Dave O'Brien
Born
May 31, 1912 (age 57)
Died
November 8, 1969
Birthplace
Big Spring, Texas, USA

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.

Movies

That's Entertainment, Part II
That's Entertainment, Part II
1976 ★ 6.9
(archive footage)
The Big Parade of Comedy
The Big Parade of Comedy
1964 ★ 6.3
Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
The Desperados Are in Town
The Desperados Are in Town
1956
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Kettles in the Ozarks
The Kettles in the Ozarks
1956 ★ 6.4
Conductor
Just What I Needed
Just What I Needed
1955
Harry Horseknuckle
The Man Around the House
The Man Around the House
1955
Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
Out for Fun
Out for Fun
1954
Businessman Seeking Relaxation
Do Someone a Favor!
Do Someone a Favor!
1954 ★ 6.0
George Dibson
Tennessee Champ
Tennessee Champ
1954 ★ 5.8
Luke MacWade
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954 ★ 6.0
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
Things We Can Do Without
Things We Can Do Without
1953 ★ 6.0
Thaddeus E. Thud III
Kiss Me Kate
Kiss Me Kate
1953 ★ 6.4
Ralph
Cash Stashers
Cash Stashers
1953 ★ 6.0
A Shmoe Named Joe
T.V. of Tomorrow
T.V. of Tomorrow
1953 ★ 6.5
Man on TV
I Love Children, But!
I Love Children, But!
1952
The Daddy
Reducing
Reducing
1952 ★ 2.0
Man on Bench (uncredited)
Wrong Way Butch
Wrong Way Butch
1950 ★ 5.8
Butch
A Wife's Life
A Wife's Life
1950 ★ 6.0
George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
Did'ja Know?
Did'ja Know?
1950 ★ 4.3
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
Those Good Old Days
Those Good Old Days
1949
Let's Cogitate
Let's Cogitate
1948 ★ 5.0
Oliver T. Aseltafel
Just Suppose
Just Suppose
1948 ★ 6.0
Husband (uncredited)
You Can't Win
You Can't Win
1948 ★ 4.3
Harried Homeowner
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948 ★ 7.3
The Son-In-Law / Husband
Have You Ever Wondered?
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947
Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
Neighbor Pests
Neighbor Pests
1947
I Love My Wife BUT!
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947 ★ 7.5
The Husband
I Love My Husband, But!
I Love My Husband, But!
1946
The Husband
Sure Cures
Sure Cures
1946 ★ 5.2
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
Treasures from Trash
Treasures from Trash
1946 ★ 8.0
Alonzo T. Mousebrain
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946
Horace
Studio Visit
Studio Visit
1946 ★ 3.5
O'Brien
Flaming Bullets
Flaming Bullets
1945 ★ 5.0
Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Frontier Fugitives
Frontier Fugitives
1945
Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
Three in the Saddle
1945
Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law
Enemy of the Law
1945 ★ 5.0
Dave Wyatt
The Phantom of 42nd Street
The Phantom of 42nd Street
1945 ★ 4.5
Tony Woolrich
The Man Who Walked Alone
The Man Who Walked Alone
1945 ★ 5.6
Marion Scott
Marked for Murder
Marked for Murder
1945 ★ 4.2
Dave Wyatt
The Whispering Skull
The Whispering Skull
1944 ★ 4.7
Dave Wyatt
Tahiti Nights
Tahiti Nights
1944
Jack
Safety Sleuth
Safety Sleuth
1944
Careless Man
Dead or Alive
Dead or Alive
1944 ★ 4.2
Dave Wyatt
Gangsters of the Frontier
Gangsters of the Frontier
1944 ★ 3.8
Dave Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa
Gunsmoke Mesa
1944 ★ 1.0
Tex Wyatt
Brand of the Devil
Brand of the Devil
1944 ★ 5.0
Tex Wyatt
Movie Pests
Movie Pests
1944 ★ 5.6
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Spook Town
Spook Town
1944
Tex Wyatt
The Pinto Bandit
The Pinto Bandit
1944
Tex Wyatt
Sportsman's Memories
Sportsman's Memories
1944
Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
Guns of the Law
Guns of the Law
1944 ★ 5.0
Tex Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup
Outlaw Roundup
1944
Tex Wyatt
Boss of Rawhide
Boss of Rawhide
1943 ★ 5.5
Tex Wyatt
The Return of the Rangers
The Return of the Rangers
1943
Tex Wyatt
Trail of Terror
Trail of Terror
1943
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Fighting Valley
Fighting Valley
1943
Tex Wyatt
Seventh Column
Seventh Column
1943
Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
Border Buckaroos
Border Buckaroos
1943
Tex Wyatt
West of Texas
West of Texas
1943
Tex Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
1943
Tex Wyatt
The Rangers Take Over
The Rangers Take Over
1942 ★ 6.0
Tex Wyatt
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
1942 ★ 6.1
Sgt. Phil Lyons
The Yanks Are Coming
The Yanks Are Coming
1942 ★ 4.5
Sgt. Callahan
Bowery at Midnight
Bowery at Midnight
1942 ★ 5.0
Det. Pete Crawford
Calling All Pa's
Calling All Pa's
1942 ★ 6.0
Joe Thunderstruck
King of the Stallions
King of the Stallions
1942 ★ 6.5
Carry Harry
Carry Harry
1942 ★ 2.0
Arthur - Harry's Friend
Sheriff of Sage Valley
Sheriff of Sage Valley
1942 ★ 5.6
Jeff
Law and Order
Law and Order
1942 ★ 6.0
Jeff Travis
Prisoner of Japan
Prisoner of Japan
1942 ★ 4.3
U. S. Marine
Down Texas Way
Down Texas Way
1942
Dave Dodge
Victory Quiz
Victory Quiz
1942 ★ 6.0
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
1942 ★ 4.5
Jeff
What About Daddy?
What About Daddy?
1942
The Husband
Captain Midnight
Captain Midnight
1942 ★ 5.0
Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
Forbidden Trails
Forbidden Trails
1941 ★ 5.4
Jim Cramer
Double Trouble
Double Trouble
1941
Sparky Barton
Spooks Run Wild
Spooks Run Wild
1941 ★ 4.9
Jeff Dixon
Billy the Kid Wanted
Billy the Kid Wanted
1941 ★ 5.7
Jeff
The Gunman From Bodie
The Gunman From Bodie
1941 ★ 4.0
Joe Martin
The Deadly Game
The Deadly Game
1941 ★ 6.0
Ralph Spencer
The Texas Marshal
The Texas Marshal
1941
Buzz Weston
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
1941 ★ 4.0
Texas Joe
Murder by Invitation
Murder by Invitation
1941 ★ 5.7
Michael, the chauffeur
The Spider Returns
The Spider Returns
1941 ★ 8.7
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
1941
Jim Dana
Flying Wild
Flying Wild
1941 ★ 5.8
Tom Lawson
The Devil Bat
The Devil Bat
1940 ★ 5.3
Johnny Layton
That Gang of Mine
That Gang of Mine
1940 ★ 5.5
Knuckles Dolan
The Cowboy from Sundown
The Cowboy from Sundown
1940
Steve Davis
Queen of the Yukon
Queen of the Yukon
1940 ★ 5.0
Bob Adams
Gun Code
Gun Code
1940
Henchman Gale
Boys of the City
Boys of the City
1940 ★ 5.0
Knuckles Dolan
Sky Bandits
Sky Bandits
1940 ★ 5.0
Constable Kelly
Hold That Woman!
Hold That Woman!
1940 ★ 5.0
Miles Hanover
On the Spot
On the Spot
1940 ★ 5.5
Charlie
Phantom Rancher
Phantom Rancher
1940 ★ 3.5
Henchman Lucke
Son of the Navy
Son of the Navy
1940 ★ 5.5
Nelson
Isle Of Destiny
Isle Of Destiny
1940 ★ 5.0
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Murder on the Yukon
Murder on the Yukon
1940 ★ 3.5
Constable Kelly
East Side Kids
East Side Kids
1940 ★ 6.3
Knuckles Dolan
Danger Ahead
Danger Ahead
1940
Corporal Kelly
Yukon Flight
Yukon Flight
1940 ★ 3.9
Constable Kelly
Crashing Thru
Crashing Thru
1939 ★ 6.0
Fred Chambers
Buried Alive
Buried Alive
1939 ★ 4.7
Carson
Fighting Mad
Fighting Mad
1939 ★ 3.0
Constable Kelly
Flaming Lead
Flaming Lead
1939 ★ 4.0
Frank Gordon
Mutiny in the Big House
Mutiny in the Big House
1939 ★ 4.4
Daniels
On Your Toes
On Your Toes
1939 ★ 3.9
Man in Audience
The Arizona Kid
The Arizona Kid
1939 ★ 5.8
Soldier
The Fighting Renegade
The Fighting Renegade
1939 ★ 5.7
Dr. Jerry Leonard
Daughter of the Tong
Daughter of the Tong
1939 ★ 4.2
Jerry Morgan
New Frontier
New Frontier
1939 ★ 5.5
Jason Braddock
Riders of the Sage
Riders of the Sage
1939 ★ 5.0
Tom Martin
Wyoming Outlaw
Wyoming Outlaw
1939 ★ 5.6
Acacia Park Game Warden
Undercover Agent
Undercover Agent
1939 ★ 3.7
Billiards Player
Outlaws' Paradise
Outlaws' Paradise
1939
Henchman Meggs
Texas Wildcats
Texas Wildcats
1939
Ed Arden
Trigger Smith
Trigger Smith
1939
Duke
Rollin' Westward
Rollin' Westward
1939 ★ 5.0
Ranch hand Red
Code of the Cactus
Code of the Cactus
1939 ★ 5.5
Bob Swane
Drifting Westward
Drifting Westward
1939
Henchman Trigger
Water Rustlers
Water Rustlers
1939 ★ 2.5
Bob Lawson
Song of the Buckaroo
Song of the Buckaroo
1938
Tex Alden
Gun Packer
Gun Packer
1938
Red Baker - Henchman
Where the Buffalo Roam
Where the Buffalo Roam
1938 ★ 5.0
Jeff Gray
Frontier Scout
Frontier Scout
1938 ★ 4.5
Steve Norris
Starlight Over Texas
Starlight Over Texas
1938
Henchman
Utah Trail
Utah Trail
1938 ★ 5.0
Mason - Bookkeeper
Man's Country
Man's Country
1938
Bat
Tell Your Children
Tell Your Children
1938 ★ 4.3
Ralph
The Singing Cowgirl
The Singing Cowgirl
1938 ★ 5.0
Dick Williams
Whirlwind Horseman
Whirlwind Horseman
1938 ★ 4.0
Henchman Slade
The Secret of Treasure Island
The Secret of Treasure Island
1938 ★ 3.7
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
Born to Be Wild
Born to Be Wild
1938 ★ 7.0
Trucker (uncredited)
Million Dollar Racket
Million Dollar Racket
1937 ★ 6.0
Johnny Henessey
Rough Riding Rhythm
Rough Riding Rhythm
1937
Detective Waters
Brothers of the West
Brothers of the West
1937 ★ 6.0
Bart
Lightnin' Crandall
Lightnin' Crandall
1937 ★ 2.0
Tommy Shannon
Wanted - A Master
Wanted - A Master
1936 ★ 6.4
Dog's Master (uncredited)
The Girl on the Front Page
The Girl on the Front Page
1936
Nightclub Patron
The Black Coin
The Black Coin
1936 ★ 6.0
Terry Navarro
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
1936 ★ 4.0
George Baldwin
Ship Cafe
Ship Cafe
1935
Young Man (uncredited)
She Married Her Boss
She Married Her Boss
1935 ★ 7.0
Shopper
Welcome Home
Welcome Home
1935
Stanley Phillips
Woman Wanted
Woman Wanted
1935 ★ 6.3
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas
Doubting Thomas
1935 ★ 7.0
Member of Audience
No More Ladies
No More Ladies
1935 ★ 4.6
Party Guest (uncredited)
Music in the Air
Music in the Air
1934 ★ 4.8
Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
Student Tour
Student Tour
1934 ★ 5.0
Student
Gift of Gab
Gift of Gab
1934 ★ 1.0
Dancer (uncredited)
We're Rich Again
We're Rich Again
1934 ★ 5.2
Pete (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Children
Tomorrow's Children
1934 ★ 4.6
Interne (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
Murder at the Vanities
1934 ★ 5.5
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Wonder Bar
Wonder Bar
1934 ★ 5.9
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Search for Beauty
Search for Beauty
1934 ★ 5.3
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
The World Changes
The World Changes
1933 ★ 4.3
Otto Peterson (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
Sitting Pretty
1933 ★ 7.5
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
College Coach
College Coach
1933 ★ 4.1
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
One Man's Journey
One Man's Journey
1933 ★ 6.5
Dance Extra (uncredited)
College Humor
College Humor
1933 ★ 5.3
Student
Pick-up
Pick-up
1933 ★ 4.0
Party Boy (uncredited)
Rasputin and the Empress
Rasputin and the Empress
1932 ★ 5.1
Soldier (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross
The Sign of the Cross
1932 ★ 6.1
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
Hot Saturday
Hot Saturday
1932 ★ 6.4
Party Guest (Uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
70,000 Witnesses
1932 ★ 5.0
Football Player (uncredited)
Devil and the Deep
Devil and the Deep
1932 ★ 4.8
Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
Roar of the Dragon
Roar of the Dragon
1932 ★ 6.0
Submarine Crewman
Is My Face Red?
Is My Face Red?
1932 ★ 4.7
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Consolation Marriage
Consolation Marriage
1931 ★ 6.1
Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Flying High
Flying High
1931 ★ 4.8
Dancer (uncredited)
Madam Satan
Madam Satan
1930 ★ 5.6
Zeppelin Reveler
Good News
Good News
1930 ★ 5.0
Student
The Dawn Patrol
The Dawn Patrol
1930 ★ 6.7
Pilot (uncredited)