Darcy O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Darcy O'Brien was an award
-winning author of fiction
and literary criticism
, most well-known for his work in the genre of true crime
. His first novel, A Way of Life, Like Any Other, was a fictionalized account of his childhood in Hollywood. In 1985, he wrote a book about the Hillside Stranglers entitled Two of a Kind: The Hillside Stranglers which was adapted into a made-for-television film called The Case of the Hillside Stranglers starring Richard Crenna
.
actor George O'Brien and actress Marguerite Churchill
, a frequent co-star of John Wayne
.
O'Brien attended Princeton University
and University of Cambridge
, and received a master's degree and doctorate from the University of California, Berkley. From 1965 to 1978 he was a professor of English at Pomona College
. In 1978 he moved to Tulsa, and taught at the University of Tulsa
until 1995.
O'Brien was married three times and had one daughter named Molly O'Brien. His sister is Orin O'Brien
, a double bassist and member of the New York Philharmonic
.
O'Brien died of a heart attack in Tulsa on March 2, 1998.
O'Brien was inducted into the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame in 1997.
Award
An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
-winning author of fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
and literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
, most well-known for his work in the genre of true crime
True crime
True crime is a non-fiction literary and film genre in which the author examines an actual crime and details the actions of real people.The crimes most commonly include murder, but true crime works have also touched on other legal cases. Depending on the writer, true crime can adhere strictly to...
. His first novel, A Way of Life, Like Any Other, was a fictionalized account of his childhood in Hollywood. In 1985, he wrote a book about the Hillside Stranglers entitled Two of a Kind: The Hillside Stranglers which was adapted into a made-for-television film called The Case of the Hillside Stranglers starring Richard Crenna
Richard Crenna
Richard Donald Crenna was an American motion picture, television, and radio actor and occasional television director. He starred in such motion pictures as The Sand Pebbles, Wait Until Dark, Body Heat, the first three Rambo movies, Hot Shots! Part Deux, and The Flamingo Kid...
.
Biography
Darcy O'Brien was born in Los Angeles, the son of Hollywood silent filmSilent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actor George O'Brien and actress Marguerite Churchill
Marguerite Churchill
Marguerite Churchill was an American movie actress with a film career spanning from 1929 to 1952.She was daughter of a producer who owned a chain of theaters but he died when she was ten years old. She was educated in New York at the Professional Children's School and the Theatre Guild Dramatic...
, a frequent co-star of John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
.
O'Brien attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and received a master's degree and doctorate from the University of California, Berkley. From 1965 to 1978 he was a professor of English at Pomona College
Pomona College
Pomona College is a private, residential, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. Founded in 1887 in Pomona, California by a group of Congregationalists, the college moved to Claremont in 1889 to the site of a hotel, retaining its name. The school enrolls 1,548 students.The founding member...
. In 1978 he moved to Tulsa, and taught at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
until 1995.
O'Brien was married three times and had one daughter named Molly O'Brien. His sister is Orin O'Brien
Orin O'Brien
Orin O'Brien is an American double bassist. She has been a member of the New York Philharmonic since joining in 1966 under the direction of Leonard Bernstein and was the first woman to join the orchestra in its history...
, a double bassist and member of the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
.
O'Brien died of a heart attack in Tulsa on March 2, 1998.
Awards
- 1978: Ernest Hemingway AwardHemingway Foundation/PEN AwardThe Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award is awarded annually to a novel or book of short stories by an American author who has not previously published a book of fiction. The award is named after Ernest Hemingway and funded by the Ernest Hemingway Foundation, which has been administered by the Hemingway...
for best first novel, A Way of Life, Like Any Other - 1997: Edgar Allan Poe AwardEdgar AwardThe Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
, Power to Hurt
O'Brien was inducted into the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame in 1997.
Selected works
- A Way of Life, Like Any Other (1977)
- Moment by MomentMoment by MomentMoment by Moment is a 1978 film starring John Travolta and Lily Tomlin. The film was written and directed by Jane Wagner.-Plot:It tells the story of a romance between a young drifter named Strip Harrison and an older wealthy woman, Trish Rawlings .-Cast:*Lily Tomlin - Trisha*John Travolta -...
, novelization of screenplay by Jane WagnerJane WagnerJane Wagner is an American writer, director and producer. Wagner is best known as Lily Tomlin's comedy writer, collaborator and life partner....
(1979) - The Silver Spooner (1981)
- Two of a Kind: The Story of the Hillside Stranglers (1985)
- Murder in Little Egypt (1989)
- Margaret in Hollywood (1991)
- A Dark and Bloody Ground (1993)
- Power to Hurt (1996)
- The Hidden Pope (2001)
External links
- Obituary at the New York Times