Maureen Potter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maureen Potter
Born	Maria Philomena Potter (1925-01-03)3 January 1925 Fairview, Dublin, Ireland
Died	7 April 2004(2004-04-07) (aged 79) Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland
Resting place	Clontarf Cemetery
Nationality	Irish
Other names	Maureen Potter
Occupation	Singer, actress, comedienne, performer
Years active	1938—2004
Height	4 ft 11 in (1.50 m)
Spouse(s)	Jack O'Leary ​ (m. 1959⁠–⁠2004)​
Children	John, Hugh

Maureen Potter (born Maria Philomena Potter on January 3, 1925 – died April 7, 2004) was a very famous Irish singer, actress, and comedian. She was known for making people laugh and was a beloved performer in Ireland for many years.

Early Life and First Steps in Showbiz

Maureen Potter was born in Dublin, Ireland. She went to school in Fairview. She had a very long career in Irish theatre, mostly as Ireland's top comedian. She also performed as a serious actress.

Maureen was a regular performer at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. For many years, she was the star of the Christmas pantomime shows there. She was so important to the theatre that she became the first star to have a bronze cast of her handprints placed outside the building.

In 1959, she married Jack O'Leary. He was an Irish army officer whom she had first met in 1943. Jack wrote most of her funny jokes and stories for her performances.

A Career on Stage and Screen

Maureen Potter played many different roles in the theatre. One of her famous dramatic parts was Maisie Madigan in the play Juno and the Paycock.

When she was still a teenager, she traveled abroad as a singer and dancer. She performed with Jack Hylton and his orchestra before World War II. On one tour in Germany, they even performed in front of Adolf Hitler and other Nazis.

In January 1938, Maureen appeared on the BBC Television Service with Jack Hylton's Band. Film of her performance is still kept by the Alexandra Palace Television Society. In 2001, Maureen was given a copy of her 1938 TV appearance. She remembered it well:

"I was 13 years old when I appeared with the Jack Hylton Band. It was on a TV show called RadiOlympia. What I remember most is the thick, orange make-up the performers had to wear. I didn't have to wear it, maybe because my shot was from far away. If you blink, you miss me! Mr. Hylton was always Mr. Hylton to me. He called me 'Morine' (the American way), and he was a kind man who really helped my career."

Maureen first performed professionally with another famous Irish entertainer, Jimmy O'Dea, in pantomime. She also appeared often on television and in cabaret shows. She played the role of Dante Riordan in the 1977 film, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Maureen Potter's hand prints in bronze outside the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

Later Life and Legacy

Maureen Potter received a special honor in 1984. She was given the Freedom of the City of Dublin. This is a very important award. Later, in 1988, she was given an honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin. This meant she was recognized for her great achievements.

Maureen Potter passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Clontarf on April 7, 2004. She was 79 years old. She was survived by her husband, Jack O'Leary, and her two sons, John and Hugh. Maureen Potter is remembered as one of Ireland's most loved and talented performers.

Filmography