Richard O'Brien
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.
Photos
Movies (55)
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
2025 · Self
Tiny Little Voices
2025
The Rocky Horror Show Live 2021
2021 · Music
Rocky Horror 45: The Movie
2021 · Self
The Rocky Horror Musical Live Stream
2020 · Writer
Phineas y Ferb, La película: Candace contra el universo
2020 · Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
The Stolen
2017 · Mr. Russell
Life After Flash
2017 · Self
El Show de Terror de Rocky: Como en los viejos tiempos
2016 · Original Film Writer, Writer
Rocky Horror Show Live
2015 · Narrator, Music, Writer, Lyricist, Original Music Composer
Phineas and Ferb Star Wars
2014 · Lawrence Fletcher / Additional Voices (voice)
The Last Impresario
2014 · Self
Phineas y Ferb: Misión Marvel
2013 · Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Phineas and Ferb: The Perry Files - Animal Agents
2013 · Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Amanda Palmer And The Grand Theft Orchestra
2012
The British Guide to Showing Off
2011
Phineas y Ferb, La Pelicula: A Traves De La 2da Dimension
2011 · Lawrence Fletcher / Lawrence-2 (voice)
Jackboots on Whitehall
2010 · Himmler (voice)
Phineas and Ferb Summer Belongs to you !
2010 · Lawrence Fletcher
Night Train
2009 · Mrs. Froy
Rocky Horror Tribute Show
2008 · Himself - Host, Writer, Music, Lyricist, Creator
Dark City: Memories of Shell Beach
2008 · Self
Once Upon a Time in New York: the Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk
2007 · Self
The Children's Party at the Palace
2006 · The Childcatcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream
2006 · Self
The Perfect Scary Movie
2005 · Self
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The Lost Scimitar of Arabia
2005 · Prince Kasim
Elvira's Haunted Hills
2002 · Lord Vladimere Hellsubus
Calabozos y dragones
2000 · Xilus
Rocky Horror 25: Anniversary Special
2000
Mumbo Jumbo
2000 · Archie
Behind the Music: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1999 · Self
A Perfect Carry On
1998 · Self
EverAfter
1998 · Pierre Le Pieu
Dark City
1998 · Mr. Hand
Spice World
1997 · Damien
The Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show
1995 · Self
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
1989 · James
Revolution
1985 · Lord Hampton
Digital Dreams
1983 · Partridge, the Surly Servant, Writer
The Return of Captain Invincible
1983 · Lyricist, Writer
Shock Treatment
1981 · Dr. Cosmo McKinley / Kitchenware Announcer (voice), Lyricist, Screenplay, Music
Fangs
1981 · Original Film Writer
The Rocky Horror Treatment
1981 · Self
An Audience with Dame Edna Everage
1980
Flash Gordon
1980 · Fico
The Odd Job
1978 · Batch
The Contraption
1978 · The Man
Jubilee
1978 · John Dee
A Hymn from Jim
1977 · Reporter, Writer
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
1977 · Dave Head
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1975 · Riff Raff, Screenplay, Lyricist, Theatre Play
The Four Dimensions of Greta
1972 · Balding Hippy
Zee and Co.
1972 · Party Guest
Carry On Cowboy
1965 · Rider (uncredited)
TV shows (17)
The Crystal Maze
2017 · Creator
Mongrels
2010 · Zombie Dog (voice)
Phineas y Ferb
2007 · Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Los diez Mandamientos
2006 · Anander
Spicks and Specks
2005 · Self
Urban Gothic
2000 · Thin Man
Where Are They Now?
1999 · Self
The Ink Thief
1994 · The Ink Thief
The Detectives
1993 · Dr. Phibes
Cluedo
1990 · Himself
The Crystal Maze
1990 · Himself - Host
Going Live!
1987 · Self
Robin of Sherwood
1984 · Gulnar
Rushton's Illustrated
1980
An Audience with...
1978 · Self
Premiere
1977 · Writer
ITV Playhouse
1967 · Dave Head