John O'Brien (May 21, 1960 – April 10, 1994) was an American author. His first novel, ''

Leaving Las Vegas ''Leaving Las Vegas'' is a 1995 American drama film written and directed by Mike Figgis, and based on the semi-autobiographical 1990 novel of the same name by John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic in Los Angeles who, having ...

'', 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 Oxford is a city in Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 23,035 at the 2020 census. A college town, Oxford was founded as a home for Miami University and lies in the southwestern portion of the state approximately northwest ...

, where his parents, Bill and Judy O'Brien, were both students at

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio. The university was founded in 1809, making it the second-oldest university in Ohio (behind Ohio University, founded in 1804) and the 10 ...

. He was the brother of writer Erin O'Brien. John grew up in Brecksville and

Lakewood, Ohio Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, on the southern shore of Lake Erie. Established in 1889, it is one of Cleveland's historical streetcar suburbs and part of the Greater Cleveland, Greater Clevelan ...

, 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 ''Rugrats'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The show focuses on a group of toddlers; most prominently— Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, and twins Phil and Lil, ...

'', "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.

Death

O'Brien died from

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

at his

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bev ...

apartment on April 10, 1994, 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 Grove Press is an United States of America, American Imprint (trade name), publishing imprint that was founded in 1947. Imprints include: Black Cat, Evergreen, Venus Library, and Zebra. Barney Rosset purchased the company in 1951 and turned it in ...

, 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

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References

External links

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interview
with Erin O'Brien * * * * * * * 20th-century American novelists American male novelists Novelists from Ohio Suicides by firearm in California People from Oxford, Ohio 1960 births 1994 deaths 20th-century American male writers People from Brecksville, Ohio People from Lakewood, Ohio 1994 suicides {{US-novelist-1960s-stub