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