Richard O'Brien
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- March 25, 1942
- Birthplace
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
Richard O'Brien (born Richard Timothy Smith, 25 March 1942) is an English actor, television presenter, writer and theatre performer, best known for writing the stage musical The Rocky Horror Show (1973), famously adapted into a film in 1975, the longest-running theatrical release in history. O'Brien was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. In 1951, the family emigrated to Tauranga, New Zealand but he moved back to England in 1964. On becoming an actor, he changed his name to Richard O'Brien (his maternal grandmother's surname). O'Brien presented the 1990–93 Channel 4 game show The Crystal Maze, and voiced Lawrence Fletcher in the Disney Channel animated series Phineas and Ferb (2008–2015; 2025–present) and its two films (2011 and 2020). His other acting credits include Flash Gordon (1980), Spice World (1997), EverAfter (1998), Dark City (1998), Dungeons & Dragons (2000), Elvira's Haunted Hills (2001), and Jackboots on Whitehall (2010). O'Brien is transgender and identifies himself as third gender and uses he/him pronouns.
Filmography
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror 2025
as Self
Tiny Little Voices 2025
Actor
The Rocky Horror Show Live 2021 2021
Music
Rocky Horror 45: The Movie 2021
as Self
The Rocky Horror Musical Live Stream 2020
Writer
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe 2020
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
The Stolen 2017
as Mr. Russell
Life After Flash 2017
as Self
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again 2016
Original Film Writer, Writer
Rocky Horror Show Live 2015
as Narrator, Lyricist, Writer, Music, Original Music Composer
Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars 2014
as Lawrence Fletcher / Additional Voices (voice)
The Last Impresario 2014
as Self
Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel 2013
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Phineas and Ferb: The Perry Files - Animal Agents 2013
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Amanda Palmer And The Grand Theft Orchestra 2012
Actor
The British Guide to Showing Off 2011
Actor
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension 2011
as Lawrence Fletcher / Lawrence-2 (voice)
Jackboots on Whitehall 2010
as Himmler (voice)
Phineas and Ferb Summer Belongs to you ! 2010
as Lawrence Fletcher
Night Train 2009
as Mrs. Froy
Rocky Horror Tribute Show 2008
as Himself - Host, Music, Lyricist, Writer, Creator
Dark City: Memories of Shell Beach 2008
as Self
- Once Upon a Time in New York: the Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk
Once Upon a Time in New York: the Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk 2007
as Self
The Children's Party at the Palace 2006
as The Childcatcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream 2006
as Self
The Perfect Scary Movie 2005
as Self
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The Lost Scimitar of Arabia 2005
as Prince Kasim
Elvira's Haunted Hills 2002
as Lord Vladimere Hellsubus
Dungeons & Dragons 2000
as Xilus
Rocky Horror 25: Anniversary Special 2000
Actor
The Mumbo Jumbo 2000
as Archie
Behind the Music: The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1999
as Self
- A Perfect Carry On
A Perfect Carry On 1998
as Self
EverAfter 1998
as Pierre Le Pieu
Dark City 1998
as Mr. Hand
Spice World 1997
as Damien
The Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show 1995
as Self
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase 1989
as James
Revolution 1985
as Lord Hampton
Digital Dreams 1983
as Partridge, the Surly Servant, Writer
The Return of Captain Invincible 1983
Lyricist, Writer
Shock Treatment 1981
as Dr. Cosmo McKinley / Kitchenware Announcer (voice), Lyricist, Music, Screenplay
Fangs 1981
Original Film Writer
The Rocky Horror Treatment 1981
as Self
An Audience with Dame Edna Everage 1980
Actor
Flash Gordon 1980
as Fico
The Odd Job 1978
as Batch
The Contraption 1978
as The Man
Jubilee 1978
as John Dee
A Hymn from Jim 1977
as Reporter, Writer
- It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll 1977
as Dave Head
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975
as Riff Raff, Screenplay, Lyricist, Theatre Play
The Four Dimensions of Greta 1972
as Balding Hippy
Zee and Co. 1972
as Party Guest
Carry On Cowboy 1965
as Rider (uncredited)
Credits from TMDB.