Leo O'Brien: The untold story of the actor's life and death

Leo O'Brien: The untold story of the actor's life and death

Leo O'Brien was best known for his acting career, which saw him feature in various films and TV shows. Some of his famous works include The Last Dragon (1985), Rappin' (1985) and New Jack City (1991). However, in 2012, fans were shocked to learn of his untimely death. So, what happened to him? Discover the untold story of Leo O'Brien's life and death.

The cover art for the film The Last Dragon (L) and actor Leo O'Brien smiling (R).
A promotional poster for The Last Dragon (L) and a past photo of actor Leo O'Brien from the 1980s (R). Photo: @bwon35, @BeyondTheMemes on X (Twitter) (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Leo O'Brien was best known as Richie Green in the 1985 cult classic film The Last Dragon. His memorable, energetic, and charismatic performance made him a fan favourite. However, his acting career was short-lived, and he eventually left the industry altogether.

Leo O'Brien's profile summary

Full nameLeo Cullen O'Brien
GenderMale
Date of birth12 November 1970
Died10 October 2012
Age41 years old (during his death)
Zodiac signScorpio
Place of birthEnglewood, New Jersey
Place of deathNew York City, USA
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityAfrican-American
Hair colourBlack
Eye colourDark brown
SiblingsOne
ChildrenTwo

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Leo O'Brien's biography

Leo Cullen O'Brien was born on 12 November 1970 in Englewood, New Jersey, USA. He was the younger brother of American rapper Guy O'Brien, also known as Master Gee, from the pioneering rap group The Sugarhill Gang.

Career

Fast facts about Leo O'Brien
Top-5 facts about Leo O'Brien. Photo: @thelastglow on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Original

Leo O'Brien's career in the entertainment industry was brief but left a memorable mark. He began his acting career in 1983 after he appeared in the television series Chiefs, where he played the role of young Joshua Cole in one episode. The same year, O'Brien landed a role in the CBS Children's Mystery Theatre for one episode.

His breakthrough came in 1985 when he starred as Richie Green in the cult classic film The Last Dragon. This role showcased his talent and charisma, making him a memorable figure in 1980s pop culture. Following this, O'Brien appeared in the film Rappin' and had a role in New Jack City in 1991.

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Despite his early success, O'Brien gradually stepped away from acting. His last role was in the 1993 television series Dark Justice.

Leo O'Brien's movies and TV shows

According to IMDb, the actor had eight acting credits and one credit as a production assistant. Here are Leo O'Brien's movies and television shows.

  • Chiefs as (Young) Joshua Cole (1983)
  • CBS Children's Mystery Theatre as Jake (1983)
  • The Streets (television movie) (1984)
  • The Last Dragon as Ritchie Green (1985)
  • Rappin' as Allan (1985)
  • Law and Order as Tremaine Lewis / Red 2 (1990–1991)
  • New Jack City as Kid on Stoop (1991)
  • Dark Justice as Christopher (1993)

Leo O'Brien's death

O'Brien died on 12 October 2012 in New York City aged 41. He left behind his two children, daughter Sharoya Russell and son Drew.

Leo O'Brien's cause of death

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How did Leo O'Brien die? The family never publicly disclosed the actor's cause of death. However, per The Last Dragon Tribute, his nephew Michael O'Syris Timmons believes that O'Brien's shot injury in 2011, a year before his death, contributed to his death.

The doctors sewed him up, but they didn't sew him up properly, so he died in his sleep from the bullet wound injuries and the improper way the doctors stitched him up.

He continued:

He had a private funeral in Englewood, New Jersey, where he was born. He was cremated. He wore a blue suit in the casket, and his dreadlocks were nicely done. I miss him a lot.

FAQs

  1. Who was Leo O'Brien? He was an American actor and writer best known for his role as Richie Green in the 1985 classic The Last Dragon.
  2. What was Leo O'Brien's age? He was 41 years old when he died in 2012.
  3. What happened to Ritchie from The Last Dragon? He unexpectedly died on 10 October 2012.
  4. What happened to The Last Dragon star? The media only reported his death but never disclosed his cause of death.
  5. What was Leo O'Brien's cause of death? There is no official confirmation of what led to his untimely death. However, his cousin Michael O'Syris Timmons revealed in an interview in 2013 that O'Brien being shot in 2011 contributed to his death.
  6. What movies did Leo O'Brien play in? He was known for The Last Dragon (1985), New Jack City (1991), and Rappin' (1985).

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Leo O'Brien was an American actor and writer best known for playing Richie Green in the 1985 film The Last Dragon. His success in film and TV in the 1980s and early 1990s propelled him to fame. His untimely death in 2012 shocked many and led to many inquiries about what happened to him.

Yen.com.gh published about Abigail Folger's death. Abigail Folger was an American volunteer, social worker, socialite, civil rights devotee and entrepreneur. She was a victim of the infamous Tate murders that occurred in Los Angeles.

Abigail Folger's death shocked many and generated interest in her life. Many want to know more about her biography and what she was doing during her untimely death. Read the article to know about his death.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Chris Ndetei avatar

Chris Ndetei (Lifestyle writer) Christopher Ndetei is a junior reporter writer who joined the Yen team in May 2021. He graduated from the Machakos Technical College in 2009 with a diploma in ICT. Chris has over two years of experience in content creation and more than ten working in the hospitality industry. He covers lifestyle/entertainment, focusing on biographies, life hacks, gaming and guides. In 2023, Christopher finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach him at chrisndetei@gmail.com

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