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)
Just What I Needed
as Harry Horseknuckle
(1955)
The Fall Guy
as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
(1955)
The Man Around the House
as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
(1954)
Tennessee Champ
as Luke MacWade
(1954)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
(1954)
Out for Fun
as Businessman Seeking Relaxation
(1954)
Do Someone a Favor!
as George Dibson
(1953)
Kiss Me Kate
as Ralph
(1953)
Cash Stashers
as A Shmoe Named Joe
(1953)
T.V. of Tomorrow
as Man on TV
(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)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
as The Son-In-Law / Husband
(1948)
Let's Cogitate
as Oliver T. Aseltafel
(1948)
Just Suppose
as Husband (uncredited)
(1948)
You Can't Win
as Harried Homeowner
(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)
Sure Cures
as Xavier T. Schneckendorf
(1946)
I Love My Husband, But!
as The Husband
(1946)
(1946)
Treasures from Trash
as Alonzo T. Mousebrain
(1946)
Studio Visit
as O'Brien
(1945)
The Man Who Walked Alone
as Marion Scott
(1945)
The Phantom of 42nd Street
as Tony Woolrich
(1945)
Enemy of the Law
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
Frontier Fugitives
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
Three in the Saddle
as Dave Wyatt
(1945)
Flaming Bullets
as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
(1945)
Marked for Murder
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
The Whispering Skull
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Gunsmoke Mesa
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Movie Pests
as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
(1944)
The Pinto Bandit
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Tahiti Nights
as Jack
(1944)
Spook Town
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Guns of the Law
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Outlaw Roundup
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Brand of the Devil
as Tex Wyatt
(1944)
Gangsters of the Frontier
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Dead or Alive
as Dave Wyatt
(1944)
Safety Sleuth
as Careless Man
(1944)
Sportsman's Memories
as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
(1943)
Trail of Terror
as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
(1943)
Border Buckaroos
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
West of Texas
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Boss of Rawhide
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Seventh Column
as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
(1943)
The Return of the Rangers
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Fighting Valley
as Tex Wyatt
(1943)
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
as Tex Wyatt
(1942)
The Yanks Are Coming
as Sgt. Callahan
(1942)
Sheriff of Sage Valley
as Jeff
(1942)
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
as Jeff
(1942)
Down Texas Way
as Dave Dodge
(1942)
The Rangers Take Over
as Tex Wyatt
(1942)
Bowery at Midnight
as Det. Pete Crawford
(1942)
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
as Sgt. Phil Lyons
(1942)
(1942)
Calling All Pa's
as Joe Thunderstruck
(1942)
Law and Order
as Jeff Travis
(1942)
(1942)
Captain Midnight
as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
(1942)
Prisoner of Japan
as U. S. Marine
(1942)
What About Daddy?
as The Husband
(1942)
Carry Harry
as Arthur - Harry's Friend
(1941)
Murder by Invitation
as Michael, the chauffeur
(1941)
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
as Texas Joe
(1941)
Flying Wild
as Tom Lawson
(1941)
The Gunman From Bodie
as Joe Martin
(1941)
Billy the Kid Wanted
as Jeff
(1941)
The Spider Returns
as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
(1941)
Double Trouble
as Sparky Barton
(1941)
Spooks Run Wild
as Jeff Dixon
(1941)
The Deadly Game
as Ralph Spencer
(1941)
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
as Jim Dana
(1941)
The Texas Marshal
as Buzz Weston
(1941)
Forbidden Trails
as Jim Cramer
(1940)
Phantom Rancher
as Henchman Lucke
(1940)
Murder on the Yukon
as Constable Kelly
(1940)
Danger Ahead
as Corporal Kelly
(1940)
On the Spot
as Charlie
(1940)
East Side Kids
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
Yukon Flight
as Constable Kelly
(1940)
Sky Bandits
as Constable Kelly
(1940)
Isle Of Destiny
as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
(1940)
Hold That Woman!
as Miles Hanover
(1940)
Gun Code
as Henchman Gale
(1940)
The Devil Bat
as Johnny Layton
(1940)
Queen of the Yukon
as Bob Adams
(1940)
That Gang of Mine
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
The Cowboy from Sundown
as Steve Davis
(1940)
Boys of the City
as Knuckles Dolan
(1940)
Son of the Navy
as Nelson
(1939)
Mutiny in the Big House
as Daniels
(1939)
Riders of the Sage
as Tom Martin
(1939)
The Arizona Kid
as Soldier
(1939)
Code of the Cactus
as Bob Swane
(1939)
Texas Wildcats
as Ed Arden
(1939)
Crashing Thru
as Fred Chambers
(1939)
Wyoming Outlaw
as Acacia Park Game Warden
(1939)
Daughter of the Tong
as Jerry Morgan
(1939)
Outlaws' Paradise
as Henchman Meggs
(1939)
New Frontier
as Jason Braddock
(1939)
Drifting Westward
as Henchman Trigger
(1939)
Buried Alive
as Carson
(1939)
The Fighting Renegade
as Dr. Jerry Leonard
(1939)
Rollin' Westward
as Ranch hand Red
(1939)
Trigger Smith
as Duke
(1939)
Fighting Mad
as Constable Kelly
(1939)
On Your Toes
as Man in Audience
(1939)
Water Rustlers
as Bob Lawson
(1939)
Undercover Agent
as Billiards Player
(1939)
Flaming Lead
as Frank Gordon
(1938)
Gun Packer
as Red Baker - Henchman
(1938)
Whirlwind Horseman
as Henchman Slade
(1938)
Born to Be Wild
as Trucker (uncredited)
(1938)
Frontier Scout
as Steve Norris
(1938)
Starlight Over Texas
as Henchman
(1938)
The Secret of Treasure Island
as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
(1938)
Song of the Buckaroo
as Tex Alden
(1938)
Tell Your Children
as Ralph
(1938)
The Singing Cowgirl
as Dick Williams
(1938)
Where the Buffalo Roam
as Jeff Gray
(1938)
Man's Country
as Bat
(1938)
Utah Trail
as Mason - Bookkeeper
(1937)
Million Dollar Racket
as Johnny Henessey
(1937)
Brothers of the West
as Bart
(1937)
Rough Riding Rhythm
as Detective Waters
(1937)
Lightnin' Crandall
as Tommy Shannon
(1936)
Wanted - A Master
as Dog's Master (uncredited)
(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
(1935)
No More Ladies
as Party Guest (uncredited)
(1935)
Welcome Home
as Stanley Phillips
(1935)
Doubting Thomas
as Member of Audience
(1935)
Ship Cafe
as Young Man (uncredited)
(1935)
Woman Wanted
as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
(1935)
She Married Her Boss
as Shopper
(1934)
We're Rich Again
as Pete (uncredited)
(1934)
Wonder Bar
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
(1934)
Student Tour
as Student
(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)
(1933)
One Man's Journey
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
(1933)
Sitting Pretty
as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
(1933)
College Coach
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
(1933)
Pick-up
as Party Boy (uncredited)
(1933)
College Humor
as Student
(1932)
Devil and the Deep
as Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
(1932)
The Sign of the Cross
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
(1932)
Rasputin and the Empress
as Soldier (uncredited)
(1932)
70,000 Witnesses
as Football Player (uncredited)
(1932)
Roar of the Dragon
as Submarine Crewman
(1932)
Hot Saturday
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
(1932)
Is My Face Red?
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
(1931)
Flying High
as Dancer (uncredited)
(1931)
Consolation Marriage
as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
(1930)
Good News
as Student
(1930)
Madam Satan
as Zeppelin Reveler
(1930)
The Dawn Patrol
as Pilot (uncredited)
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