Maureen DuMont Kelly was the mother of American actress and philanthropist Minka Kelly. She was born on December 20, 1956, in Whittier, California. Maureen Kelly was a showgirl, and as a single mother, she tried her best to raise her daughter the best way she could while taking care of her needs.
Love Life
Regarding her love life, Maureen Kelly met Rick Dufay at a recording studio; the two seemed to like each other, and they kick-started a casual romantic relationship. Their romance was short-lived, and it led to pregnancy. Maureen was ready to keep it, but Dufay was not ready to be a father. He was at the peak of his career and did not want anything that would tie him down. Following this pregnancy, the two parted ways, and Maureen raised her daughter all by herself.
Professional Career
Maureen worked as an exotic dancer at a strip club in Los Angeles. She tried to make ends meet despite her struggle with domestic violence and drug addiction. Maureen used to go to various shows with her then-young daughter. In her memoir, Tell Me Everything, Minka recounts that when her mother would make a good amount of money, they would go into the grocery store at 2. a m.
Memories with Her Daughter
In her book, Minka recounts how life was with her mother. She notes that she wished that her mother was just like the other mother. Minka recounts that there are several occasions she was alone and wished that her mother was not around because she was battling with drug addiction while trying to make money for their upkeep.
Maureen’s daughter notes that her childhood was unpredictable and full of challenges, but this made her an adaptable person. While still in her childhood, Minka met with her father, but their interaction was cut short when her mother began a relationship with another man.
Minka notes that this man was abusive, and they lived with some of his girlfriends. This was quite a lot for a child, but it made her mature faster. Funny enough, she started performing at various events at the age of 17; this way, she could make ends meet.
Her Daughter
Maureen’s daughter has had sad and bad moments in her life. She may have not appreciated her mother’s presence when she was around, but she sure did when she died, noting that her mother was the most beautiful, free-spirited, kind-hearted human she had ever known.
Regarding her career, Minka tried several things before setting for acting. In the early 2000s, she landed a few commercials, but she made her acting debut in the short film The Turbo Charged Prelude for 2 Fast 2 Furious. She also managed to get a few roles in shows like Entourage, American Dreams, and Drake & Josh.
Minka’s breakthrough came in 2006 when she landed a role as a regular on the drama series Friday Night Lights. Over the years she has appeared in several films and shows as she continues to build her career.
Death
Maureen Kelly died of colorectal cancer on December 4, 2008, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Following her death from cancer, Minka teamed with several celebrities to support breast cancer screenings for Stand Up 2 Cancer.
