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 Desperados Are in Town
as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
(1956)
The Kettles in the Ozarks
as Conductor
(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)
Tennessee Champ
as Luke MacWade
(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)
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)
A Wife's Life
as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
(1950)
Did'ja Know?
as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
(1950)
Wrong Way Butch
as Butch
(1949)
(1948)
Just Suppose
as Husband (uncredited)
(1948)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
as The Son-In-Law / Husband
(1948)
Let's Cogitate
as Oliver T. Aseltafel
(1948)
You Can't Win
as Harried Homeowner
(1947)
(1947)
I Love My Wife BUT!
as The Husband
(1947)
Have You Ever Wondered?
as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
(1946)
Studio Visit
as O'Brien
(1946)
Sure Cures
as Xavier T. Schneckendorf
(1946)
Treasures from Trash
as Alonzo T. Mousebrain
(1946)
(1946)
I Love My Husband, But!
as The Husband
(1945)
The Phantom of 42nd Street
as Tony Woolrich
(1945)
Enemy of the Law
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
The Man Who Walked Alone
as Marion Scott
(1945)
Three in the Saddle
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
Flaming Bullets
as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
(1945)
Marked for Murder
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
Frontier Fugitives
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Tahiti Nights
as Jack
(1944)
Gangsters of the Frontier
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Brand of the Devil
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Movie Pests
as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
(1944)
The Pinto Bandit
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Outlaw Roundup
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
The Whispering Skull
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Dead or Alive
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Spook Town
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Guns of the Law
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Safety Sleuth
as Careless Man
(1944)
Gunsmoke Mesa
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Sportsman's Memories
as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
(1943)
Boss of Rawhide
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
The Return of the Rangers
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Fighting Valley
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Border Buckaroos
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Trail of Terror
as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
(1943)
West of Texas
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Seventh Column
as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
(1942)
(1942)
Sheriff of Sage Valley
as Jeff
(1942)
Bowery at Midnight
as Det. Pete Crawford
(1942)
Prisoner of Japan
as U. S. Marine
(1942)
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
as Jeff
(1942)
Down Texas Way
as Dave Dodge
(1942)
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
as Sgt. Phil Lyons
(1942)
(1942)
The Rangers Take Over
as Tex Wyatt
(1942)
Law and Order
as Jeff Travis
(1942)
The Yanks Are Coming
as Sgt. Callahan
(1942)
Captain Midnight
as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
(1942)
Calling All Pa's
as Joe Thunderstruck
(1942)
What About Daddy?
as The Husband
(1942)
Carry Harry
as Arthur - Harry's Friend
(1941)
Murder by Invitation
as Michael, the chauffeur
(1941)
Forbidden Trails
as Jim Cramer
(1941)
Spooks Run Wild
as Jeff Dixon
(1941)
The Spider Returns
as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
(1941)
Flying Wild
as Tom Lawson
(1941)
Billy the Kid Wanted
as Jeff
(1941)
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
as Texas Joe
(1941)
The Gunman From Bodie
as Joe Martin
(1941)
The Deadly Game
as Ralph Spencer
(1941)
Double Trouble
as Sparky Barton
(1941)
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
as Jim Dana
(1941)
The Texas Marshal
as Buzz Weston
(1940)
The Devil Bat
as Johnny Layton
(1940)
Hold That Woman!
as Miles Hanover
(1940)
Boys of the City
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
That Gang of Mine
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
On the Spot
as Charlie
(1940)
Son of the Navy
as Nelson
(1940)
Yukon Flight
as Constable Kelly
(1940)
Queen of the Yukon
as Bob Adams
(1940)
Danger Ahead
as Corporal Kelly
(1940)
Isle Of Destiny
as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
(1940)
East Side Kids
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
Gun Code
as Henchman Gale
(1940)
Phantom Rancher
as Henchman Lucke
(1940)
The Cowboy from Sundown
as Steve Davis
(1940)
Sky Bandits
as Constable Kelly
(1940)
Murder on the Yukon
as Constable Kelly
(1939)
New Frontier
as Jason Braddock
(1939)
On Your Toes
as Man in Audience
(1939)
Buried Alive
as Carson
(1939)
The Arizona Kid
as Soldier
(1939)
Code of the Cactus
as Bob Swane
(1939)
Daughter of the Tong
as Jerry Morgan
(1939)
Undercover Agent
as Billiards Player
(1939)
Mutiny in the Big House
as Daniels
(1939)
Wyoming Outlaw
as Acacia Park Game Warden
(1939)
Riders of the Sage
as Tom Martin
(1939)
Outlaws' Paradise
as Henchman Meggs
(1939)
The Fighting Renegade
as Dr. Jerry Leonard
(1939)
Crashing Thru
as Fred Chambers
(1939)
Fighting Mad
as Constable Kelly
(1939)
Drifting Westward
as Henchman Trigger
(1939)
Flaming Lead
as Frank Gordon
(1939)
Rollin' Westward
as Ranch hand Red
(1939)
Texas Wildcats
as Ed Arden
(1939)
Trigger Smith
as Duke
(1939)
Water Rustlers
as Bob Lawson
(1938)
Tell Your Children
as Ralph
(1938)
Born to Be Wild
as Trucker (uncredited)
(1938)
Whirlwind Horseman
as Henchman Slade
(1938)
The Secret of Treasure Island
as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
(1938)
The Singing Cowgirl
as Dick Williams
(1938)
Where the Buffalo Roam
as Jeff Gray
(1938)
Starlight Over Texas
as Henchman
(1938)
Frontier Scout
as Steve Norris
(1938)
Utah Trail
as Mason - Bookkeeper
(1938)
Song of the Buckaroo
as Tex Alden
(1938)
Gun Packer
as Red Baker - Henchman
(1938)
Man's Country
as Bat
(1937)
Million Dollar Racket
as Johnny Henessey
(1937)
Lightnin' Crandall
as Tommy Shannon
(1937)
Brothers of the West
as Bart
(1937)
Rough Riding Rhythm
as Detective Waters
(1936)
The Girl on the Front Page
as Nightclub Patron
(1936)
The Black Coin
as Terry Navarro
(1936)
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as George Baldwin
(1936)
Wanted - A Master
as Dog's Master (uncredited)
(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)
Doubting Thomas
as Member of Audience
(1935)
Welcome Home
as Stanley Phillips
(1935)
Ship Cafe
as Young Man (uncredited)
(1934)
Murder at the Vanities
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
(1934)
Student Tour
as Student
(1934)
Wonder Bar
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
(1934)
Search for Beauty
as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
(1934)
Gift of Gab
as Dancer (uncredited)
(1934)
We're Rich Again
as Pete (uncredited)
(1934)
Tomorrow's Children
as Interne (uncredited)
(1933)
College Coach
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
(1933)
Pick-up
as Party Boy (uncredited)
(1933)
One Man's Journey
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
(1933)
College Humor
as Student
(1933)
Sitting Pretty
as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
(1932)
The Sign of the Cross
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
(1932)
Is My Face Red?
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
(1932)
Rasputin and the Empress
as Soldier (uncredited)
(1932)
70,000 Witnesses
as Football Player (uncredited)
(1932)
Hot Saturday
as Party Guest (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)
The Dawn Patrol
as Pilot (uncredited)
(1930)
Madam Satan
as Zeppelin Reveler
(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