The Resume

(March 2, 1886-November 8, 1962)
Born in Oakland, California
Pioneer of stop-motion animation
Provided special effects for 'The Dinosaur and the Missing Link: A Prehistoric Tragedy' (1915), 'The Lost World' (1925), 'King Kong' (1933), 'Son of Kong' (1933), 'The Last Days of Pompeii' (1935), 'Mighty Joe Young' (1949), 'The Animal World' (1956), 'The Black Scorpion' (1957), 'Behemoth, the Sea Monster' (1959) and 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World' (1963)

Why he might be annoying:

He was nicknamed Obie.
After working as a cowboy for several years, he owned eight horses, but lost them all in a poker game.
'King Kong' director Meriam C. Cooper said he 'fired dozens of animators and effects men' who were just drinking buddies that O'Brien hired.
He received an Oscar for 'Mighty Joe Young' even though most of the actual animation was done by his protege, Ray Harryhausen.

Why he might not be annoying:

One of his early jobs, which may have spurred his interest in dinosaurs, was as a guide for paleontologists at Crater Lake.
He brought one of the most famous film monsters of all time to life.
His estranged wife killed their two sons, then shot herself (1933).
Ray Harryhausen said, 'Despite the tragedy and disappointments in his life, O'Brien was a very happy man and a very wonderful person. He had a great sense of humor.'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Thrills [Directors] (Ranked: 12)
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 35]
• Film Pioneers [Silent Era]
• I Died in 1962 (Ranked: 76)
• I Outlived My Child
• I Was Cremated at Chapel of the Pines [Los Angeles]
• I Won My First Oscar When I Was Over 50 (Ranked: 63)
• King Kong [1933, 1976, 2005]
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• My Spouse is at Least Ten Years Older than Me
• Profiles 30751-31000 (Ranked: 30978)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying