John O'Brien (novelist)
Encyclopedia
John O'Brien 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
.
, where his parents, Bill and Judy O'Brien, were both students at Miami University
. 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. He married Lisa Kirkwood in 1979; and the couple moved to Los Angeles
, California
, in 1982. His first novel, Leaving Las Vegas, is dedicated to her.
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 unhappy with editorial changes made to his script.
O'Brien committed suicide
by gunshot two weeks after learning that his novel, Leaving Las Vegas, was to be made into a movie. 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), 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.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. His first novel Leaving Las Vegas
Leaving Las Vegas (novel)
Leaving Las Vegas is a 1990 novel by John O'Brien. The novel was adapted into a 1995 film, also called Leaving Las Vegas, starring Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards....
was published in 1990
1990 in literature
The year 1990 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*J. K. Rowling gets the idea for Harry Potter while on a train ride from Manchester to London. She says "I was staring out the window, and the idea for Harry just came. He appeared in my mind's eye, very fully formed...
by Watermark Press and made into a film of the same name
Leaving Las Vegas
Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 romantic drama film directed and written by Mike Figgis, based on a semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic who has ended his personal and professional life to drink himself to death in Las Vegas...
in 1995
1995 in film
-Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation....
.
Life and career
O'Brien was born in Oxford, OhioOxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
, where his parents, Bill and Judy O'Brien, were both students at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. He was the brother of writer Erin O'Brien
Erin O'Brien (writer)
Erin O'Brien is a fiction and nonfiction writer in the Cleveland area. She writes a biweekly column "," originally for the Cleveland Free Times and currently running in the Cleveland Scene. Her first novel, Harvey and Eck, was published by in 2005.She writes a blog, .Erin O'Brien is the sister...
. John grew up in Brecksville
Brecksville, Ohio
-External links:* * *...
and Lakewood
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 52,131 at the 2010 making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland and Parma .Lakewood, one of Cleveland's...
, Ohio, and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1978. He married Lisa Kirkwood in 1979; and the couple moved to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, in 1982. His first novel, Leaving Las Vegas, is dedicated to her.
Through a friend of his ex-wife, O'Brien got a gig writing Episode 37 of the animated series Rugrats
Rugrats
Rugrats is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The series premiered on August 11, 1991, and aired its last episode on June 8, 2004....
, “Toys in the Attic”, which premiered in 1992 under his only known pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
, Carroll Mine. According to his sister, Erin, he was unhappy with editorial changes made to his script.
O'Brien committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by gunshot two weeks after learning that his novel, Leaving Las Vegas, was to be made into a movie. 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), 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.
External links
- http://www.stradanove.net/news/testi/libri-06b/laaaa1712061.html interview with Erin O'Brien