Dave O'Brien
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1912-05-31
Day of Death
1969-11-08 (57 years old)
Place of Birth
Big Spring, Texas, USA
Dave O'Brien
Biography
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
Acting
(2006)
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
as Self (archive footage)
(1976)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
(1964)
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
(1956)
The Kettles in the Ozarks
as Conductor
(1956)
The Desperados Are in Town
as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
(1955)
The Man Around the House
as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
(1955)
The Fall Guy
as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
(1955)
Just What I Needed
as Harry Horseknuckle
(1954)
Tennessee Champ
as Luke MacWade
(1954)
Do Someone a Favor!
as George Dibson
(1954)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
(1954)
Out for Fun
as Businessman Seeking Relaxation
(1953)
Kiss Me Kate
as Ralph
(1953)
T.V. of Tomorrow
as Man on TV
(1953)
Cash Stashers
as A Shmoe Named Joe
(1953)
Things We Can Do Without
as Thaddeus E. Thud III
(1952)
Reducing
as Man on Bench (uncredited)
(1952)
I Love Children, But!
as The Daddy
(1950)
Did'ja Know?
as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
(1950)
A Wife's Life
as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
(1950)
Wrong Way Butch
as Butch
(1949)
(1948)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
as The Son-In-Law / Husband
(1948)
Just Suppose
as Husband (uncredited)
(1948)
You Can't Win
as Harried Homeowner
(1948)
Let's Cogitate
as Oliver T. Aseltafel
(1947)
(1947)
Have You Ever Wondered?
as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
(1947)
I Love My Wife BUT!
as The Husband
(1946)
(1946)
Studio Visit
as O'Brien
(1946)
I Love My Husband, But!
as The Husband
(1946)
Sure Cures
as Xavier T. Schneckendorf
(1946)
Treasures from Trash
as Alonzo T. Mousebrain
(1945)
The Phantom of 42nd Street
as Tony Woolrich
(1945)
The Man Who Walked Alone
as Marion Scott
(1945)
Enemy of the Law
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
Marked for Murder
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
Flaming Bullets
as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
(1945)
Frontier Fugitives
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
Three in the Saddle
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Spook Town
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
The Whispering Skull
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Brand of the Devil
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Tahiti Nights
as Jack
(1944)
Guns of the Law
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
The Pinto Bandit
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Gangsters of the Frontier
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Dead or Alive
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Gunsmoke Mesa
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Movie Pests
as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
(1944)
Outlaw Roundup
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Safety Sleuth
as Careless Man
(1944)
Sportsman's Memories
as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
(1943)
Boss of Rawhide
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
West of Texas
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
The Return of the Rangers
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Seventh Column
as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
(1943)
Fighting Valley
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Trail of Terror
as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
(1943)
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Border Buckaroos
as Tex Wyatt
(1942)
(1942)
Down Texas Way
as Dave Dodge
(1942)
Bowery at Midnight
as Det. Pete Crawford
(1942)
Prisoner of Japan
as U. S. Marine
(1942)
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
as Sgt. Phil Lyons
(1942)
Sheriff of Sage Valley
as Jeff
(1942)
Captain Midnight
as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
(1942)
The Rangers Take Over
as Tex Wyatt
(1942)
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
as Jeff
(1942)
The Yanks Are Coming
as Sgt. Callahan
(1942)
Carry Harry
as Arthur - Harry's Friend
(1942)
Calling All Pa's
as Joe Thunderstruck
(1942)
Law and Order
as Jeff Travis
(1942)
(1942)
What About Daddy?
as The Husband
(1941)
The Gunman From Bodie
as Joe Martin
(1941)
Murder by Invitation
as Michael, the chauffeur
(1941)
The Spider Returns
as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
(1941)
Billy the Kid Wanted
as Jeff
(1941)
Forbidden Trails
as Jim Cramer
(1941)
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
as Texas Joe
(1941)
Flying Wild
as Tom Lawson
(1941)
Spooks Run Wild
as Jeff Dixon
(1941)
Double Trouble
as Sparky Barton
(1941)
The Deadly Game
as Ralph Spencer
(1941)
The Texas Marshal
as Buzz Weston
(1941)
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
as Jim Dana
(1940)
Isle Of Destiny
as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
(1940)
The Devil Bat
as Johnny Layton
(1940)
Son of the Navy
as Nelson
(1940)
Sky Bandits
as Constable Kelly
(1940)
Yukon Flight
as Constable Kelly
(1940)
That Gang of Mine
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
The Cowboy from Sundown
as Steve Davis
(1940)
On the Spot
as Charlie
(1940)
Hold That Woman!
as Miles Hanover
(1940)
Phantom Rancher
as Henchman Lucke
(1940)
East Side Kids
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
Queen of the Yukon
as Bob Adams
(1940)
Danger Ahead
as Corporal Kelly
(1940)
Gun Code
as Henchman Gale
(1940)
Boys of the City
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
Murder on the Yukon
as Constable Kelly
(1939)
The Arizona Kid
as Soldier
(1939)
Fighting Mad
as Constable Kelly
(1939)
New Frontier
as Jason Braddock
(1939)
Undercover Agent
as Billiards Player
(1939)
Buried Alive
as Carson
(1939)
On Your Toes
as Man in Audience
(1939)
The Fighting Renegade
as Dr. Jerry Leonard
(1939)
Mutiny in the Big House
as Daniels
(1939)
Outlaws' Paradise
as Henchman Meggs
(1939)
Rollin' Westward
as Ranch hand Red
(1939)
Code of the Cactus
as Bob Swane
(1939)
Crashing Thru
as Fred Chambers
(1939)
Wyoming Outlaw
as Acacia Park Game Warden
(1939)
Riders of the Sage
as Tom Martin
(1939)
Flaming Lead
as Frank Gordon
(1939)
Trigger Smith
as Duke
(1939)
Water Rustlers
as Bob Lawson
(1939)
Texas Wildcats
as Ed Arden
(1939)
Daughter of the Tong
as Jerry Morgan
(1939)
Drifting Westward
as Henchman Trigger
(1938)
Tell Your Children
as Ralph
(1938)
Where the Buffalo Roam
as Jeff Gray
(1938)
Born to Be Wild
as Trucker (uncredited)
(1938)
Gun Packer
as Red Baker - Henchman
(1938)
Whirlwind Horseman
as Henchman Slade
(1938)
Frontier Scout
as Steve Norris
(1938)
Utah Trail
as Mason - Bookkeeper
(1938)
The Secret of Treasure Island
as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
(1938)
The Singing Cowgirl
as Dick Williams
(1938)
Song of the Buckaroo
as Tex Alden
(1938)
Starlight Over Texas
as Henchman
(1938)
Man's Country
as Bat
(1937)
Lightnin' Crandall
as Tommy Shannon
(1937)
Million Dollar Racket
as Johnny Henessey
(1937)
Rough Riding Rhythm
as Detective Waters
(1937)
Brothers of the West
as Bart
(1936)
The Black Coin
as Terry Navarro
(1936)
The Girl on the Front Page
as Nightclub Patron
(1936)
Wanted - A Master
as Dog's Master (uncredited)
(1936)
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as George Baldwin
(1935)
Doubting Thomas
as Member of Audience
(1935)
She Married Her Boss
as Shopper
(1935)
No More Ladies
as Party Guest (uncredited)
(1935)
Woman Wanted
as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
(1935)
Welcome Home
as Stanley Phillips
(1935)
Ship Cafe
as Young Man (uncredited)
(1934)
Tomorrow's Children
as Interne (uncredited)
(1934)
(1934)
Student Tour
as Student
(1934)
We're Rich Again
as Pete (uncredited)
(1934)
Wonder Bar
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
(1934)
Gift of Gab
as Dancer (uncredited)
(1934)
Search for Beauty
as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
(1933)
College Coach
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
(1933)
College Humor
as Student
(1933)
Pick-up
as Party Boy (uncredited)
(1933)
Sitting Pretty
as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
(1933)
One Man's Journey
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
(1932)
Is My Face Red?
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
(1932)
The Sign of the Cross
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
(1932)
Rasputin and the Empress
as Soldier (uncredited)
(1932)
Hot Saturday
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
(1932)
Roar of the Dragon
as Submarine Crewman
(1932)
70,000 Witnesses
as Football Player (uncredited)
(1931)
Flying High
as Dancer (uncredited)
(1931)
Consolation Marriage
as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
(1930)
Madam Satan
as Zeppelin Reveler
(1930)
Good News
as Student
(1930)
The Dawn Patrol
as Pilot (uncredited)
Crew
(1955)
The Fall Guy
Director
(1955)
The Man Around the House
Screenplay, Director, Story
(1955)
Just What I Needed
Screenplay, Director
(1954)
Out for Fun
Director, Writer
(1954)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Story, Director
(1954)
Film Antics
Director
(1954)
Do Someone a Favor!
Director, Screenplay
(1953)
Things We Can Do Without
Story, Director, Screenplay
(1953)
Cash Stashers
Story, Director, Screenplay
(1953)
Dogs 'n Ducks
Screenplay, Original Story
(1953)
The Mosconi Story
Director
(1952)
Reducing
Director, Screenplay, Original Story
(1952)
I Love Children, But!
Director, Writer
(1952)
Musiquiz
Director
(1951)
Camera Sleuth
Writer, Director
(1951)
Bargain Madness
Director, Writer
(1950)
Did'ja Know?
Director, Screenplay
(1950)
Crashing the Movies
Director
(1950)
Wrong Way Butch
Director, Original Story, Screenplay
(1950)
A Wife's Life
Screenplay, Director, Story
(1950)
Pest Control
Director
(1949)
Super Cue Men
Director
(1949)
Those Good Old Days
Director
(1949)
We Can Dream, Can't We?
Director
(1948)
Bowling Tricks
Director
(1948)
Let's Cogitate
Director
(1948)
You Can't Win
Writer, Director
(1948)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
Director, Original Story, Screenplay
(1948)
Just Suppose
Director, Writer
(1948)
Ice Aces
Writer, Director
(1947)
Diamond Demon
Director, Writer
(1947)
Neighbor Pests
Director
(1947)
I Love My Wife BUT!
Story, Director, Screenplay
(1947)
(1947)
Have You Ever Wondered?
Writer, Director
(1947)
Football Thrills No. 10
Director
(1947)
Surfboard Rhythm
Director
(1946)
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Writer, Director
(1946)
I Love My Husband, But!
Director, Story, Screenplay
(1946)
Sure Cures
Writer, Director
(1946)
Treasures from Trash
Screenplay, Director
(1941)
Sky Raiders
Stunts
(1941)
The Iron Claw
Stunts
(1938)
The Spider's Web
Stunts