Dave O'Brien
Born
May 31, 1912
Died
November 8, 1969 (57 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Big Spring, Texas, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dave O'Brien (born David Poole Fronabarger, May 31, 1912 – November 8, 1969) was an American film actor, director, and writer.
O'Brien was best known to movie audiences in the 1940s as the hero of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy short film series Pete Smith Specialties narrated by Pete Smith. O'Brien wrote and directed many of these subjects under the name David Barclay. He also appeared in many low-budget Westerns, often billed as Tex O'Brien. In 1942, O'Brien starred in the movie serial Captain Midnight.
Modern audiences perhaps best remember O'Brien as a frantic dope addict in the 1936 low-budget exploitation film Tell Your Children (better known under its reissue title, Reefer Madness).
As a writer for The Red Skelton Show, O'Brien shared an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 1961 and shared a nomination for the same award in 1963.
O'Brien died, aged 57, of a heart attack while competing in a yachting race.
Known For
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Self (archive footage)
2006
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
1976
The Big Parade of Comedy
Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
1964
The Desperados Are in Town
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
1956
The Kettles in the Ozarks
Conductor
1956
The Fall Guy
Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
1955
Just What I Needed
Harry Horseknuckle
1955
The Man Around the House
Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
1955
Out for Fun
Businessman Seeking Relaxation
1954
Do Someone a Favor!
George Dibson
1954
Tennessee Champ
Luke MacWade
1954
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
1954
Things We Can Do Without
Thaddeus E. Thud III
1953
Kiss Me Kate
Ralph
1953
Cash Stashers
A Shmoe Named Joe
1953
T.V. of Tomorrow
Man on TV
1953
I Love Children, But!
The Daddy
1952
Reducing
Man on Bench (uncredited)
1952
Wrong Way Butch
Butch
1950
A Wife's Life
George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
1950
Did'ja Know?
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
1950
Those Good Old Days
1949
Let's Cogitate
Oliver T. Aseltafel
1948
Just Suppose
Husband (uncredited)
1948
You Can't Win
Harried Homeowner
1948
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
The Son-In-Law / Husband
1948
Have You Ever Wondered?
Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
1947
Neighbor Pests
1947
I Love My Wife BUT!
The Husband
1947
I Love My Husband, But!
The Husband
1946
Sure Cures
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
1946
Treasures from Trash
Alonzo T. Mousebrain
1946
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Horace
1946
Studio Visit
O'Brien
1946
Flaming Bullets
Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
1945
Frontier Fugitives
Dave Wyatt
1945
Three in the Saddle
Dave Wyatt
1945
Enemy of the Law
Dave Wyatt
1945
The Phantom of 42nd Street
Tony Woolrich
1945
The Man Who Walked Alone
Marion Scott
1945
Marked for Murder
Dave Wyatt
1945
The Whispering Skull
Dave Wyatt
1944
Tahiti Nights
Jack
1944
Safety Sleuth
Careless Man
1944
Dead or Alive
Dave Wyatt
1944
Gangsters of the Frontier
Dave Wyatt
1944
Gunsmoke Mesa
Tex Wyatt
1944
Brand of the Devil
Tex Wyatt
1944
Movie Pests
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
1944
Spook Town
Tex Wyatt
1944
The Pinto Bandit
Tex Wyatt
1944
Sportsman's Memories
Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
1944
Guns of the Law
Tex Wyatt
1944
Outlaw Roundup
Tex Wyatt
1944
Boss of Rawhide
Tex Wyatt
1943
The Return of the Rangers
Tex Wyatt
1943
Trail of Terror
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
1943
Fighting Valley
Tex Wyatt
1943
Seventh Column
Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
1943
Border Buckaroos
Tex Wyatt
1943
West of Texas
Tex Wyatt
1943
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
Tex Wyatt
1943
The Rangers Take Over
Tex Wyatt
1942
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
Sgt. Phil Lyons
1942
The Yanks Are Coming
Sgt. Callahan
1942
Bowery at Midnight
Det. Pete Crawford
1942
Calling All Pa's
Joe Thunderstruck
1942
King of the Stallions
1942
Carry Harry
Arthur - Harry's Friend
1942
Sheriff of Sage Valley
Jeff
1942
Law and Order
Jeff Travis
1942
Prisoner of Japan
U. S. Marine
1942
Down Texas Way
Dave Dodge
1942
Victory Quiz
1942
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
Jeff
1942
What About Daddy?
The Husband
1942
Captain Midnight
Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
1942
Forbidden Trails
Jim Cramer
1941
Double Trouble
Sparky Barton
1941
Spooks Run Wild
Jeff Dixon
1941
Billy the Kid Wanted
Jeff
1941
The Gunman From Bodie
Joe Martin
1941
The Deadly Game
Ralph Spencer
1941
The Texas Marshal
Buzz Weston
1941
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
Texas Joe
1941
Murder by Invitation
Michael, the chauffeur
1941
The Spider Returns
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
1941
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
Jim Dana
1941
Flying Wild
Tom Lawson
1941
The Devil Bat
Johnny Layton
1940
That Gang of Mine
Knuckles Dolan
1940
The Cowboy from Sundown
Steve Davis
1940
Queen of the Yukon
Bob Adams
1940
Gun Code
Henchman Gale
1940
Boys of the City
Knuckles Dolan
1940
Sky Bandits
Constable Kelly
1940
Hold That Woman!
Miles Hanover
1940
On the Spot
Charlie
1940
Phantom Rancher
Henchman Lucke
1940
Son of the Navy
Nelson
1940
Isle Of Destiny
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
1940
Murder on the Yukon
Constable Kelly
1940
East Side Kids
Knuckles Dolan
1940
Danger Ahead
Corporal Kelly
1940
Yukon Flight
Constable Kelly
1940
Crashing Thru
Fred Chambers
1939
Buried Alive
Carson
1939
Fighting Mad
Constable Kelly
1939
Flaming Lead
Frank Gordon
1939
Mutiny in the Big House
Daniels
1939
On Your Toes
Man in Audience
1939
The Arizona Kid
Soldier
1939
The Fighting Renegade
Dr. Jerry Leonard
1939
Daughter of the Tong
Jerry Morgan
1939
New Frontier
Jason Braddock
1939
Riders of the Sage
Tom Martin
1939
Wyoming Outlaw
Acacia Park Game Warden
1939
Undercover Agent
Billiards Player
1939
Outlaws' Paradise
Henchman Meggs
1939
Texas Wildcats
Ed Arden
1939
Trigger Smith
Duke
1939
Rollin' Westward
Ranch hand Red
1939
Code of the Cactus
Bob Swane
1939
Drifting Westward
Henchman Trigger
1939
Water Rustlers
Bob Lawson
1939
Song of the Buckaroo
Tex Alden
1938
Gun Packer
Red Baker - Henchman
1938
Where the Buffalo Roam
Jeff Gray
1938
Frontier Scout
Steve Norris
1938
Starlight Over Texas
Henchman
1938
Utah Trail
Mason - Bookkeeper
1938
Man's Country
Bat
1938
Tell Your Children
Ralph
1938
The Singing Cowgirl
Dick Williams
1938
Whirlwind Horseman
Henchman Slade
1938
The Secret of Treasure Island
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
1938
Born to Be Wild
Trucker (uncredited)
1938
Million Dollar Racket
Johnny Henessey
1937
Rough Riding Rhythm
Detective Waters
1937
Brothers of the West
Bart
1937
Lightnin' Crandall
Tommy Shannon
1937
Wanted - A Master
Dog's Master (uncredited)
1936
The Girl on the Front Page
Nightclub Patron
1936
The Black Coin
Terry Navarro
1936
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
George Baldwin
1936
Ship Cafe
Young Man (uncredited)
1935
She Married Her Boss
Shopper
1935
Welcome Home
Stanley Phillips
1935
Woman Wanted
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
1935
Doubting Thomas
Member of Audience
1935
No More Ladies
Party Guest (uncredited)
1935
Student Tour
Student
1934
Gift of Gab
Dancer (uncredited)
1934
We're Rich Again
Pete (uncredited)
1934
Tomorrow's Children
Interne (uncredited)
1934
Murder at the Vanities
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1934
Wonder Bar
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1934
Search for Beauty
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
1934
Sitting Pretty
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
1933
College Coach
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
1933
One Man's Journey
Dance Extra (uncredited)
1933
College Humor
Student
1933
Pick-up
Party Boy (uncredited)
1933
Rasputin and the Empress
Soldier (uncredited)
1932
The Sign of the Cross
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
1932
Hot Saturday
Party Guest (Uncredited)
1932
70,000 Witnesses
Football Player (uncredited)
1932
Roar of the Dragon
Submarine Crewman
1932
Is My Face Red?
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1932
Consolation Marriage
Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
1931
Flying High
Dancer (uncredited)
1931
Madam Satan
Zeppelin Reveler
1930
Good News
Student
1930
The Dawn Patrol
Pilot (uncredited)
1930