If you’ve ever done the "Time Warp" at a midnight screening or felt a weirdly specific sense of nostalgia for a giant glass dome in the 90s, you’ve encountered the DNA of Richard O’Brien. Most people just know him as the guy with the high-pitched voice and the bald head who wrote the most famous cult movie in history. But honestly? The full list of Richard O'Brien movies and TV shows is a lot weirder—and much more influential—than just fishnets and corsets.
From the rain-slicked streets of 1970s London to the animated suburbs of Danville, O’Brien has been a constant, albeit eccentric, presence in our living rooms and cinemas. He doesn’t just act; he haunts the periphery of pop culture like a fabulous, spindly ghost.
The Rocky Horror Foundation and the Birth of a Cult
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. You can't talk about his career without The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). He didn't just play Riff Raff, the creepy, "handyman" alien with a penchant for domestic betrayal; he actually wrote the thing.
The movie was basically a love letter to the B-movies he watched growing up in New Zealand. It’s a mess of 1950s sci-fi, rock and roll, and gender-bending rebellion. Interestingly, when it first hit theaters, it was a massive flop. Critics hated it. Audiences stayed away. It only became a phenomenon because of the "midnight movie" circuit, where people started talking back to the screen.
Even now, in 2026, as we see the release of the definitive documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (directed by his son, Linus O’Brien), the film remains the longest-running theatrical release in history. It changed how we think about audience participation. It gave a voice to the "outsiders."
The "Sequel" Nobody Saw
After Rocky Horror, everyone expected more of the same. Instead, we got Shock Treatment (1981).
It’s not a direct sequel, but it features the characters Brad and Janet in a dystopian reality show setting. It was decades ahead of its time in predicting our obsession with "celebrity" culture and reality TV. While it didn't have the same impact as its predecessor, it has its own hardcore following today. O’Brien played Dr. Cosmo McKinley, and the soundtrack is, arguably, even better than Rocky Horror's.
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The Crystal Maze: How Richard O’Brien Won the 90s
For a certain generation, O’Brien isn't a transvestite alien—he’s the guy in the leopard-print coat holding a harmonica. From 1990 to 1993, he hosted The Crystal Maze. It was a game show, sure, but he treated it like a piece of avant-garde theater.
He’d run through different "zones"—Medieval, Future, Aztec—mocking the contestants and talking to an imaginary friend named "Mumsy."
It was chaotic. It was brilliant.
It made him a household name in the UK for people who had never even heard of Frank-N-Furter.
Why the Maze Worked
- The Personality: He wasn't a "polished" host. He was cynical and weird.
- The Aesthetic: His wardrobe was iconic—long coats, boots, and that signature bald head.
- The Energy: He made a show about people failing to move a bucket of water feel like a high-stakes adventure.
He eventually handed the keys to Ed Tudor-Pole, but for most fans, the show died a little bit when Richard left. He did return for a celebrity special in 2016, proving that even decades later, he still had that manic energy.
The Character Actor Years: From Dark City to Spice World
What most people get wrong about Richard O’Brien is thinking he only does "his own" stuff. He’s actually a prolific character actor who pops up in the most unexpected places.
Have you seen Dark City (1998)? It’s a neo-noir sci-fi masterpiece. O’Brien plays Mr. Hand, one of the "Strangers" who manipulate reality. He is genuinely terrifying in it. It’s a far cry from the campy fun of his earlier work, showing a much darker, more menacing side of his acting range.
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Then there’s Spice World (1997).
Yes, the Spice Girls movie.
He plays Damien, a mysterious, creepy photographer following the girls around. It’s a bizarre role, but he leans into it completely. In recent interviews, he’s been quite candid about the experience, famously saying the Spice Girls "couldn't sing" but were "lovely girls."
A Quick Look at His Genre Credits
His filmography reads like a "Who's Who" of cult cinema:
- Flash Gordon (1980) – He played Fico.
- Ever After (1998) – He was the villainous Pierre Le Pieu.
- Dungeons & Dragons (2000) – He played Xilus, the leader of the thieves' guild.
- Elvira's Haunted Hills (2001) – Playing Lord Vladimere Hellsubus.
He basically owns the "eccentric European/alien/aristocrat" niche.
Phineas and Ferb: A New Generation of Fans
If you’re under the age of 25, you might know his voice better than his face. For years, he voiced Lawrence Fletcher, the soft-spoken, slightly oblivious dad in Phineas and Ferb.
It’s a role that’s perfectly suited to him. Lawrence is British, kind, and occasionally breaks into song. There’s even a great Easter egg in one episode where he wears a costume that looks suspiciously like Riff Raff’s space suit. With the show returning for new seasons in 2025 and 2026, O’Brien is still introducing himself to a whole new crop of kids who have no idea about his "Sweet Transvestite" past.
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The Legacy of a "Transgender Human Being"
In recent years, O’Brien has been very open about his identity, describing himself as "third gender" or 70% male and 30% female. This nuance is important. When he wrote Rocky Horror, he wasn't trying to make a political statement; he was just "pleasing himself."
But by doing so, he created a space for people who didn't fit the mold. Whether it's the gothic atmosphere of Richard O'Brien movies and TV shows or his flamboyant stage presence, his work has always been about the freedom to be whoever you want to be.
Even at 83, he’s not slowing down. Between the Strange Journey documentary and the upcoming 2026 Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show (starring Luke Evans as Frank-N-Furter), his influence is actually growing.
What You Should Do Next
If you really want to appreciate the depth of his work, don't just re-watch Rocky Horror for the 50th time.
- Watch Dark City: It shows his serious acting chops and remains one of the best sci-fi films of the 90s.
- Track down The Crystal Maze on streaming: Even the old episodes hold up because of his sheer charisma.
- Listen to his 1999 album, "Disgracefully Yours": It features him as his alter-ego Mephistopheles Smith and captures his musical genius outside of the Rocky Horror bubble.
Richard O’Brien is more than just a guy in a gold waistcoat. He’s a writer, a composer, a host, and a voice actor who has spent five decades making the world a little bit weirder. And honestly? We’re all the better for it.