Updated 9.01 pm
IRISH AMERICAN ACTRESS Maureen O’Hara has died at the age of 95.
O’Hara’s manager Johnny Nicoletti says the iconic actress died in her sleep at her home in Boise, Idaho this morning.
Her family have since confirmed the news of her death.
“It is with a sad heart that we share the news that Maureen O’Hara passed away today in her sleep of natural causes,” read the a statement from the FitzSimons family.
“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 favourite movie, The Quiet Man.”
The Dublin-born actress’ career began in the 1930s, making her debut The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Her prolific career included roles in The Quiet Man and Miracle on 34th Street, often appearing alongside John Wayne.
During her movie heyday, she became known as the Queen of Technicolor because of the camera’s love affair with her vivid hair, pale complexion and fiery nature.
The actress played little Natalie Wood’s mother in the Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street.
President Michael D. Higgins is currently on an official visit to the United States and the former Arts Minister has described O’Hara as “an outstanding and versatile actress”.
“I have learned with great sadness of the death of the actress Maureen O’Hara,” the President said this eveing.
“She will be remembered as an outstanding and versatile actress, whose work especially in film, will endure for many years to come.”
“She received her early training at the Abbey Theatre, and went on to become an artist whose talents were recognised and appreciated all around the world. I especially remember with affection her recent visit to Áras an Uachtaráin, when we discussed among other things her great love of Ireland and her strong family links to Shamrock Rovers.”
O’Hara was born in Ranelagh as Maureen FitzSimons in 1920. Her mother was a well-known opera singer and her father was involved with Shamrock Rovers and other local football teams.
She’s survived by her daughter Bronwyn FitzSimons who lives in Ireland and is also an actress.
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