John O'Brien (novelist) explained
John O'Brien (May 21, 1960 – April 10, 1994) was an American author. His first novel, Leaving Las Vegas, was published in 1990 by Watermark Press and made into a film of the same name in 1995.
Life and career
O'Brien was born in Oxford, Ohio, where his parents, Bill and Judy O'Brien, were both students at Miami University.[1] He was the brother of writer Erin O'Brien. John grew up in Brecksville and Lakewood, Ohio, and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1978.[2] [3] He married Lisa Kirkwood in 1979, and the couple moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1982. They divorced in 1992, at his initiative.[4] [5] His first novel, Leaving Las Vegas, is dedicated to her.[6]
Through a friend of his ex-wife, O'Brien got a gig writing Episode 37 of the animated series Rugrats, "Toys in the Attic", which premiered in 1992 under his only known pseudonym, Carroll Mine. According to his sister, Erin, he was disgusted with editorial changes made to his script.[7]
Death
O'Brien died from suicide (self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head) at his Beverly Hills apartment on April 10, 1994,[8] two weeks after learning that his novel, Leaving Las Vegas, was to be adapted into a film. His father says that the novel was his suicide note. Two more of his novels were published posthumously: Stripper Lessons (Grove Press, 1997) and The Assault on Tony's (Grove Press, 1996), both of which had been left unfinished at the time of his death and were completed by his sister, Erin. A third manuscript, Better, was published by Akashic Press in 2009.
Bibliography
- Book: Leaving Las Vegas . O'Brien, John . 1990 . Watermark Press . Wichita, Kansas . 978-0-922820-12-2 . 22766437 . February 17, 2016 . registration .
- Book: The Assault on Tony's . O'Brien, John . 1996 . Grove Press . New York . 978-0-8021-1592-8 . 34149431 . February 17, 2016 . registration .
- Book: Stripper Lessons . O'Brien, John . 1997 . Grove Press . New York . 978-0-8021-3507-0 . 35593676 . February 17, 2016 .
- Book: Las Vegas noir . Keene, Jarret . Pierce, Todd James . The Tik . O'Brien, John . 2008 . Akashic Books . Brooklyn, New York . 978-1933354491 . 182529221 . February 17, 2016 .
- Book: Better: a novel . O'Brien, John . 2009 . Akashic Books . Brooklyn, New York . 978-1933354828 . 373484234 . February 17, 2016 .
External links
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- News: Death wish novelist . Katz, Ian . March 3, 1996 . New Straits Times . February 17, 2016 .
- News: John O'Brien's bittersweet departure . Nashawaty, Chris . November 10, 1995 . Entertainment Weekly . February 17, 2016 .
- News: Clues in John O'Brien's 'Better' . O'Brien, Erin . July 19, 2009 . Los Angeles Times . February 17, 2016 .
- News: Revisiting "Leaving Las Vegas" and the Final Days of John O'Brien . Whitney, Brian . October 23, 2015 . The Fix . February 17, 2016 .
- News: Erin O'Brien keeps the flame for her brother, author John O'Brien, while staring [sic] her own literary fire ]. Heaton, Michael . September 25, 2009 . Cleveland Plain Dealer . February 17, 2016 .
- News: Leaving Las Vegas and the Writer Who Didn't Live to See It . Pirina, Garin . October 28, 2015 . Esquire . February 17, 2016 .
- Web site: John O'Brien, Leaving Las Vegas, Alcohol and Death . Dold, Gaylord . August 23, 2013 . Gaylord Dold [blog] . February 17, 2016 .
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-19-ca-john-obrien19-story.html
Notes and References
- Web site: Erin O'Brien: Chewy Fudge Brownies. Erin. O'brien. February 13, 2010.
- Web site: Lakewood High School Lakewood, OH alumni - Last Names starting with O. lakewoodhighschoolalumni.com.
- Web site: Class of 1978 (Lakewood High School). secureserver.classquest.com.
- https://erin-obrien.blogspot.com/2006/12/interview.html
- https://ew.com/article/1995/11/10/john-obriens-bittersweet-departure/
- Book: O'Brien, John . Leaving Las Vegas . 1990 . Watermark Press . 0-922820-12-0 . 1st . Wichita, Kan. . 22766437.
- Web site: Erin O'Brien interview November 28, 2005 . March 12, 2011 . November 28, 2005 . QRD No. 29 . Silbermedia.
- Web site: Is Suicide Painless? Leaving Las Vegas, Suicide, and the Tragic End to Life. Don. Parker. September 16, 2016. Medium.