Richard O'Brien

Biography

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.

Known For

Phineas and Ferb

An Audience with...

ITV Playhouse

Robin of Sherwood

Spicks and Specks

Going Live!

Dark City

The Detectives

All Movies (53)

• Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror2025 · as Self
• Tiny Little Voices2025
• Rocky Horror 45: The Movie2021 · as Self
• Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe2020 · as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
• The Stolen2017 · as Mr. Russell
• Life After Flash2017 · as Self
• Rocky Horror Show Live2015 · as Narrator
• Phineas and Ferb: Last Day of Summer2015 · as Lawrence (voice)
• Phineas and Ferb: Night of the Living Pharmacists2014 · as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
• Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars2014 · as Lawrence Fletcher / Additional Voices (voice)
• The Last Impresario2014 · as Self
• Phineas and Ferb Save Summer2014 · as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
• Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel2013 · as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
• Phineas and Ferb: The Perry Files - Animal Agents2013 · as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
• Amanda Palmer And The Grand Theft Orchestra2012
• The British Guide to Showing Off2011
• Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension2011 · as Lawrence Fletcher / Lawrence-2 (voice)
• Jackboots on Whitehall2010 · as Himmler (voice)
• Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You!2010 · as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
• Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!2009 · as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
• Night Train2009 · as Mrs. Froy
• Rocky Horror Tribute Show2008 · as Himself - Host
• Dark City: Memories of Shell Beach2008 · as Self
• Once Upon a Time in New York: the Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk2007 · as Self
• The Children's Party at the Palace2006 · as The Childcatcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
• Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream2006 · as Self
• The Perfect Scary Movie2005 · as Self
• Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The Lost Scimitar of Arabia2005 · as Prince Kasim
• Elvira's Haunted Hills2002 · as Lord Vladimere Hellsubus
• Dungeons & Dragons2000 · as Xilus
• Rocky Horror 25: Anniversary Special2000
• The Mumbo Jumbo2000 · as Archie
• Behind the Music: The Rocky Horror Picture Show1999 · as Self
• A Perfect Carry On1998 · as Self
• EverAfter1998 · as Pierre Le Pieu
• Dark City1998 · as Mr. Hand
• Spice World1997 · as Damien
• The Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show1995 · as Self
• The Wolves of Willoughby Chase1989 · as James
• Revolution1985 · as Lord Hampton
• Digital Dreams1983 · as Partridge, the Surly Servant
• Shock Treatment1981 · as Dr. Cosmo McKinley / Kitchenware Announcer (voice)
• The Rocky Horror Treatment1981 · as Self
• An Audience with Dame Edna Everage1980
• Flash Gordon1980 · as Fico
• The Odd Job1978 · as Batch
• The Contraption1978 · as The Man
• Jubilee1978 · as John Dee
• A Hymn from Jim1977 · as Reporter
• It's Only Rock 'n' Roll1977 · as Dave Head
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show1975 · as Riff Raff
• Zee and Co.1972 · as Party Guest
• Carry On Cowboy1965 · as Rider (uncredited)

All TV Shows (14)

• Mongrels2010 · as Zombie Dog (voice)
• Phineas and Ferb2007 · as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
• The Ten Commandments2006 · as Anander
• Spicks and Specks2005
• Urban Gothic2000 · as Thin Man
• Where Are They Now?1999 · as Self
• The Ink Thief1994 · as The Ink Thief
• The Detectives1993 · as Dr. Phibes
• Cluedo1990 · as Himself
• The Crystal Maze1990 · as Himself - Host
• Going Live!1987 · as Self
• Robin of Sherwood1984 · as Gulnar
• An Audience with...1978 · as Self
• ITV Playhouse1967 · as Dave Head