Richard O’Brien is a bit of a freak of nature in the best possible way. Honestly, if you grew up in the UK in the 90s, he was the guy with the leopard-print coat and the harmonica. If you’re a theater geek, he’s the god who birthed The Rocky Horror Show. And if you’re a Gen Z kid who watched Disney Channel, he’s... Phineas and Ferb’s dad?
Yeah, life is weird.
Most people know him as Riff Raff—the creepy, balding handyman with the hunched back and the high-pitched "it’s astounding!" But Richard O’Brien movies and tv shows span way beyond the velvet curtains of Transylvania. From cult sci-fi classics to hosting the most stressful game show in British history, the man has a filmography that looks like a fever dream.
The Rocky Horror Origins and the 70s Chaos
Let’s get the big one out of the way. You can’t talk about Richard O’Brien without the fishnets. He didn’t just act in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975); he wrote the thing. Legend has it he was a struggling actor in London, bored out of his mind, and started writing a rock-and-roll musical to pass the time during rainy afternoons.
The movie was actually a total flop when it first came out. Seriously. Critics hated it. But then it moved to the midnight circuit, and people started throwing toast at the screen.
O’Brien’s Riff Raff is the emotional anchor of that movie, which is saying something for a film about a sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania. He brings this weird, jittery, nervous energy that eventually turns into a cold, alien ruthlessness. It’s iconic. But the 70s weren’t just about Riff Raff. He popped up in Derek Jarman’s punk-fueled Jubilee (1978) as John Dee. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a chaotic, nihilistic mess that perfectly captures the vibe of 70s London. He also had a small role in Flash Gordon (1980) as Fico. You blink and you miss him, but that bald head is unmistakable.
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The Crystal Maze: "Start the Fans, Please!"
If you didn’t live through the 90s in the UK, it’s hard to explain how massive The Crystal Maze was.
It was a game show where people in jumpsuits solved puzzles in different "zones" like Medieval or Aztec. But the real draw was Richard O’Brien. He was the "Maze Master." He didn’t just host; he lived in the world. He played his harmonica, talked to his imaginary "Mumsy," and spent half the time making fun of the contestants for being "thick."
It was brilliant. He brought a sense of theatricality to daytime TV that we haven't really seen since. When he left in 1993 to be replaced by Ed Tudor-Pole, the soul of the show kinda went with him. He later admitted he left because he wanted to do more movies. And boy, did he.
Dark City, Ever After, and the Hollywood Pivot
The late 90s were a weirdly busy time for O’Brien in mainstream cinema. He showed up in Dark City (1998) as Mr. Hand. If you like The Matrix, you need to watch this. It’s a noir sci-fi masterpiece, and O’Brien is genuinely terrifying as one of the "Strangers"—these pale, hive-mind creatures who manipulate reality.
Then, in a complete 180, he played Pierre Le Pieu in Ever After (1998) alongside Drew Barrymore.
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He’s basically the creepy old guy trying to marry the lead. It’s a small role, but he eats up the scenery. He also had a cameo in Spice World (1997). Yes, the Spice Girls movie. He played Damien, a mysterious photographer stalking the girls. It’s a strange, campy credit, but it fits his "eccentric uncle of show business" persona perfectly.
A Quick Rundown of the "Wait, Was He in That?" Roles:
- Dungeons & Dragons (2000): He plays Xilus, a guild leader. The movie is... well, it’s not great, but he’s fun in it.
- Elvira's Haunted Hills (2001): He plays Lord Vladimere Hellsubus. If you love Elvira, this is a must-watch for the camp factor alone.
- The Ink Thief (1994): A bizarre kids' show where he played the titular villain who steals the "imagination" from books. It’s very 90s, very creepy, and very him.
The Voice of a Generation (Literally)
This is the part that usually breaks people’s brains. From 2007 to 2015, and returning for the 2020 movie Candace Against the Universe, Richard O’Brien provided the voice of Lawrence Fletcher.
That’s the dad in Phineas and Ferb.
Think about that. The man who wrote "Sweet Transvestite" is the voice of the most wholesome, oblivious British dad in animation history. He’s incredibly dry and sweet in the role. It’s a testament to his range that he can go from an alien revolutionary to a guy who’s just really excited about antique shows and his wife’s cooking.
The show is packed with Rocky Horror easter eggs, too. There’s an episode where Lawrence asks why a horror movie doesn't have any rock-and-roll musical numbers. It's a "if you know, you know" moment for the parents watching.
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Why Richard O’Brien Matters in 2026
O’Brien has always been a bit of an outsider. He’s been very open about his gender identity over the years, describing himself as "third gender" or "70% male, 30% female." He was doing this way before it was a mainstream conversation. That authenticity is what makes his work last. Whether he's writing a cult musical or hosting a game show, he’s never trying to be anyone else.
His career is a lesson in not being "one thing." He’s a songwriter, a stuntman (he did stunts in Carry On Cowboy!), a writer, a host, and a character actor.
If you’re looking to dive into his work, don't just stop at The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Watch Shock Treatment (1981), the sort-of-sequel that predicted the rise of reality TV decades before it happened. It’s got a killer soundtrack and O’Brien is great as Cosmo McKinley.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch Dark City (Director’s Cut): It’s his best "serious" acting role and a visual marvel.
- Listen to the Shock Treatment Soundtrack: Many people think the songs are actually better than Rocky Horror. "Breaking Out" is a genuine banger.
- Find old Crystal Maze clips on YouTube: His interactions with the contestants are a masterclass in improvisational hosting.
- Check out "The Stolen" (2017): One of his more recent film appearances, filmed in his adopted home of New Zealand.
Richard O’Brien is a reminder that you can be weird, you can be yourself, and you can still have a career that lasts fifty years. He’s the ultimate cult icon who somehow managed to sneak into the living rooms of every family in the world. And honestly? We’re all better off for it.
If you want to track down his most recent projects, keep an eye on New Zealand-based productions, as he’s spent a lot of his later years there, occasionally appearing in documentaries like Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (2025).