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RICHARD O'BRIEN (birth name Richard O'Brien), NYC press agent turned writer, historian and collectibles expert.

O'Brien (1/13/34 -     ) was born in Flushing, New York and raised in Manhattan, Sayville, Long Island, and Brooklyn. In 1960 he joined Dorothy Ross Associates as a press agent. Five years later the office became Dorothy Ross-Richard O'Brien associates, but after a year differences over the financial split decided O'Brien to start his own firm. His personal clients included Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Joan Rivers, Flip Wilson, Victor Borge, Fannie Flagg, Dick Cavett and Rodney Dangerfield. His affinity for comedians suggested to O'Brien that he could write comedy. In 1968 he began writing gags and ideas for Woody Allen, a job he still has. He also wrote successfully for Joan Rivers and ghosted humor articles for Victor Borge, sometimes on his own, sometimes in collaboration with Borge. In 1976 he folded his office in favor of full-time writing.

He has created and written two syndicated comic strips, "Koky" and "Suzy". His series of books on collectible toys, including eight editions of his first, "Collecting Toys", became very successful. His mammoth "Collecting American-Made Toy Soldiers" is considered the Bible of that hobby.

Of his eight novels, "Never Tell Him You're Alone" (St. Martin's) has been the most successful, with 46,000 copies sold in the United States, plus foreign rights sold to Sweden, Finland and Norway. The book has also been pirated in Hungary, Poland, and perhaps China. However, his personal favoite, and the most favorably reviewed, has been "The One After Snelling" (Ramble House).

O'Brien has been married since 1958 to the former Mary Ann Shelton. They currently live in Tryon, North Carolina and have four children, Alison, Sean, Rebecca, Julie, and eight grandchildren.

LINKS

 * Mort Gerberg
 * http://books.google.com/books?id=tydFaS99v-8C&pg=RA1-PA8&lpg=RA1-PA8&dq=woody+allen+richard+o'brien&source=bl&ots=kAGGVeoX3O&sig=A9ron6S5vZA9XQhN7L12wmI5tnU&hl=en&ei=GmueS-*XCHsGC8gbvtdWmCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
 * http://www.midnightfiction.com/comix/suzy1.htm
 * http://www.ramblehouse.com/snelling.htm