John O'Brien

Through a friend of his ex-wife, O'Brien got a gig writing Episode 37 of the animated series Rugrats, "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, Leaving Las Vegas, was published in 1990 by Watermark Press and made into a film of the same name in 1995. 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 and admired Star Trek: The Original Series. 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."

• Name — John O'Brien • Born — 21 May 1960 • Birthplace — Oxford, Ohio, U.S. • Died — 10 April 1994 • Place of death — Beverly Hills, California, U.S. • Other Names — Carroll Mine • Years Active — 1990–1994 • Notable Works — Leaving Las Vegas

Leaving Las Vegas was the only of O'Brien's works published during his lifetime. Its composition was preceded by a short story, "The Tik", that would not see publication until the 2008 collection Las Vegas Noir. O'Brien wrote "The Tik" in January 1988 and began Leaving Las Vegas later that year. O'Brien went on to finish two additional novels during his lifetime. Better (Akashic Books, 2009), the last of his works to receive posthumous publication, was begun by the spring of 1990 while Leaving Las Vegas was still in press. Work on Stripper Lessons (Grove Press, 1997) was started in 1992. The Assault on Tony's (Grove Press, 1996), the first of O'Brien's posthumous novels, is his last written work. It was begun in April 1993 and left incomplete at the time of his suicide. In addition to a nearly completed draft, O'Brien had composed an outline and copious notes. These were used by his sister Erin to finish the novel prior to its publication.