Richard O'Brien
Known for Acting · 66 credits
- Born
- 1942-03-25 (age 84)
- Place of birth
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
- Also known as
- Richard Timothy Smith
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
TV Shows (14)
Phineas and Ferb
2007
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
ITV Playhouse
1967
as Dave Head
An Audience with...
1978
as Self
Spicks and Specks
2005
Going Live!
1987
as Self
Where Are They Now?
1999
as Self
Robin of Sherwood
1984
as Gulnar
The Detectives
1993
as Dr. Phibes
Cluedo
1990
as Himself
Urban Gothic
2000
as Thin Man
Mongrels
2010
as Zombie Dog (voice)
The Crystal Maze
1990
as Himself - Host
The Ten Commandments
2006
as Anander
The Ink Thief
1994
as The Ink Thief
Movies (52)
Dark City
1998
as Mr. Hand
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1975
as Riff Raff
EverAfter
1998
as Pierre Le Pieu
Dungeons & Dragons
2000
as Xilus
Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension
2011
as Lawrence Fletcher / Lawrence-2 (voice)
Flash Gordon
1980
as Fico
Spice World
1997
as Damien
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe
2020
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Revolution
1985
as Lord Hampton
Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel
2013
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars
2014
as Lawrence Fletcher / Additional Voices (voice)
The Children's Party at the Palace
2006
as The Childcatcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
Carry On Cowboy
1965
as Rider (uncredited)
Night Train
2009
as Mrs. Froy
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
2025
as Self
Phineas and Ferb: Night of the Living Pharmacists
2014
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Elvira's Haunted Hills
2002
as Lord Vladimere Hellsubus
Shock Treatment
1981
as Dr. Cosmo McKinley / Kitchenware Announcer (voice)
Phineas and Ferb: Summer Belongs to You!
2010
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Rocky Horror Show Live
2015
as Narrator
Phineas and Ferb Save Summer
2014
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
The Perfect Scary Movie
2005
as Self
Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!
2009
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Zee and Co.
1972
as Party Guest
Jubilee
1978
as John Dee
The Stolen
2017
as Mr. Russell
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
1989
as James
Life After Flash
2017
as Self
Rocky Horror 45: The Movie
2021
as Self
The Last Impresario
2014
as Self
Phineas and Ferb: Last Day of Summer
2015
as Lawrence (voice)
Rocky Horror 25: Anniversary Special
2000
Digital Dreams
1983
as Partridge, the Surly Servant
Behind the Music: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1999
as Self
The Rocky Horror Double Feature Video Show
1995
as Self
An Audience with Dame Edna Everage
1980
The Odd Job
1978
as Batch
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream
2006
as Self
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
1977
as Dave Head
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The Lost Scimitar of Arabia
2005
as Prince Kasim
Phineas and Ferb: The Perry Files - Animal Agents
2013
as Lawrence Fletcher (voice)
Rocky Horror Tribute Show
2008
as Himself - Host
Tiny Little Voices
2025
The Mumbo Jumbo
2000
as Archie
Amanda Palmer And The Grand Theft Orchestra
2012
The Rocky Horror Treatment
1981
as Self
The British Guide to Showing Off
2011
A Hymn from Jim
1977
as Reporter
Once Upon a Time in New York: the Birth of Hip Hop, Disco and Punk
2007
as Self
Dark City: Memories of Shell Beach
2008
as Self
A Perfect Carry On
1998
as Self
The Contraption
1978
as The Man
About 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'Brie… With 66 credits spanning from 1965 to 2025, Richard O'Brien has appeared in 52 films and 14 TV shows.
Fans searching for Richard O'Brien movies, Richard O'Brien filmography, or the latest projects starring Richard O'Brien can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Richard O'Brien Movies
- Dark City (1998) — as Mr. Hand
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) — as Riff Raff
- EverAfter (1998) — as Pierre Le Pieu
- Dungeons & Dragons (2000) — as Xilus
- Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011) — as Lawrence Fletcher / Lawrence-2 (voice)
Where to Watch Richard O'Brien Films
Most Richard O'Brien movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Richard O'Brien, check our movies catalogue and browse page.