Dave O'Brien
Known For
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
May 31, 1912 (114 years old)
Place of Birth
Big Spring, Texas, USA
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
| 2006 | 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to StageSelf (archive footage) | |
| 1976 | That's Entertainment, Part II(archive footage) | |
| 1964 | The Big Parade of ComedyActor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage) | |
| 1956 | The Kettles in the OzarksConductor | |
| 1956 | The Desperados Are in TownDock Lapman / Mr. Brown | |
| 1955 | The Fall GuyHimself as Various Characters (archive footage) | |
| 1955 | Just What I NeededHarry Horseknuckle | |
| 1955 | The Man Around the HouseHugo Hightonsil (uncredited) | |
| 1955 | MGM Parade | |
| 1955 | MGM ParadeSelf | |
| 1954 | Out for FunBusinessman Seeking Relaxation | |
| 1954 | Ain't It Aggravatin'Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead | |
| 1954 | Do Someone a Favor!George Dibson | |
| 1954 | Tennessee ChampLuke MacWade | |
| 1954 | Meet the O'BriensDave | |
| 1953 | T.V. of TomorrowMan on TV | |
| 1953 | Things We Can Do WithoutThaddeus E. Thud III | |
| 1953 | Cash StashersA Shmoe Named Joe | |
| 1953 | Kiss Me KateRalph | |
| 1952 | I Love Children, But!The Daddy | |
| 1952 | ReducingMan on Bench (uncredited) | |
| 1950 | Did'ja Know?Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant | |
| 1950 | A Wife's LifeGeorge T. Hardnose (uncredited) | |
| 1950 | Wrong Way ButchButch | |
| 1950 | Pest ControlCruising Wolf | |
| 1949 | Those Good Old Days | |
| 1948 | Let's CogitateOliver T. Aseltafel | |
| 1948 | I Love My Mother-In-Law But...The Son-In-Law / Husband | |
| 1948 | You Can't WinHarried Homeowner | |
| 1948 | Just SupposeHusband (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | Neighbor Pests | |
| 1947 | I Love My Wife BUT!The Husband | |
| 1947 | Have You Ever Wondered?Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer | |
| 1946 | I Love My Husband, But!The Husband | |
| 1946 | Sure CuresXavier T. Schneckendorf | |
| 1946 | Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11Horace | |
| 1946 | Studio VisitO'Brien | |
| 1946 | Treasures from TrashAlonzo T. Mousebrain | |
| 1945 | Enemy of the LawDave Wyatt | |
| 1945 | Frontier FugitivesDave Wyatt | |
| 1945 | The Phantom of 42nd StreetTony Woolrich | |
| 1945 | The Man Who Walked AloneMarion Scott | |
| 1945 | Marked for MurderDave Wyatt | |
| 1945 | Three in the SaddleDave Wyatt | |
| 1945 | Flaming BulletsDave Wyatt / Steve Carson | |
| 1944 | Gangsters of the FrontierDave Wyatt | |
| 1944 | The Whispering SkullDave Wyatt | |
| 1944 | Guns of the LawTex Wyatt | |
| 1944 | The Pinto BanditTex Wyatt | |
| 1944 | Tahiti NightsJack | |
| 1944 | Movie PestsFeet-in-the-Aisle Pest | |
| 1944 | Brand of the DevilTex Wyatt | |
| 1944 | Dead or AliveDave Wyatt | |
| 1944 | Outlaw RoundupTex Wyatt | |
| 1944 | Gunsmoke MesaTex Wyatt | |
| 1944 | Spook TownTex Wyatt | |
| 1944 | Safety SleuthCareless Man | |
| 1944 | Sportsman's MemoriesFabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited) | |
| 1943 | Trail of TerrorTex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt | |
| 1943 | Bad Men of Thunder GapTex Wyatt | |
| 1943 | Border BuckaroosTex Wyatt | |
| 1943 | Boss of RawhideTex Wyatt | |
| 1943 | Fighting ValleyTex Wyatt | |
| 1943 | The Return of the RangersTex Wyatt | |
| 1943 | West of TexasTex Wyatt | |
| 1943 | Seventh ColumnFalstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man | |
| 1942 | Bowery at MidnightDet. Pete Crawford | |
| 1942 | Down Texas WayDave Dodge | |
| 1942 | Law and OrderJeff Travis | |
| 1942 | Captain MidnightCaptain Albright / Captain Midnight | |
| 1942 | Carry HarryArthur - Harry's Friend | |
| 1942 | Prisoner of JapanU. S. Marine | |
| 1942 | 'Neath Brooklyn BridgeSgt. Phil Lyons | |
| 1942 | The Rangers Take OverTex Wyatt | |
| 1942 | Billy the Kid's Smoking GunsJeff | |
| 1942 | Sheriff of Sage ValleyJeff | |
| 1942 | Victory Quiz | |
| 1942 | Calling All Pa'sJoe Thunderstruck | |
| 1942 | King of the Stallions | |
| 1942 | The Yanks Are ComingSgt. Callahan | |
| 1942 | What About Daddy?The Husband | |
| 1941 | Spooks Run WildJeff Dixon | |
| 1941 | Buzzy and the Phantom PintoJim Dana | |
| 1941 | Flying WildTom Lawson | |
| 1941 | Forbidden TrailsJim Cramer | |
| 1941 | Billy the Kid WantedJeff | |
| 1941 | Double TroubleSparky Barton | |
| 1941 | The Texas MarshalBuzz Weston | |
| 1941 | The Gunman From BodieJoe Martin | |
| 1941 | The Deadly GameRalph Spencer | |
| 1941 | The Spider ReturnsJackson, Wentworth's Aide | |
| 1941 | Billy the Kid in Santa FeTexas Joe | |
| 1941 | Murder by InvitationMichael, the chauffeur | |
| 1940 | The Devil BatJohnny Layton | |
| 1940 | On the SpotCharlie | |
| 1940 | Queen of the YukonBob Adams | |
| 1940 | Phantom RancherHenchman Lucke | |
| 1940 | Danger AheadCorporal Kelly | |
| 1940 | Murder on the YukonConstable Kelly | |
| 1940 | Yukon FlightConstable Kelly | |
| 1940 | Sky BanditsConstable Kelly | |
| 1940 | That Gang of MineKnuckles Dolan | |
| 1940 | Boys of the CityKnuckles Dolan | |
| 1940 | East Side KidsKnuckles Dolan | |
| 1940 | The Cowboy from SundownSteve Davis | |
| 1940 | Son of the NavyNelson | |
| 1940 | Isle Of DestinyWhitey - Navy Radio Man | |
| 1940 | Hold That Woman!Miles Hanover | |
| 1940 | Gun CodeHenchman Gale | |
| 1939 | Trigger SmithDuke | |
| 1939 | Riders of the SageTom Martin | |
| 1939 | Crashing ThruFred Chambers | |
| 1939 | Daughter of the TongJerry Morgan | |
| 1939 | Drifting WestwardHenchman Trigger | |
| 1939 | Flaming LeadFrank Gordon | |
| 1939 | Buried AliveCarson | |
| 1939 | Water RustlersBob Lawson | |
| 1939 | On Your ToesMan in Audience | |
| 1939 | Code of the CactusBob Swane | |
| 1939 | Outlaws' ParadiseHenchman Meggs | |
| 1939 | Undercover AgentBilliards Player | |
| 1939 | Wyoming OutlawAcacia Park Game Warden | |
| 1939 | New FrontierJason Braddock | |
| 1939 | Fighting MadConstable Kelly | |
| 1939 | The Fighting RenegadeDr. Jerry Leonard | |
| 1939 | The Arizona KidSoldier | |
| 1939 | Mutiny in the Big HouseDaniels | |
| 1939 | Texas WildcatsEd Arden | |
| 1939 | Rollin' WestwardRanch hand Red | |
| 1938 | Song of the BuckarooTex Alden | |
| 1938 | Tell Your ChildrenRalph | |
| 1938 | Man's CountryBat | |
| 1938 | Born to Be WildTrucker (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | The Secret of Treasure IslandDet. Jameson [Chs. 4-7] | |
| 1938 | Frontier ScoutSteve Norris | |
| 1938 | Whirlwind HorsemanHenchman Slade | |
| 1938 | Utah TrailMason - Bookkeeper | |
| 1938 | Where the Buffalo RoamJeff Gray | |
| 1938 | The Singing CowgirlDick Williams | |
| 1938 | Gun PackerRed Baker - Henchman | |
| 1938 | Starlight Over TexasHenchman | |
| 1937 | Million Dollar RacketJohnny Henessey | |
| 1937 | Brothers of the WestBart | |
| 1937 | Rough Riding RhythmDetective Waters | |
| 1937 | Lightnin' CrandallTommy Shannon | |
| 1936 | The Black CoinTerry Navarro | |
| 1936 | The Adventures of Frank MerriwellGeorge Baldwin | |
| 1936 | The Girl on the Front PageNightclub Patron | |
| 1936 | Wanted - A MasterDog's Master (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Welcome HomeStanley Phillips | |
| 1935 | Woman WantedSteve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Doubting ThomasMember of Audience | |
| 1935 | Ship CafeYoung Man (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | No More LadiesParty Guest (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | She Married Her BossShopper | |
| 1934 | Wonder BarChorus Boy (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Search for BeautyTalent Contestant (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Student TourStudent | |
| 1934 | Tomorrow's ChildrenInterne (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Gift of GabDancer (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Murder at the VanitiesChorus Boy (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | We're Rich AgainPete (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Music in the AirKarl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | One Man's JourneyDance Extra (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | College HumorStudent | |
| 1933 | Sitting PrettyAssistant Cameraman (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | College CoachStudent on Tennis Court (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Pick-upParty Boy (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | The World ChangesOtto Peterson (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Sign of the CrossChristian on Stairway (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Hot SaturdayParty Guest (Uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Roar of the DragonSubmarine Crewman | |
| 1932 | Is My Face Red?Chorus Boy (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Rasputin and the EmpressSoldier (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | 70,000 WitnessesFootball Player (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Devil and the DeepSubmarine Crewman (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | Consolation MarriageMan Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | Flying HighDancer (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | Lover Come BackPool Party Boy (uncredited) | |
| 1930 | Good NewsStudent | |
| 1930 | The Dawn PatrolPilot (uncredited) | |
| 1930 | Madam SatanZeppelin Reveler |
| 1954 | Meet the O'BriensProducer |
| 1955 | The Fall GuyDirector | |
| 1955 | The Man Around the HouseDirector | |
| 1955 | Just What I NeededDirector | |
| 1954 | Out for FunDirector | |
| 1954 | Ain't It Aggravatin'Director | |
| 1954 | Film AnticsDirector | |
| 1954 | Do Someone a Favor!Director | |
| 1953 | Things We Can Do WithoutDirector | |
| 1953 | Cash StashersDirector | |
| 1953 | The Mosconi StoryDirector | |
| 1952 | ReducingDirector | |
| 1952 | I Love Children, But!Director | |
| 1952 | MusiquizDirector | |
| 1951 | Camera SleuthDirector | |
| 1951 | Bargain MadnessDirector | |
| 1950 | Did'ja Know?Director | |
| 1950 | Crashing the MoviesDirector | |
| 1950 | Wrong Way ButchDirector | |
| 1950 | A Wife's LifeDirector | |
| 1950 | Pest ControlDirector | |
| 1949 | Super Cue MenDirector | |
| 1949 | Those Good Old DaysDirector | |
| 1949 | We Can Dream, Can't We?Director | |
| 1948 | Bowling TricksDirector | |
| 1948 | You Can't WinDirector | |
| 1948 | Let's CogitateDirector | |
| 1948 | I Love My Mother-In-Law But...Director | |
| 1948 | Just SupposeDirector | |
| 1948 | Ice AcesDirector | |
| 1947 | Diamond DemonDirector | |
| 1947 | Neighbor PestsDirector | |
| 1947 | I Love My Wife BUT!Director | |
| 1947 | Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13Director | |
| 1947 | Have You Ever Wondered?Director | |
| 1947 | Football Thrills No. 10Director | |
| 1947 | Surfboard RhythmDirector | |
| 1946 | Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11Director | |
| 1946 | I Love My Husband, But!Director | |
| 1946 | Sure CuresDirector | |
| 1946 | Treasures from TrashDirector |
| 1955 | The Man Around the HouseStory | |
| 1955 | The Man Around the HouseScreenplay | |
| 1955 | Just What I NeededScreenplay | |
| 1954 | Out for FunWriter | |
| 1954 | Ain't It Aggravatin'Story | |
| 1954 | Do Someone a Favor!Screenplay | |
| 1954 | Meet the O'BriensTeleplay | |
| 1953 | Things We Can Do WithoutStory | |
| 1953 | Things We Can Do WithoutScreenplay | |
| 1953 | Cash StashersStory | |
| 1953 | Cash StashersScreenplay | |
| 1953 | Dogs 'n DucksOriginal Story | |
| 1953 | Dogs 'n DucksScreenplay | |
| 1952 | ReducingScreenplay | |
| 1952 | I Love Children, But!Writer | |
| 1952 | ReducingOriginal Story | |
| 1951 | Camera SleuthWriter | |
| 1951 | Bargain MadnessWriter | |
| 1950 | A Wife's LifeStory | |
| 1950 | A Wife's LifeScreenplay | |
| 1950 | Did'ja Know?Screenplay | |
| 1950 | Wrong Way ButchOriginal Story | |
| 1950 | Wrong Way ButchScreenplay | |
| 1948 | You Can't WinWriter | |
| 1948 | I Love My Mother-In-Law But...Original Story | |
| 1948 | I Love My Mother-In-Law But...Screenplay | |
| 1948 | Just SupposeWriter | |
| 1948 | Ice AcesWriter | |
| 1947 | Diamond DemonWriter | |
| 1947 | I Love My Wife BUT!Screenplay | |
| 1947 | I Love My Wife BUT!Story | |
| 1947 | Have You Ever Wondered?Writer | |
| 1946 | Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11Writer | |
| 1946 | Sure CuresWriter | |
| 1946 | I Love My Husband, But!Story | |
| 1946 | I Love My Husband, But!Screenplay | |
| 1946 | Treasures from TrashScreenplay |
| 1941 | Sky RaidersStunts | |
| 1941 | The Iron ClawStunts | |
| 1938 | The Spider's WebStunts |












