Richard O'Brien (born Richard Timothy Smith; 25 March 1942 [1][2][3]) is a British and New Zealand actor, playwright and singer. He wrote the musical stage show The Rocky Horror Show in 1973, which has since remained in continuous production.
Richard O'Brien. Actor: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Born in Cheltenham, England, Richard Smith's family moved to Tauranga, New Zealand, in 1951 when his father, an accountant, decided to become a sheep farmer. Watching horror and science-fiction double features in nearby Hamilton, Smith added an interest in acting to his love of rock and roll.
‘Rocky Horror’ Creator Richard O’Brien Reveals Gender Struggles: “I Have So Much Girl in Me” The legend, 81, who played Riff Raff and wrote "Time Warp" admits, "I used to beat myself up ...
Richard O'Brien, 81, has recalled the moment he suffered a harrowing breakdown before accepting himself as transgender.
News of actor Richard O'Brien’s death spread quickly earlier this week, causing concern among fans across the world. However, the April 2026 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax, the actor best known for his role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show is alive and well.
For Richard O’Brien, participating in the documentary felt less like a retrospective and more like a reclamation of the energy that led him to create Rocky Horror in the first place.
'Give a Voice to the Voiceless': Richard O'Brien on 50 Years of
Richard Timothy Smith (born ), known professionally as Richard O'Brien, is a British-New Zealand songwriter and actor, best known as the creator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and its sequel, Shock Treatment. In his native Britain he is also remembered for hosting the adventure game show The Crystal Maze from 1990 to 1994. On Phineas and Ferb, he performs the voice of Lawrence ...