John OBrien was born in Manhattan to John Ernest and Patricia Ann OBrien, and spent his early years in Woodside, Queens before his family relocated to Utica, New York when he was just 10 years old. He and his sister Erin attended New Hartford High School, where he became involved in the drama club and local theater groups, eventually graduating from State University at Oswego in 1985 with a degree in theater.
During his time at the University, John appeared in a variety of productions, including "School for Scandal", "The Glass Menagerie", "Sweet Charity", and "Miracle on 34th Street". After completing his degree, he began a career in summer stock, touring, and performing in one-man shows in downtown clubs in New York City, earning a "Best Musical Comedy Performance" award from the Manhattan Association of Cabaret.
In the early 2000s, John made the move to Los Angeles, where he spent several years performing with the West Coast Ensemble in productions such as "Sylvia", "The Diary of Anne Frank", "A New Brain", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Music From a Sparkling Planet", and "Assassins", which won the LA Critics Award for Best Ensemble. He also appeared in other LA productions, including "Merrily We Roll Along", "The Odd Couple", and "The Poseidon Adventure--the Musical!", which was attended by his friend and idol, actress Stella Stevens.
John has also had a successful career in television, appearing in dozens of episodes, as well as films and TV movies. He currently resides in Hollywood, frequently visits his family and old friends in Central New York, and enjoys an occasional cocktail.
