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

Tell Your Children
Kiss Me Kate
The Devil Bat
The Sign of the Cross
That's Entertainment, Part II
Bowery at Midnight
Birth Location Big Spring, Texas, USA
Born 1912-05-31
Died 1969-11-08

Movies

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage as Self (archive footage)
2006
That's Entertainment, Part II as (archive footage)
1976
The Big Parade of Comedy as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
1964
The Desperados Are in Town as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
1956
1956
The Fall Guy as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
1955
Just What I Needed as Harry Horseknuckle
1955
The Man Around the House as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
1955
Out for Fun as Businessman Seeking Relaxation
1954
Do Someone a Favor! as George Dibson
1954
Tennessee Champ as Luke MacWade
1954
Ain't It Aggravatin' as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
1954
Things We Can Do Without as Thaddeus E. Thud III
1953
Kiss Me Kate as Ralph
1953
Cash Stashers as A Shmoe Named Joe
1953
T.V. of Tomorrow as Man on TV
1953
I Love Children, But! as The Daddy
1952
Reducing as Man on Bench (uncredited)
1952
Wrong Way Butch as Butch
1950
A Wife's Life as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
1950
Did'ja Know? as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
1950
Let's Cogitate as Oliver T. Aseltafel
1948
Just Suppose as Husband (uncredited)
1948
You Can't Win as Harried Homeowner
1948
I Love My Mother-In-Law But... as The Son-In-Law / Husband
1948
Have You Ever Wondered? as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
1947
I Love My Wife BUT! as The Husband
1947
I Love My Husband, But! as The Husband
1946
Sure Cures as Xavier T. Schneckendorf
1946
Treasures from Trash as Alonzo T. Mousebrain
1946
Studio Visit as O'Brien
1946
Flaming Bullets as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
1945
Frontier Fugitives as Dave Wyatt
1945
Three in the Saddle as Dave Wyatt
1945
Enemy of the Law as Dave Wyatt
1945
The Phantom of 42nd Street as Tony Woolrich
1945
The Man Who Walked Alone as Marion Scott
1945
Marked for Murder as Dave Wyatt
1945
The Whispering Skull as Dave Wyatt
1944
Tahiti Nights as Jack
1944
Safety Sleuth as Careless Man
1944
Dead or Alive as Dave Wyatt
1944
1944
Gunsmoke Mesa as Tex Wyatt
1944
Brand of the Devil as Tex Wyatt
1944
Movie Pests as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
1944
Spook Town as Tex Wyatt
1944
The Pinto Bandit as Tex Wyatt
1944
Sportsman's Memories as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
1944
Guns of the Law as Tex Wyatt
1944
Outlaw Roundup as Tex Wyatt
1944
Boss of Rawhide as Tex Wyatt
1943
1943
Trail of Terror as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
1943
Fighting Valley as Tex Wyatt
1943
Seventh Column as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
1943
Border Buckaroos as Tex Wyatt
1943
West of Texas as Tex Wyatt
1943
Bad Men of Thunder Gap as Tex Wyatt
1943
The Rangers Take Over as Tex Wyatt
1942
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge as Sgt. Phil Lyons
1942
The Yanks Are Coming as Sgt. Callahan
1942
Bowery at Midnight as Det. Pete Crawford
1942
Calling All Pa's as Joe Thunderstruck
1942
Carry Harry as Arthur - Harry's Friend
1942
1942
Law and Order as Jeff Travis
1942
Prisoner of Japan as U. S. Marine
1942
Down Texas Way as Dave Dodge
1942
Captain Midnight as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
1942
Forbidden Trails as Jim Cramer
1941
Double Trouble as Sparky Barton
1941
Spooks Run Wild as Jeff Dixon
1941
1941
The Gunman From Bodie as Joe Martin
1941
The Deadly Game as Ralph Spencer
1941
The Texas Marshal as Buzz Weston
1941
1941
Murder by Invitation as Michael, the chauffeur
1941
The Spider Returns as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
1941
1941
Flying Wild as Tom Lawson
1941
The Devil Bat as Johnny Layton
1940
That Gang of Mine as Knuckles Dolan
1940
The Cowboy from Sundown as Steve Davis
1940
Queen of the Yukon as Bob Adams
1940
Gun Code as Henchman Gale
1940
Boys of the City as Knuckles Dolan
1940
Sky Bandits as Constable Kelly
1940
Hold That Woman! as Miles Hanover
1940
On the Spot as Charlie
1940
Phantom Rancher as Henchman Lucke
1940
Son of the Navy as Nelson
1940
Isle Of Destiny as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
1940
Murder on the Yukon as Constable Kelly
1940
East Side Kids as Knuckles Dolan
1940
Danger Ahead as Corporal Kelly
1940
Yukon Flight as Constable Kelly
1940
Crashing Thru as Fred Chambers
1939
Buried Alive as Carson
1939
Fighting Mad as Constable Kelly
1939
Flaming Lead as Frank Gordon
1939
1939
On Your Toes as Man in Audience
1939
The Arizona Kid as Soldier
1939
The Fighting Renegade as Dr. Jerry Leonard
1939
Daughter of the Tong as Jerry Morgan
1939
New Frontier as Jason Braddock
1939
Riders of the Sage as Tom Martin
1939
Wyoming Outlaw as Acacia Park Game Warden
1939
Undercover Agent as Billiards Player
1939
Outlaws' Paradise as Henchman Meggs
1939
Texas Wildcats as Ed Arden
1939
Trigger Smith as Duke
1939
Rollin' Westward as Ranch hand Red
1939
Code of the Cactus as Bob Swane
1939
Drifting Westward as Henchman Trigger
1939
Water Rustlers as Bob Lawson
1939
Song of the Buckaroo as Tex Alden
1938
Gun Packer as Red Baker - Henchman
1938
Where the Buffalo Roam as Jeff Gray
1938
Frontier Scout as Steve Norris
1938
Starlight Over Texas as Henchman
1938
Utah Trail as Mason - Bookkeeper
1938
Man's Country as Bat
1938
1938
The Singing Cowgirl as Dick Williams
1938
Whirlwind Horseman as Henchman Slade
1938
The Secret of Treasure Island as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
1938
Born to Be Wild as Trucker (uncredited)
1938
Million Dollar Racket as Johnny Henessey
1937
Rough Riding Rhythm as Detective Waters
1937
1937
Lightnin' Crandall as Tommy Shannon
1937
Wanted - A Master as Dog's Master (uncredited)
1936
The Girl on the Front Page as Nightclub Patron
1936
The Black Coin as Terry Navarro
1936
1936
Ship Cafe as Young Man (uncredited)
1935
Welcome Home as Stanley Phillips
1935
Woman Wanted as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
1935
Doubting Thomas as Member of Audience
1935
No More Ladies as Party Guest (uncredited)
1935
Student Tour as Student
1934
Gift of Gab as Dancer (uncredited)
1934
We're Rich Again as Pete (uncredited)
1934
Tomorrow's Children as Interne (uncredited)
1934
Wonder Bar as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1934
Search for Beauty as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
1934
Sitting Pretty as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
1933
College Coach as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
1933
One Man's Journey as Dance Extra (uncredited)
1933
College Humor as Student
1933
Pick-up as Party Boy (uncredited)
1933
Rasputin and the Empress as Soldier (uncredited)
1932
The Sign of the Cross as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
1932
Hot Saturday as Party Guest (Uncredited)
1932
70,000 Witnesses as Football Player (uncredited)
1932
Roar of the Dragon as Submarine Crewman
1932
Is My Face Red? as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1932
Consolation Marriage as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
1931
Flying High as Dancer (uncredited)
1931
Good News as Student
1930
The Dawn Patrol as Pilot (uncredited)
1930

Movies

The Fall Guy Director
1955
Just What I Needed Screenplay
1955
1955
1955
1955
Film Antics Director
1954
Out for Fun Director
1954
Out for Fun Writer
1954
1954
Do Someone a Favor! Screenplay
1954
1954
1953
1953
Cash Stashers Screenplay
1953
1953
Cash Stashers Director
1953
Dogs 'n Ducks Screenplay
1953
Dogs 'n Ducks Original Story
1953
1952
1952
Reducing Original Story
1952
Reducing Director
1952
Reducing Screenplay
1952
Musiquiz Director
1952
1951
Bargain Madness Director
1951
Camera Sleuth Writer
1951
Camera Sleuth Director
1951
Wrong Way Butch Director
1950
Wrong Way Butch Screenplay
1950
Wrong Way Butch Original Story
1950
A Wife's Life Director
1950
A Wife's Life Screenplay
1950
1950
Did'ja Know? Screenplay
1950
Did'ja Know? Director
1950
1950
Pest Control Director
1950
1949
1949
Super Cue Men Director
1949
Let's Cogitate Director
1948
Ice Aces Director
1948
Ice Aces Writer
1948
Just Suppose Writer
1948
Just Suppose Director
1948
You Can't Win Director
1948
You Can't Win Writer
1948
1948
Bowling Tricks Director
1948
1947
Neighbor Pests Director
1947
1947
1947
I Love My Wife BUT! Screenplay
1947
Diamond Demon Writer
1947
Diamond Demon Director
1947
1946
1946
Sure Cures Director
1946
Sure Cures Writer
1946
1946
1946
The Iron Claw Stunts
1941
Sky Raiders Stunts
1941
1938