Dave O'Brien
Acting
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
Acting182
movie42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
2006
Self (archive footage)
movieThat's Entertainment, Part II
1976
(archive footage)
movieThe Big Parade of Comedy
1964
Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
movieThe Desperados Are in Town
1956
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
movieThe Kettles in the Ozarks
1956
Conductor
tvMGM Parade
1955
Self
The Fall Guy
1955
Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
Just What I Needed
1955
Harry Horseknuckle
The Man Around the House
1955
Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
Out for Fun
1954
Businessman Seeking Relaxation
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
George Dibson
movieTennessee Champ
1954
Luke MacWade
movieAin't It Aggravatin'
1954
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
movieThings We Can Do Without
1953
Thaddeus E. Thud III
movieCash Stashers
1953
A Shmoe Named Joe
movieT.V. of Tomorrow
1953
Man on TV
movieI Love Children, But!
1952
The Daddy
movieReducing
1952
Man on Bench (uncredited)
A Wife's Life
1950
George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
movieDid'ja Know?
1950
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
Pest Control
1950
Cruising Wolf
movieLet's Cogitate
1948
Oliver T. Aseltafel
movieJust Suppose
1948
Husband (uncredited)
movieYou Can't Win
1948
Harried Homeowner
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948
The Son-In-Law / Husband
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947
Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
movieSure Cures
1946
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
movieTreasures from Trash
1946
Alonzo T. Mousebrain
movieStudio Visit
1946
O'Brien
movieFlaming Bullets
1945
Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
movieFrontier Fugitives
1945
Dave Wyatt
movieThree in the Saddle
1945
Dave Wyatt
movieEnemy of the Law
1945
Dave Wyatt
movieThe Phantom of 42nd Street
1945
Tony Woolrich
movieThe Man Who Walked Alone
1945
Marion Scott
movieMarked for Murder
1945
Dave Wyatt
movieThe Whispering Skull
1944
Dave Wyatt
Safety Sleuth
1944
Careless Man
movieDead or Alive
1944
Dave Wyatt
movieGangsters of the Frontier
1944
Dave Wyatt
movieGunsmoke Mesa
1944
Tex Wyatt
movieBrand of the Devil
1944
Tex Wyatt
movieMovie Pests
1944
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
movieSpook Town
1944
Tex Wyatt
movieThe Pinto Bandit
1944
Tex Wyatt
Sportsman's Memories
1944
Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
movieGuns of the Law
1944
Tex Wyatt
movieOutlaw Roundup
1944
Tex Wyatt
movieBoss of Rawhide
1943
Tex Wyatt
movieThe Return of the Rangers
1943
Tex Wyatt
movieTrail of Terror
1943
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
movieFighting Valley
1943
Tex Wyatt
movieSeventh Column
1943
Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
movieBorder Buckaroos
1943
Tex Wyatt
movieWest of Texas
1943
Tex Wyatt
movieBad Men of Thunder Gap
1943
Tex Wyatt
movieThe Rangers Take Over
1942
Tex Wyatt
movie'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
1942
Sgt. Phil Lyons
movieThe Yanks Are Coming
1942
Sgt. Callahan
movieBowery at Midnight
1942
Det. Pete Crawford
movieCalling All Pa's
1942
Joe Thunderstruck
Carry Harry
1942
Arthur - Harry's Friend
movieLaw and Order
1942
Jeff Travis
moviePrisoner of Japan
1942
U. S. Marine
movieDown Texas Way
1942
Dave Dodge
movieWhat About Daddy?
1942
The Husband
movieCaptain Midnight
1942
Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
movieForbidden Trails
1941
Jim Cramer
movieDouble Trouble
1941
Sparky Barton
movieSpooks Run Wild
1941
Jeff Dixon
movieThe Gunman From Bodie
1941
Joe Martin
movieThe Deadly Game
1941
Ralph Spencer
movieThe Texas Marshal
1941
Buzz Weston
movieBilly the Kid in Santa Fe
1941
Texas Joe
movieMurder by Invitation
1941
Michael, the chauffeur
movieThe Spider Returns
1941
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
movieFlying Wild
1941
Tom Lawson
movieThe Devil Bat
1940
Johnny Layton
movieThat Gang of Mine
1940
Knuckles Dolan
movieThe Cowboy from Sundown
1940
Steve Davis
movieQueen of the Yukon
1940
Bob Adams
movieGun Code
1940
Henchman Gale
movieBoys of the City
1940
Knuckles Dolan
movieSky Bandits
1940
Constable Kelly
movieHold That Woman!
1940
Miles Hanover
movieOn the Spot
1940
Charlie
moviePhantom Rancher
1940
Henchman Lucke
movieSon of the Navy
1940
Nelson
movieIsle Of Destiny
1940
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
movieMurder on the Yukon
1940
Constable Kelly
movieEast Side Kids
1940
Knuckles Dolan
movieDanger Ahead
1940
Corporal Kelly
movieYukon Flight
1940
Constable Kelly
movieCrashing Thru
1939
Fred Chambers
movieBuried Alive
1939
Carson
movieFighting Mad
1939
Constable Kelly
movieFlaming Lead
1939
Frank Gordon
movieOn Your Toes
1939
Man in Audience
movieThe Arizona Kid
1939
Soldier
movieThe Fighting Renegade
1939
Dr. Jerry Leonard
movieDaughter of the Tong
1939
Jerry Morgan
movieNew Frontier
1939
Jason Braddock
movieRiders of the Sage
1939
Tom Martin
movieWyoming Outlaw
1939
Acacia Park Game Warden
movieUndercover Agent
1939
Billiards Player
movieOutlaws' Paradise
1939
Henchman Meggs
movieTexas Wildcats
1939
Ed Arden
movieRollin' Westward
1939
Ranch hand Red
movieCode of the Cactus
1939
Bob Swane
movieDrifting Westward
1939
Henchman Trigger
movieWater Rustlers
1939
Bob Lawson
movieSong of the Buckaroo
1938
Tex Alden
movieGun Packer
1938
Red Baker - Henchman
movieWhere the Buffalo Roam
1938
Jeff Gray
movieFrontier Scout
1938
Steve Norris
movieStarlight Over Texas
1938
Henchman
movieUtah Trail
1938
Mason - Bookkeeper
movieThe Singing Cowgirl
1938
Dick Williams
movieWhirlwind Horseman
1938
Henchman Slade
movieThe Secret of Treasure Island
1938
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
movieBorn to Be Wild
1938
Trucker (uncredited)
movieMillion Dollar Racket
1937
Johnny Henessey
movieRough Riding Rhythm
1937
Detective Waters
movieLightnin' Crandall
1937
Tommy Shannon
movieWanted - A Master
1936
Dog's Master (uncredited)
movieThe Girl on the Front Page
1936
Nightclub Patron
movieThe Black Coin
1936
Terry Navarro
movieThe Adventures of Frank Merriwell
1936
George Baldwin
movieShip Cafe
1935
Young Man (uncredited)
movieWelcome Home
1935
Stanley Phillips
movieWoman Wanted
1935
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
movieDoubting Thomas
1935
Member of Audience
movieNo More Ladies
1935
Party Guest (uncredited)
movieMusic in the Air
1934
Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
movieStudent Tour
1934
Student
movieGift of Gab
1934
Dancer (uncredited)
movieWe're Rich Again
1934
Pete (uncredited)
movieTomorrow's Children
1934
Interne (uncredited)
movieMurder at the Vanities
1934
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
movieWonder Bar
1934
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
movieSearch for Beauty
1934
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
movieThe World Changes
1933
Otto Peterson (uncredited)
movieSitting Pretty
1933
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
movieCollege Coach
1933
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
movieOne Man's Journey
1933
Dance Extra (uncredited)
movieCollege Humor
1933
Student
moviePick-up
1933
Party Boy (uncredited)
movie42nd Street
1933
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
movieThe Sign of the Cross
1932
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
movieRasputin and the Empress
1932
Soldier (uncredited)
movieHot Saturday
1932
Party Guest (Uncredited)
movie70,000 Witnesses
1932
Football Player (uncredited)
movieDevil and the Deep
1932
Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
movieRoar of the Dragon
1932
Submarine Crewman
movieIs My Face Red?
1932
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
movieConsolation Marriage
1931
Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
movieFlying High
1931
Dancer (uncredited)
movieLover Come Back
1931
Pool Party Boy (uncredited)
movieMadam Satan
1930
Zeppelin Reveler
movieGood News
1930
Student
movieThe Dawn Patrol
1930
Pilot (uncredited)
Directing40
movieFilm Antics
1954
Director
Out for Fun
1954
Director
movieAin't It Aggravatin'
1954
Director
movieCash Stashers
1953
Director
movieI Love Children, But!
1952
Director
movieReducing
1952
Director
Musiquiz
1952
Director
movieBargain Madness
1951
Director
movieCamera Sleuth
1951
Director
movieWrong Way Butch
1950
Director
movieDid'ja Know?
1950
Director
movieCrashing the Movies
1950
Director
movieLet's Cogitate
1948
Director
movieIce Aces
1948
Director
movieJust Suppose
1948
Director
movieYou Can't Win
1948
Director
movieBowling Tricks
1948
Director
Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13
1947
Director
movieDiamond Demon
1947
Director
movieSure Cures
1946
Director
movieTreasures from Trash
1946
Director
Writing28
The Man Around the House
1955
Screenplay, Story
movieMeet the O'Briens
1954
Teleplay
movieThings We Can Do Without
1953
Story, Screenplay
movieCash Stashers
1953
Story, Screenplay
movieDogs 'n Ducks
1953
Screenplay, Original Story
movieReducing
1952
Screenplay, Original Story
movieBargain Madness
1951
Writer
movieCamera Sleuth
1951
Writer
movieWrong Way Butch
1950
Original Story, Screenplay
A Wife's Life
1950
Screenplay, Story
movieDid'ja Know?
1950
Screenplay
movieIce Aces
1948
Writer
movieJust Suppose
1948
Writer
movieYou Can't Win
1948
Writer
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948
Original Story, Screenplay
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947
Story, Screenplay
movieDiamond Demon
1947
Writer
I Love My Husband, But!
1946
Story, Screenplay
movieSure Cures
1946
Writer
movieTreasures from Trash
1946
Screenplay
Crew3
Production1
movieMeet the O'Briens
1954
Producer