So why do I think RO'B is so great? Most of my friends think he is an old, bald git. Technically they may be right (apart from the git bit, I've never met him so I can't comment!), but he makes me laugh and smile, and he is one of the few people I look forward to seeing on the TV. Or on film. Or singing. Or in magazines. Anywhere really... You could say he's my 'favourite obsession' ;)

Through Rocky Horror, Richard has made it more acceptable for people to be themselves. It's OK to be 'different' (define that as you will) and people should be accepted for who they are, not what they look like. It's OK to be a bit eccentric, and there's no harm in enjoying yourselves as long as you don't hurt others. RO'B believes in making people happy, so smile a bit more and let your (metaphorical?) hair down.

Brief Bio: born in UK (25/03/42), moved to New Zealand with parents, came back to London in time to join in the 60's, acted a bit, got married to Kimi Wong, wrote 'Rocky Horror Show', made 'Rocky Horror Picture Show', became cult hero, wrote some more musicals, got divorced, wrote even more musicals, got married again, vanished for a bit, resurfaced in 'Crystal Maze', re-emerged as cult hero, and has appeared in several films, although mainly bit parts. He's currently still married, with three children, and he lives in London.

Mostly in that order, if you need to know more go to the Richard O'Brien Crusade. Q's fab site covers almost everything you would ever want to know about Richard, apart from what toothpaste he uses and where he gets his hair cut.

RO'B started his career as a horse riding stuntman in 'Carry On Cowboy' and 'Casino Royale'. He decided that he'd like acting better, so got bit parts in plays and wrote 'Rocky Horror' during evenings at home looking after his son Linus whilst Kimi was at work. The stage show was a hit, so they made the film.

Apart from the RHPS, Richard has been in ‘Shock Treatment’,‘Flash Gordon’,‘Dark City’,‘Spice World’,‘Ever After’, ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, 'Elvira's Haunted Hills' , the recently released on DVD 'Mumbo Jumbo', and had bit parts in a few other films. RO'B usually plays an evil demented type, which he is very good at.

Most of his films can be bought on-line at Amazon, Blackstar etc.

TV: Apart from ‘The Crystal Maze’, Richard has appeared in ’The Detectives', ‘The Ink Thief’, ‘Robin of Sherwood’, and various VH1 specials. 'Crystal Maze' is currently being re-shown on Challenge TV.

'The Detectives' was a UK comedy series starring Jasper Carrott and Robert Powell as two detectives (Louis and Briggs). The plotline being that they wern't very good detectives.

The lovely Richard showed up as Dr Phibes the sarcastic pathologist ('Welcome to the Dungeon of Death') in Series 3, though I'm not sure how many or which episodes he was in. I am trying to find out, so any help muchos gracias :).

In this episode, Louis has fallen over whilst attempting to ice-skate and banged his knee. Briggs put Vicks on it to 'make it better'. Dr Phibes is not impressed at the attempts at first aid. I don't think he is impressed that they are alive - methinks he prefers the dead...

Some .wavs to enjoy...

Corpse

Putrefaction

Ice

Vick

yes I know the 'Detectives' pics arn't best quality, but are best I could get from the video capture.

Musically, Richard has done rather a lot.  He started off with the phenomenally successful musical ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, wrote and starred in ‘Disgracefully Yours’ as Mephistopheles Smith (the Horny Little Devil) and has written other musicals with varying degrees of success.  In 2000 Richard released an album, ‘Absolute O’Brien’: very chilled out jazz stuff.  The magenta cover is impressive as well. :)

During the ‘70’s, Richard and his then wife Kimi Wong released such rockin’ singles as ‘Merry Christmas Baby’, ‘I Was In Love With Danny (But The Crowd Was In Love With Dean)’, ‘Pseuds Corner’ and another version of ‘Eddie’s Teddy’.  They are great fun to listen to and scare your housemates with.