Maureen Flannigan
A former child star who navigated the surreal premise of a sitcom about a half-alien girl, then stepped behind the camera to craft documentaries.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American actress·Birthday: December 30·Generation X
Biography
Maureen Flannigan entered America's living rooms as Evie Garland, the charming teenager with a暂停 alien father who communicated through a glowing cube on the sitcom *Out of This World*. For four seasons, she balanced the typical tribulations of adolescence with the whimsical oddity of her character's premise, becoming a familiar face to kids of the late 80s and early 90s. Unlike many who struggle to transition from child stardom, Flannigan gracefully pivoted her career. She continued acting into adulthood with guest roles, but her creative path evolved toward storytelling with a deeper purpose. She shifted her focus to documentary filmmaking, applying the discipline learned on set to the research-driven world of non-fiction. This second act allowed her to explore substantive subjects from behind the camera, crafting narratives far removed from the canned laughter of her youth. Her journey reflects a deliberate move from performing scripted fantasy to engaging with the complexities of real-world stories.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Maureen was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maureen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Maureen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the lead role of Evie Garland for the entire four-season run of the syndicated sitcom *Out of This World*.
- Successfully transitioned from a child acting career to working as a documentary filmmaker and producer.
- Hosted and produced segments for the PBS travel and lifestyle series *Weekend Explorer*.
Did You Know?
She is a certified yoga instructor.
She provided the voice for the character 'Timid' in the animated series *The Adventures of Timmy the Tooth*.
She graduated from the University of Southern California.
Her mother, Peggy, was also an actress.
“I grew up on a sitcom, but I learned the craft is the real magic.”
