Dave O'Brien
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.
Photos
Films (199)
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
2006 · Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Big Parade of Comedy
1964 · Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
The Desperados Are in Town
1956 · Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Kettles in the Ozarks
1956 · Conductor
The Fall Guy
1955 · Himself as Various Characters (archive footage), Director
Just What I Needed
1955 · Harry Horseknuckle, Screenplay, Director
The Man Around the House
1955 · Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited), Story, Director, Screenplay
Film Antics
1954 · Director
Meet the O'Briens
1954 · Dave, Teleplay, Producer
Out for Fun
1954 · Businessman Seeking Relaxation, Director, Writer
Do Someone a Favor!
1954 · George Dibson, Director, Screenplay
Tennessee Champ
1954 · Luke MacWade
Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954 · Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead, Director, Story
Things We Can Do Without
1953 · Thaddeus E. Thud III, Screenplay, Director, Story
Kiss Me Kate
1953 · Ralph
Cash Stashers
1953 · A Shmoe Named Joe, Director, Story, Screenplay
Dogs 'n Ducks
1953 · Screenplay, Original Story
T.V. of Tomorrow
1953 · Man on TV
The Mosconi Story
1953 · Director
I Love Children, But!
1952 · The Daddy, Director, Writer
Reducing
1952 · Man on Bench (uncredited), Screenplay, Director, Original Story
Musiquiz
1952 · Director
Bargain Madness
1951 · Writer, Director
Camera Sleuth
1951 · Writer, Director
Wrong Way Butch
1950 · Butch, Director, Original Story, Screenplay
A Wife's Life
1950 · George T. Hardnose (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Story
Did'ja Know?
1950 · Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant, Director, Screenplay
Crashing the Movies
1950 · Director
Pest Control
1950 · Cruising Wolf, Director
We Can Dream, Can't We?
1949 · Director
Those Good Old Days
1949 · Director
Super Cue Men
1949 · Director
Let's Cogitate
1948 · Oliver T. Aseltafel, Director
Ice Aces
1948 · Writer, Director
Just Suppose
1948 · Husband (uncredited), Director, Writer
You Can't Win
1948 · Harried Homeowner, Director, Writer
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948 · The Son-In-Law / Husband, Screenplay, Director, Original Story
Bowling Tricks
1948 · Director
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947 · Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer, Director, Writer
Surfboard Rhythm
1947 · Director
Football Thrills No. 10
1947 · Director
Neighbor Pests
1947 · Director
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947 · The Husband, Story, Director, Screenplay
Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13
1947 · Director
Diamond Demon
1947 · Writer, Director
I Love My Husband, But!
1946 · The Husband, Director, Screenplay, Story
Sure Cures
1946 · Xavier T. Schneckendorf, Writer, Director
Treasures from Trash
1946 · Alonzo T. Mousebrain, Screenplay, Director
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946 · Horace, Writer, Director
Studio Visit
1946 · O'Brien
Flaming Bullets
1945 · Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Frontier Fugitives
1945 · Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
1945 · Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law
1945 · Dave Wyatt
The Phantom of 42nd Street
1945 · Tony Woolrich
The Man Who Walked Alone
1945 · Marion Scott
Marked for Murder
1945 · Dave Wyatt
The Whispering Skull
1944 · Dave Wyatt
Tahiti Nights
1944 · Jack
Safety Sleuth
1944 · Careless Man
Dead or Alive
1944 · Dave Wyatt
Gangsters of the Frontier
1944 · Dave Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa
1944 · Tex Wyatt
Brand of the Devil
1944 · Tex Wyatt
Movie Pests
1944 · Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Spook Town
1944 · Tex Wyatt
The Pinto Bandit
1944 · Tex Wyatt
Sportsman's Memories
1944 · Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
Guns of the Law
1944 · Tex Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup
1944 · Tex Wyatt
Boss of Rawhide
1943 · Tex Wyatt
The Return of the Rangers
1943 · Tex Wyatt
Trail of Terror
1943 · Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Fighting Valley
1943 · Tex Wyatt
Seventh Column
1943 · Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
Border Buckaroos
1943 · Tex Wyatt
West of Texas
1943 · Tex Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
1943 · Tex Wyatt
The Rangers Take Over
1942 · Tex Wyatt
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
1942 · Sgt. Phil Lyons
The Yanks Are Coming
1942 · Sgt. Callahan
Bowery at Midnight
1942 · Det. Pete Crawford
Calling All Pa's
1942 · Joe Thunderstruck
King of the Stallions
1942
Carry Harry
1942 · Arthur - Harry's Friend
Sheriff of Sage Valley
1942 · Jeff
Law and Order
1942 · Jeff Travis
Prisoner of Japan
1942 · U. S. Marine
Down Texas Way
1942 · Dave Dodge
Victory Quiz
1942
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
1942 · Jeff
What About Daddy?
1942 · The Husband
Captain Midnight
1942 · Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
Forbidden Trails
1941 · Jim Cramer
Double Trouble
1941 · Sparky Barton
Spooks Run Wild
1941 · Jeff Dixon
Billy the Kid Wanted
1941 · Jeff
The Gunman From Bodie
1941 · Joe Martin
The Iron Claw
1941 · Stunts
The Deadly Game
1941 · Ralph Spencer
The Texas Marshal
1941 · Buzz Weston
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
1941 · Texas Joe
Murder by Invitation
1941 · Michael, the chauffeur
The Spider Returns
1941 · Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
1941 · Jim Dana
Sky Raiders
1941 · Stunts
Flying Wild
1941 · Tom Lawson
The Devil Bat
1940 · Johnny Layton
That Gang of Mine
1940 · Knuckles Dolan
The Cowboy from Sundown
1940 · Steve Davis
Queen of the Yukon
1940 · Bob Adams
Gun Code
1940 · Henchman Gale
Boys of the City
1940 · Knuckles Dolan
Sky Bandits
1940 · Constable Kelly
Hold That Woman!
1940 · Miles Hanover
On the Spot
1940 · Charlie
Phantom Rancher
1940 · Henchman Lucke
Son of the Navy
1940 · Nelson
Isle Of Destiny
1940 · Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Murder on the Yukon
1940 · Constable Kelly
East Side Kids
1940 · Knuckles Dolan
Danger Ahead
1940 · Corporal Kelly
Yukon Flight
1940 · Constable Kelly
Crashing Thru
1939 · Fred Chambers
Buried Alive
1939 · Carson
Fighting Mad
1939 · Constable Kelly
Flaming Lead
1939 · Frank Gordon
Mutiny in the Big House
1939 · Daniels
On Your Toes
1939 · Man in Audience
The Arizona Kid
1939 · Soldier
The Fighting Renegade
1939 · Dr. Jerry Leonard
Daughter of the Tong
1939 · Jerry Morgan
New Frontier
1939 · Jason Braddock
Riders of the Sage
1939 · Tom Martin
Wyoming Outlaw
1939 · Acacia Park Game Warden
Undercover Agent
1939 · Billiards Player
Outlaws' Paradise
1939 · Henchman Meggs
Texas Wildcats
1939 · Ed Arden
Trigger Smith
1939 · Duke
Rollin' Westward
1939 · Ranch hand Red
Code of the Cactus
1939 · Bob Swane
Drifting Westward
1939 · Henchman Trigger
Water Rustlers
1939 · Bob Lawson
Song of the Buckaroo
1938 · Tex Alden
Gun Packer
1938 · Red Baker - Henchman
The Spider's Web
1938 · Stunts
Where the Buffalo Roam
1938 · Jeff Gray
Frontier Scout
1938 · Steve Norris
Starlight Over Texas
1938 · Henchman
Utah Trail
1938 · Mason - Bookkeeper
Man's Country
1938 · Bat
Tell Your Children
1938 · Ralph
The Singing Cowgirl
1938 · Dick Williams
Whirlwind Horseman
1938 · Henchman Slade
The Secret of Treasure Island
1938 · Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
Born to Be Wild
1938 · Trucker (uncredited)
Million Dollar Racket
1937 · Johnny Henessey
Rough Riding Rhythm
1937 · Detective Waters
Brothers of the West
1937 · Bart
Lightnin' Crandall
1937 · Tommy Shannon
Wanted - A Master
1936 · Dog's Master (uncredited)
The Girl on the Front Page
1936 · Nightclub Patron
The Black Coin
1936 · Terry Navarro
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
1936 · George Baldwin
Ship Cafe
1935 · Young Man (uncredited)
She Married Her Boss
1935 · Shopper
Welcome Home
1935 · Stanley Phillips
Woman Wanted
1935 · Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas
1935 · Member of Audience
No More Ladies
1935 · Party Guest (uncredited)
Music in the Air
1934 · Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
Student Tour
1934 · Student
Gift of Gab
1934 · Dancer (uncredited)
We're Rich Again
1934 · Pete (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Children
1934 · Interne (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
1934 · Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Wonder Bar
1934 · Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Search for Beauty
1934 · Talent Contestant (uncredited)
The World Changes
1933 · Otto Peterson (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
1933 · Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
College Coach
1933 · Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
One Man's Journey
1933 · Dance Extra (uncredited)
College Humor
1933 · Student
Pick-up
1933 · Party Boy (uncredited)
42nd Street
1933 · Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Rasputin and the Empress
1932 · Soldier (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross
1932 · Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
Hot Saturday
1932 · Party Guest (Uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
1932 · Football Player (uncredited)
Devil and the Deep
1932 · Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
Roar of the Dragon
1932 · Submarine Crewman
Is My Face Red?
1932 · Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Consolation Marriage
1931 · Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Flying High
1931 · Dancer (uncredited)
Lover Come Back
1931 · Pool Party Boy (uncredited)
Madam Satan
1930 · Zeppelin Reveler
Good News
1930 · Student
The Dawn Patrol
1930 · Pilot (uncredited)
