Maria O'Brien, Star of Protocol and Matlock, Dies at 75

Maria O'Brien, an actress known for Protocol and Matlock and a longtime acting coach on Days of Our Lives for 15 years, died on Feb. 24 at age 75. Born in Los Angeles in 1950 to Oscar-winning actor Edmond O'Brien and Olga San Juan, she began her screen career in 1963 on Sam Benedict and appeared in films including Protocol (1984), Smile, and The Incredible Shrinking Woman, as well as TV series such as Viva Valdez, The Love Boat, and L.A. Law. She also coached on Sunset Beach and Passions, won a Drama-Logue Award for The Maids, and testified before Congress in 1983 about Alzheimer’s after her father’s diagnosis. She is survived by her brother and three children.