Brendan O’Brien, the original voice of Crash Bandicoot has passed away
It’s been revealed that the original voice of Crash Bandicoot, actor Brendan O’Brien, died earlier this year, at the age of 60.
O’Brien passed away on 23 March 2023. The actor was born in Hollywood, California, on 9 May 1962, to parents Edmond O’Brien and Olga San Juan – who both happened to be actors and entertainers. Later, at Loyola High School, the young O’Brien would develop his own passion for the arts, alongside religion, science, and nature via his studies.
Before long, O’Brien was encouraged to pick up the guitar and began playing a variety of local music events. In his obituary, his family wrote that “Music, humor, and endless knowledge were the themes of his life.” By the age of 10, O’Brien had shifted over into the world of acting after director Bernard L. Kowalski placed the youngster in a shot alongside his dad on the TV show The Streets of San Francisco.
Originally, O’Brien simply wished to spend more time with his parents on set, but he soon carved out a career of his own. In 1996, O’Brien joined forces with Naughty Dog to voice the now-legendary character of Crash Bandicoot in the studio’s original game. Alongside Crash, O’Brien also voiced Doctor Neo Cortex and Doctor Nitrus Brio.
O’Brien would go on to reprise those roles in Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Crash Team Racing, Crash Bash, and Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex. Over the years, O’Brien provided voices for Doctor N. Gin, Komodo Moe, Tiny Tiger, Pinstripe Potoroo, and Papu Papu in the franchise too.
You can also hear O’Brien’s voice in Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure, Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced, Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto’s Rampage, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End via archive footage. In 2020, you may have also spotted O’Brien as a maths teacher in Riverdale.
O’Brien leaves behind his wife, Ingrid K. Behrens. His obituary reads, “The silence leaves behind deep memories of a life well lived. He touched strangers, friends, and family with his love of life, his humor, and his positive attitude. No words can express how much he is missed. We love you, Brendan.”
