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