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