Ep. 173: Richard O’Brien (Actor/Writer/Singer)
About Richard O’Brien
Richard Timothy Smith was born in Cheltenham. At age 10, his father, previously an accountant, moved the family to Tauranga, New Zealand, to take up sheep farming. At age 22 he returned to England. His horse skills got him employment as a stuntman in Carry On Cowboy, 1966, and Casino Royal, 1967. He changed his name to O’Brien, his grandmother’s name, to avoid confusion with another Richard Smith. He was in the touring cast of Hair, 1969, where he met Tim Curry, and Kimi Wong who became his first wife. He had a small part in the stage version of Jesus Christ Superstar, 1972, which introduced him to director Jim Sharman, who later agreed to put on The Rocky Horror Show, Richard's first play. It played two years at the King’s Road Theatre, and was then made into a The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The film became defined as a cult classic and took off. The follow-up was called “Shock Treatment”. Richard acted in a variety of film and television including as the villain Gulnar in Robin of Sherwood, 1986, and as the eponymous Ink Thief, 1994, and as the host of the game show, Crystal Maze, 1990-3. He performed as a musician as Mephistopheles Smith.
Cover Art by Jess Rotter
About “Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror”
In Theaters 9/26/2025
On Demand and Blu Ray 10/20/2025
Directed by Linus O’Brien
Produced by Linus O'Brien, Avner Shiloah, Garret Price, and Adam Gibbs at Margot Station
STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR is a joyful and wild ride through the tale of the cultural juggernaut that is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. From its humble origins as a London fringe theater play, the documentary tracks its meteoric rise, fall and resurrection to become the biggest cult film of all time. With intimate access to its creator Richard O’Brien and other major players such as Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Lou Adler, the documentary explores what makes the play and film so singular: Its groundbreaking and transgressive themes, iconic performances and epic songs that took over popular culture. The cult phenomenon that sprung around it is unparalleled, and created not only the midnight screenings which continue to this day, but also a safe haven for those who ever felt different or marginalized – with particular significance for the queer community. In our current political climate, Rocky Horror’s message of inclusion and self expression holds more resonance than ever.”
Produced and released by Margot Station
About Margot Station
Founded in 2023 by producer Adam Gibbs and director Garret Price, Margot Station is a home for filmmakers to create elevated film and television projects, with a focus in the unscripted world. Our infrastructure and resources create a space where filmmakers and artists can do their best work, and our financing and distribution partners can feel confident that their projects will be managed at the highest level. At Margot Station, we relentlessly push quality and solution-focused execution by maintaining flexibility across teams and approaches; we are a place where imagination flourishes by providing strategic support throughout the lifespan of the project, from the inception of an idea all the way through the financing, production, and final execution stages. We believe there are all sorts of stories that need to be told, and have created an innovative model to bring those stories from ideation to a screen near you.
https://www.margotstation.com/
Thank You’s
Thank you Adam, Garret, and Benjamin at Margot Station.
Thank you to Linus O’Brien and Richard O’Brien for making this episode happen.
Credits
Stephen Bluhm - Sound Engineer
https://www.stephenbluhm.fun
Rich Wexler
Producer/Interviewer
http://www.vintageannalsarchive.com
Episode Editors
Otter Castro
https://www.instagram.com/ottercastro
Rudy Fischmann
