Sullivan was born in San Francisco, California, in 1851 to Irish parents; her father, who died when she was eight years old, was from Dublin, and her mother was from Galway. She had seven siblings: six sisters and one brother, some of whom also appeared on the stage.
Sullivan was born in San Francisco, California, in 1851 to Irish parents; her father, who died when she was eight years old, was from Dublin, and her mother was from Galway. She had seven siblings: six sisters and one brother, some of whom also appeared on stage.