John O'Brien (novelist)

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

He was the brother of writer Erin O'Brien. John grew up in Brecksville and Lakewood, Ohio, 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, "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. O'Brien suffered from alcoholism and had been "in and out of rehab for years" before his death.

O'Brien died from suicide 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."