Perry Mason (1957) as Virginia Trent
- Wagon Train (1957) as Julie Revere
- The Mystery of Thirteen (1957) as Annie Brookes
- The Steve Allen Show (1956) as Self - Singer
- Glory (1956) as Clarabel Tilbee
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self
- Hollywood Preview (1955) as Self
- Climax! (1954) as Kathy Fathian
- Climax! (1954) as Chip
- Climax! (1954) as Angie Hawley
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Sarah Trask
- The Eyes of Two People (1952) as Catherine McDermott
- Her First Romance (1951) as Betty Foster
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Ginny
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Margaret
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Laura
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Elaine
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Self - Intermission Guest
- Little Women (1949) as Beth
- The Secret Garden (1949) as Mary Lennox
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Studio One (1948)
- Studio One (1948) as Julie Denton
- Studio One (1948) as Jenny Walker
- Tenth Avenue Angel (1948) as Flavia Mills
- Big City (1948) as Midge
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947)
- The Unfinished Dance (1947) as 'Meg' Merlin
- Three Wise Fools (1946) as Sheila O'Monahan
- Bad Bascomb (1946) as Emmy
- Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945) as Selma Jacobson
- Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) as 'Tootie' Smith
- Twenty Years After (1944) as (archive footage)
- Music for Millions (1944) as Mike
- The Canterville Ghost (1944) as Lady Jessica de Canterville
- Jane Eyre (1943) as Adele Varens
- Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case (1943) as Margaret
- You, John Jones! (1943) as Daughter
- Madame Curie (1943) as Irene Curie - Age 5
- Lost Angel (1943) as Alpha
- Thousands Cheer (1943) as Drug Store Customer
- Journey for Margaret (1942) as Margaret
- Babes on Broadway (1941) as Maxine (uncredited)
- Love Is in Bel Air as Vivienne
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Margaret O'Brien best known for?
Margaret O'Brien is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The New Lassie (1989), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Tales from the Darkside (1984), Hotel (1982).
When and where was Margaret O'Brien born?
Margaret O'Brien was born on January 15, 1937 in San Diego, California, USA.
How many credits does Margaret O'Brien have?
Margaret O'Brien has accumulated over 97 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1941 to 2018.
What is Margaret O'Brien's background in cinema and television?
Margaret O'Brien is an American film and stage actress born as Angela Maxine O'Brien on January 15, 1937. Her birthplace is recorded as San Diego, California, and Los Angeles, California, in the provided sources. Her mother was Gladys Flores, a flamenco dancer, and her father was a circus performer who died before her ...
Margaret O'Brien by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Combat! (1962) as Marianne Fraisnet — aged about 25
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947) — aged about 10
- Perry Mason (1957) as Virginia Trent — aged about 20
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Jane — aged about 47
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 25
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self — aged about 18
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Margaret O'Brien.