Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Teresa “Tere” Carrubba |
| Known As | Tere Carrubba |
| Birthdate | July 2, 1954 |
| Birthplace | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Parents | Patricia Alma Hitchcock O’Connell; Joseph E. O’Connell Jr. |
| Siblings | Mary Alma Stone (b. April 17, 1953); Kathleen “Katie” O’Connell Fiala (b. February 27, 1959) |
| Spouse | Paul Carrubba |
| Grandparents | Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (1899–1980); Alma Lucy Reville (1899–1982) |
| Public Role | Family representative; festival speaker; panelist and Q&A host at Hitchcock-related events |
| Years Active (public appearances) | 2000s–present |
Early Life and Roots
Born on July 2, 1954, in Los Angeles, Teresa “Tere” Carrubba grew up within a family whose names are etched into the grammar of cinema. Her mother, Patricia (Pat) Hitchcock O’Connell, was Alfred Hitchcock’s only child and a capable performer in his films; her father, Joseph E. O’Connell Jr., a Boston businessman, married into a household fluent in editing rooms, call sheets, and set stories. For Tere, childhood meant proximity to two towering figures: her grandparents Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville, a creative pair born the same year, 1899, whose partnership shaped some of the most influential films of the twentieth century.
The family details matter because they frame the work Tere would later do in public. In truth, she was not a studio executive or a marquee actor. Instead, she became something rarer: a faithful steward of memory in front of audiences, a speaker who can connect the human texture of a fabled household to the cinephiles and communities who still gather to watch Hitchcock’s films in the dark.
The Family Constellation
The Carrubba–O’Connell–Hitchcock line is at once small and well documented—three sisters, a devoted mother, and grandparents who turned cinematic suspense into a universal language.
| Name | Relation | Born–Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Alma Hitchcock O’Connell | Mother | 1928–2021 | Actor in Strangers on a Train; cameo in Psycho; later a family spokesperson and author. |
| Joseph E. O’Connell Jr. | Father | 1924–1994 | Boston businessman; married Pat Hitchcock in 1952. |
| Mary Alma Stone | Sister | 1953– | Eldest sister; listed in family obituaries and public records. |
| Kathleen “Katie” O’Connell Fiala | Sister | 1959– | Youngest sister; appears with Tere at festival events and conversations. |
| Alfred Joseph Hitchcock | Grandfather | 1899–1980 | Filmmaker whose work reshaped popular cinema. |
| Alma Lucy Reville | Grandmother | 1899–1982 | Editor, screenwriter, collaborator, and Hitchcock’s closest creative partner. |
These relationships are not mere genealogical footnotes—they are the coordinates by which Tere orients many of her public appearances, often weaving personal anecdotes into the larger history that audiences are eager to hear.
Public Work and Appearances
Across the 2000s and 2010s, Tere Carrubba emerged as a warm and articulate presence at screenings, retrospectives, and film-and-culture gatherings. She has stepped onto stages for pre-film introductions, sat on panels, and led Q&As in which she reflects on the discipline and collaboration that defined Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville’s working lives.
Selected appearances include festival panels and discussions hosted by organizations like the Hawai‘i International Film Festival, museum and repertory cinema showcases, and regional celebrations tied to Hitchcock’s California connections. In October 2017, editorial photographs documented Tere introducing a film during the Santa Cruz Film Festival—a moment emblematic of her approach: concise, personal, and designed to invite audiences into the world behind the camera. She has also joined her sister Katie for onstage conversations at classic-film events and participated in programs developed with broadcasters and distributors presenting restored or newly exhibited Hitchcock works. At times, she has served as a special guest host for symphonic film events, lending a human perspective to screenings that unite music and cinema.
Her role is subtle yet substantial. Rather than pursuing headlines or awards, she curates stories—how certain scenes felt on set, what Alma noticed first in an edit, how her mother approached acting with discipline and humor. The effect is like turning a kaleidoscope: with each rotation, the same images form new patterns, and audiences see how creative labor ripples across generations.
Milestones and Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 17, 1953 | Birth of sister Mary Alma Stone. |
| July 2, 1954 | Birth of Teresa “Tere” Carrubba in Los Angeles. |
| February 27, 1959 | Birth of sister Kathleen “Katie” O’Connell (later Fiala). |
| 2000s–2010s | Regular appearances at Hitchcock screenings, retrospectives, and community film events. |
| October 2017 | Introduced a film at the Santa Cruz Film Festival (documented in editorial photo coverage). |
| 2015–2018 | Participated in panels and event conversations about Hitchcock’s films, often alongside sister Katie. |
| August 9, 2021 | Publicly announced the death of her mother, Patricia Hitchcock O’Connell. |
| 2023–2025 | Continued festival and community engagements, including regional Hitchcock-themed celebrations. |
What She Brings to the Room
- Context at scale: Tere often situates a single scene or film within a broader arc—how Alfred and Alma worked together, how Pat navigated acting and family life, how the production culture of the 1950s and 1960s shaped choices on set.
- Precision and restraint: She does not inflate anecdotes. If she didn’t witness something directly, she frames it as family understanding rather than revelation. That credibility has made her a valued guest at curatorial programs and festival Q&As.
- Community connection: From museum screens to local festivals, Tere adapts to audiences: students, lifelong Hitchcock devotees, and newcomers discovering these films for the first time. She’s at ease with all three.
A Family of Three Sisters
The O’Connell household raised three daughters—Mary (1953), Tere (1954), and Katie (1959). It’s a simple statistic that echoes in their public work: three distinct voices, sometimes on stage together, sometimes appearing separately, always grounding discussion in lived experience. When the subject is a filmmaker whose brand became almost superhuman, their presence reminds people that the films emerged from a family as well as a studio system.
Numbers That Tell a Story
- 1899 and 1899: the shared birth year of Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville.
- 1952: the year Pat Hitchcock married Joseph E. O’Connell Jr.
- 3: the O’Connell daughters—Mary, Tere, Katie.
- 1980 and 1982: the years Alfred and Alma passed away, closing one epoch and opening another as new generations took up the mantle of preserving and interpreting their work.
- 2017, 2021, 2025: dates that mark Tere’s public activity—introductions, announcements, and ongoing community engagement.
Selected Public Activities
| Year(s) | Organization/Event | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2018 | Classic film programs and distributor showcases | Panelist / Onstage conversation | Appearances often with sister Katie, discussing family recollections and craft. |
| 2017 | Santa Cruz Film Festival | Special introduction | Presented remarks before a screening. |
| 2018–2024 | Film-and-orchestra and repertory events | Special guest / Host | Contextual talks before screenings and Q&As after. |
| 2023–2025 | Regional Hitchcock-themed festivals | Panelist / Guest | Community-focused discussions and audience Q&As. |
The Personal Scale of Film History
Film history can feel museum-large, but Tere Carrubba keeps it human-scale. She talks about work, partnership, and process—about Alma’s editorial instincts, Alfred’s exacting standards, and Pat’s professional poise on set. In doing so, she offers a bridge between scholarship and storytelling. The stage becomes a family room; the screen, a scrapbook. Audiences leave with more than facts—they carry away the sensation of having shared a conversation across time.
FAQ
Who is Tere Carrubba?
She is the granddaughter of Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville and the daughter of Patricia Hitchcock O’Connell, known for public appearances supporting film culture.
When and where was she born?
She was born on July 2, 1954, in Los Angeles, California.
How is she connected to Alfred Hitchcock’s work?
She speaks publicly about the family’s experiences and offers context at screenings, panels, and festival events devoted to Hitchcock.
Does she work primarily in film production?
No, she is best known as a public representative and speaker rather than as a producer or director.
Who are her siblings?
She has two sisters: Mary Alma Stone (born 1953) and Kathleen “Katie” O’Connell Fiala (born 1959).
Who is her spouse?
Public references list her spouse as Paul Carrubba.
What notable events has she participated in?
Appearances include festival panels, repertory cinema Q&As, and a documented introduction at the Santa Cruz Film Festival in October 2017.
Did she publicly address her mother’s passing?
Yes, she issued the family statement when her mother, Patricia Hitchcock O’Connell, died on August 9, 2021.
Does she claim major awards or titles?
There are no widely reported individual industry awards; her presence is valued for insight and stewardship.
What topics does she often discuss on stage?
She focuses on family history, collaboration between Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville, and behind-the-scenes perspectives that illuminate the films.
