- John O'Brien (novelist)
John O'Brien (
May 21 ,1960 –April 10 ,1994 ) was an Americanauthor . His first novel "Leaving Las Vegas" was published in 1990 by Watermark Press and made into a film of the same name in 1995.Biography
O'Brien was born in
Oxford, Ohio , where his parents, Bill and Judy O'Brien were both students atMiami University . He is the brother of writer Erin O'Brien. He 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.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. [ [http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?title1=&title2=LEAVING+LAS+VEGAS+(MOVIE)&reviewer=Janet+Maslin&v_id=135758&pdate=19951027 Leaving Las Vegas - New York Times review] ] 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 was completed by his sister, Erin O'Brien [ [http://www.silbermedia.com/qrd/archives/29erinobrien.html Erin O'Brien Interview, "QRD Number 20"] ] . A third unpublished manuscript, titled "Better", remains as part of his estate.O'Brien also authored an episode of the children's animated program "
Rugrats " that was titled "Toys in the Attic" (episode 37). O'Brien left the writing credit for the work to his only known pen name, Carroll Mine.References
External links
*imdb name|id=0639619|name=John O'Brien
* [http://www.silbermedia.com/qrd/archives/29erinobrien.html Interview] with Erin O'Brien about completing "Assault on Tony's"
* [http://www.johnobrien.com John O'Brien UK Affiliate Marketer]
* [http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/50/leaving-las-vegas-rearview Leaving Las Vegas: Rearview] essay (fromCleveland Free Times )
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