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.
Filmography
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
as Self (archive footage)
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
The Desperados Are in Town
as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Desperados Are in Town
as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Kettles in the Ozarks
as Conductor
The Kettles in the Ozarks
as Conductor
The Fall Guy
as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
The Fall Guy
as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
Do Someone a Favor!
as George Dibson
Do Someone a Favor!
as George Dibson
Tennessee Champ
as Luke MacWade
Tennessee Champ
as Luke MacWade
Kiss Me Kate
as Ralph
Kiss Me Kate
as Ralph
Reducing
as Man on Bench (uncredited)
Reducing
as Man on Bench (uncredited)
Wrong Way Butch
as Butch
Wrong Way Butch
as Butch
A Wife's Life
as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
A Wife's Life
as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
Did'ja Know?
as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
Did'ja Know?
as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
Just Suppose
as Husband (uncredited)
Just Suppose
as Husband (uncredited)
Have You Ever Wondered?
as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
Have You Ever Wondered?
as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
I Love My Husband, But!
as The Husband
I Love My Husband, But!
as The Husband
Flaming Bullets
as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Flaming Bullets
as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Frontier Fugitives
as Dave Wyatt
Frontier Fugitives
as Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
as Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
as Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law
as Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law
as Dave Wyatt
The Phantom of 42nd Street
as Tony Woolrich
The Phantom of 42nd Street
as Tony Woolrich
The Man Who Walked Alone
as Marion Scott
The Man Who Walked Alone
as Marion Scott
The Whispering Skull
as Dave Wyatt
The Whispering Skull
as Dave Wyatt
Tahiti Nights
as Jack
Tahiti Nights
as Jack
Dead or Alive
as Dave Wyatt
Dead or Alive
as Dave Wyatt
Gangsters of the Frontier
as Dave Wyatt
Gangsters of the Frontier
as Dave Wyatt
Movie Pests
as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Movie Pests
as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Spook Town
as Tex Wyatt
Spook Town
as Tex Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
as Tex Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
as Tex Wyatt
The Rangers Take Over
as Tex Wyatt
The Rangers Take Over
as Tex Wyatt
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
as Sgt. Phil Lyons
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
as Sgt. Phil Lyons
Bowery at Midnight
as Det. Pete Crawford
Bowery at Midnight
as Det. Pete Crawford
King of the Stallions
King of the Stallions
Sheriff of Sage Valley
as Jeff
Sheriff of Sage Valley
as Jeff
Prisoner of Japan
as U. S. Marine
Prisoner of Japan
as U. S. Marine
Down Texas Way
as Dave Dodge
Down Texas Way
as Dave Dodge
Victory Quiz
Victory Quiz
Forbidden Trails
as Jim Cramer
Forbidden Trails
as Jim Cramer
Double Trouble
as Sparky Barton
Double Trouble
as Sparky Barton
Billy the Kid Wanted
as Jeff
Billy the Kid Wanted
as Jeff
The Deadly Game
as Ralph Spencer
The Deadly Game
as Ralph Spencer
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
as Texas Joe
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
as Texas Joe
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
as Jim Dana
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
as Jim Dana
The Cowboy from Sundown
as Steve Davis
The Cowboy from Sundown
as Steve Davis
Queen of the Yukon
as Bob Adams
Queen of the Yukon
as Bob Adams
Boys of the City
as Knuckles Dolan
Boys of the City
as Knuckles Dolan
Hold That Woman!
as Miles Hanover
Hold That Woman!
as Miles Hanover
Isle Of Destiny
as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Isle Of Destiny
as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Murder on the Yukon
as Constable Kelly
Murder on the Yukon
as Constable Kelly
East Side Kids
as Knuckles Dolan
East Side Kids
as Knuckles Dolan
Danger Ahead
as Corporal Kelly
Danger Ahead
as Corporal Kelly
Buried Alive
as Carson
Buried Alive
as Carson
Flaming Lead
as Frank Gordon
Flaming Lead
as Frank Gordon
Mutiny in the Big House
as Daniels
Mutiny in the Big House
as Daniels
On Your Toes
as Man in Audience
On Your Toes
as Man in Audience
The Arizona Kid
as Soldier
The Arizona Kid
as Soldier
The Fighting Renegade
as Dr. Jerry Leonard
The Fighting Renegade
as Dr. Jerry Leonard
Daughter of the Tong
as Jerry Morgan
Daughter of the Tong
as Jerry Morgan
Wyoming Outlaw
as Acacia Park Game Warden
Wyoming Outlaw
as Acacia Park Game Warden
Code of the Cactus
as Bob Swane
Code of the Cactus
as Bob Swane
Song of the Buckaroo
as Tex Alden
Song of the Buckaroo
as Tex Alden
Gun Packer
as Red Baker - Henchman
Gun Packer
as Red Baker - Henchman
Where the Buffalo Roam
as Jeff Gray
Where the Buffalo Roam
as Jeff Gray
Starlight Over Texas
as Henchman
Starlight Over Texas
as Henchman
Utah Trail
as Mason - Bookkeeper
Utah Trail
as Mason - Bookkeeper
Tell Your Children
as Ralph
Tell Your Children
as Ralph
Whirlwind Horseman
as Henchman Slade
Whirlwind Horseman
as Henchman Slade
The Secret of Treasure Island
as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
The Secret of Treasure Island
as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
Born to Be Wild
as Trucker (uncredited)
Born to Be Wild
as Trucker (uncredited)
Million Dollar Racket
as Johnny Henessey
Million Dollar Racket
as Johnny Henessey
Brothers of the West
as Bart
Brothers of the West
as Bart
The Girl on the Front Page
as Nightclub Patron
The Girl on the Front Page
as Nightclub Patron
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as George Baldwin
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as George Baldwin
Ship Cafe
as Young Man (uncredited)
Ship Cafe
as Young Man (uncredited)
She Married Her Boss
as Shopper
She Married Her Boss
as Shopper
Welcome Home
as Stanley Phillips
Welcome Home
as Stanley Phillips
Woman Wanted
as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Woman Wanted
as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas
as Member of Audience
Doubting Thomas
as Member of Audience
No More Ladies
as Party Guest (uncredited)
No More Ladies
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Music in the Air
as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
Music in the Air
as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
Student Tour
as Student
Student Tour
as Student
Gift of Gab
as Dancer (uncredited)
Gift of Gab
as Dancer (uncredited)
We're Rich Again
as Pete (uncredited)
We're Rich Again
as Pete (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Children
as Interne (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Children
as Interne (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Wonder Bar
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Wonder Bar
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Search for Beauty
as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
Search for Beauty
as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
College Coach
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
College Coach
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
One Man's Journey
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
One Man's Journey
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
Pick-up
as Party Boy (uncredited)
Pick-up
as Party Boy (uncredited)
42nd Street
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
42nd Street
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
Hot Saturday
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
Hot Saturday
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
as Football Player (uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
as Football Player (uncredited)
Roar of the Dragon
as Submarine Crewman
Roar of the Dragon
as Submarine Crewman
Consolation Marriage
as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Consolation Marriage
as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Lover Come Back
as Pool Party Boy (uncredited)
Lover Come Back
as Pool Party Boy (uncredited)