Richard O'Brien (American actor)

Richard O'Brien
Born
Edward Patrick O'Brien

(1917-07-14)July 14, 1917
Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.
DiedMarch 29, 1983(1983-03-29) (aged 65)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor

Edward Patrick O'Brien (July 14, 1917 – March 29, 1983) was an American film and television actor.[1]

Early life

O'Brien was born in Fargo, North Dakota.[2] He worked as a radio announcer in North Dakota before moving to Hollywood in the 1930s.[3] He began appearing in films, and also worked as a manager at the Carthay Circle Theatre.[3] During World War II he gave up acting to work as a stevedore in the San Francisco docks.[3]

Career

Television

In 1953 O'Brien appeared in the television series This Is the Life, later making three appearances in Harbor Command (1957–58).[4]

O'Brien had recurring television roles on The Smith Family (1971–72) and the action, crime drama series S.W.A.T (1975–76). He also guest starred on Rawhide (1965), The Big Valley (1965–69), The Fugitive (1966), 12 O'Clock High (1966), The Wild Wild West (1968–69), Gunsmoke (1969–74), Bonanza (1971), My Three Sons (1971), Cannon (1971–76), The Streets of San Francisco (1972, 1975), Barnaby Jones (1974–77), The Rockford Files (1977), Quincy, M.E. (1978–81), Trapper John, M.D. (1980, 1982), and General Hospital.[3]

Film

O'Brien appeared in theatrical films such as Chamber of Horrors (1966), Rough Night in Jericho (1967), Pieces of Dreams (1970), The Andromeda Strain (1971), The Honkers (1972), The Thief Who Came to Dinner (1973), No Deposit, No Return (1976), High Velocity (1976), The Pack (1977), and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977).[3][5]

Death

O'Brien died in March 1983 of cancer at his home in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 65.[1][3][6]

Filmography

Film

Richard O'Brien film credits
YearTitleRoleNotes
1962Days of Wine and RosesUnknownUncredited
1964A Tiger WalksCamper in TentUncredited
1966Chamber of HorrorsDr. Romulus Cobb[7]
1967Rough Night in JerichoRyan[7]
1968MadiganDet. O'Brien
1970Pieces of DreamsMonsignor Francis Hurley[7]
1971The Andromeda StrainGrimes[1]
1972The LonersDriver
1972The HonkersMatt Weber
1973The Thief Who Came to DinnerSgt. Del Conte[7]
1974Nightmare HoneymoonSheriff[7]
1976No Deposit, No ReturnCapt. Boland
1976Moving ViolationPolice Chief
1976High VelocityBeaumont
1976The Shaggy D.A.Desk Sergeant
1977Looking for Mr. GoodbarFather Timothy[1]
1977The PackJim Dodge
1978Heaven Can WaitAdvisor to Former Owner

Television

Richard O'Brien television credits
YearTitleRoleNotes Ref.
1957–1958Harbor CommandCapt. Hardesty / Ed White / Jackie3 episodes (as Edward O'Brien)[4]
1965Dr. KildareMr. Beaton1 episode[7]
1965RawhideSheriff1 episode[7]
1965–1968The Man From U.N.C.L.E.Fauntleroy / Air Chief3 episodes[7]
1965–1969The Big ValleyBryce / Yankee / Jace Holman / Jed Cameron / Sheriff Mosley / Sheriff Dan Bannock6 episodes[7]
1966The FugitiveMacklin / Sheriff Sam2 episodes[7]
196612 O'Clock HighSergeant / C.O.2 episodes[7]
1967The MonkeesMr. SmithEpisode: "Monkees on the Line" (S1.E28)
1967, 1968Cimarron StripBen Lorton / Chandler2 episodes[7]
1968–1969The Wild Wild WestSheriff Tenny / Sergeant Charlie Tobin / Mr. Van Cleve3 episodes
1969Family AffairHarris1 episode[7]
1969–1974GunsmokeSimpson / Carter / Adam Kearney3 episodes[1][7]
1970Dan AugustMarston1 episode[7]
1971My Three SonsTom Stratman1 episode[7]
1971BonanzaTom Griswold1 episode[7]
1971Dead Men Tell No TalesTim RileyTV movie[7]
1971–1972The Smith FamilyCaptain O'Farrell11 episodes
1971–1976CannonCharlie Clausen / Chief Michael Ames / Herb Landon / Capt. Mike Carling4 episodes[7]
1972, 1975The Streets of San FranciscoBarney Reardon / Carl Hendrix2 episodes[7]
1973The WaltonsCharlie Potter1 episode[7]
1974Movin' OnConstruction BossEpisode: In Tandem[7]
1974–1977Barnaby JonesSheriff / Joe Montgomery3 episodes[7]
1975Returning HomeMr. CameronTV movie[7]
1975The RookiesStark / Officer Lord2 episodes[7]
1975KojakSgt. Harry Doyle1 episode[7]
1975–1976S.W.A.T.Chief Edward RomanRecurring role[1]
1977Wonder WomanFrank Wilson1 episode[7]
1977The Rockford FilesArthur KelsoEpisode: "The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls" (S4.E9)[7]
1977Little House on the PrairieHugh MacGregor1 episode[7]
1978–1981Quincy, M.E.Bernie / Fourth Board Member (uncredited) / Senator McGreevy3 episodes
1980, 1982Trapper John, M.D.Construction Worker / Super2 episodes[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Associated Press (April 6, 1983). "Richard O'Brien, Hollywood Character Actor, 65, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  2. ↑ Collar, Cammila. "Richard O'Brien". AllMovie. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Longtime Character Actor Richard O' Brien Dies at 65". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. April 5, 1983. p. 7. Retrieved August 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. 1 2 Berard, Jeanette M.; Englund, Klaudia, eds. (October 21, 2009). Television Series and Specials Scripts, 1946-1992: A Catalog of the American Radio Archives Collection. McFarland. p. 135. ISBN 9780786454372. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Willis, John, ed. (1971). "Richard O'Brien". Screen World. 22. University of California: Crown Publishers: 107.
  6. ↑ "Actor Richard O'Brien, who played mostly crooked policemen, priests..." United Press International. April 5, 1983. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 "Richard O'Brien". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media / NBCUniversal. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.