John O'Brien (May 21, 1960 – April 10, 1994) was an American author, known for his debut novel ''

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

''.

Life and career

O'Brien was born in

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

, 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 university, public research university in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the second-oldest List of colleges and universities in Ohio, university in Ohi ...

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

Brecksville Brecksville is a city in southern Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The city's population was 13,635 at the 2020 census. It is a suburb of Cleveland and is included in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton Combined statistical area. History Brecksvi ...

and

Lakewood, Ohio Lakewood is a city in 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, Cleveland metropolitan area. The popula ...

, and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1978. 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 series focuses on a group of toddlers, most prominently Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil, and their day-to-d ...

'', "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. His first novel, ''

'', was published in 1990 by Watermark Press and made into a film of the same name in 1995.

Personal life

O'Brien married Lisa Kirkwood in 1979, and the couple moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1982. They divorced in 1992, at his initiative. His first novel, ''Leaving Las Vegas'', is dedicated to her. He was a fan of singer-songwriter

Stevie Nicks Stephanie Lynn Nicks (born May 26, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, known for her work with the band Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasing the album ...

and admired '' Star Trek: The Original Series''. O'Brien suffered from

alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...

and had been "in and out of rehab for years" before his death.

Death

O'Brien died from

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...

(self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head) at his

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hil ...

apartment on April 10, 1994, two weeks after signing away the rights to adapt his novel, ''Leaving Las Vegas''. His father and book critics said that the novel was his suicide note, while his sister, Erin O'Brien, thought the book was "the beautiful poetic way to check out: Taking that long slug of liquor and gurgling into his death with this beautiful woman." Two more of O'Brien's novels were published posthumously: ''Stripper Lessons'' (

Grove Press Grove Press is an American 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 into an alternative book press in the United S ...

, 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 short story ''The Tik'' was published in the 2007 Vegas anthology ''Las Vegas Noir'', and a third manuscript, ''Better'', was published by Akashic Press in 2009.

Bibliography

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References

External links

* * with Erin O'Brien * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Obrien, John 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 Writers from Lakewood, Ohio 1994 suicides