Dave O'Brien
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 31, 1912
- Died
- November 8, 1969
- Birthplace
- Big Spring, Texas, USA
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 2006
as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II 1976
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Big Parade of Comedy 1964
as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
The Desperados Are in Town 1956
as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Kettles in the Ozarks 1956
as Conductor
- The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy 1955
as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage), Director
- Just What I Needed
Just What I Needed 1955
as Harry Horseknuckle, Director, Screenplay
- The Man Around the House
The Man Around the House 1955
as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited), Director, Story, Screenplay
Film Antics 1954
Director
Meet the O'Briens 1954
as Dave, Teleplay, Producer
- Out for Fun
Out for Fun 1954
as Businessman Seeking Relaxation, Writer, Director
- Do Someone a Favor!
Do Someone a Favor! 1954
as George Dibson, Director, Screenplay
Tennessee Champ 1954
as Luke MacWade
Ain't It Aggravatin' 1954
as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead, Director, Story
Things We Can Do Without 1953
as Thaddeus E. Thud III, Director, Story, Screenplay
Kiss Me Kate 1953
as Ralph
Cash Stashers 1953
as A Shmoe Named Joe, Director, Story, Screenplay
Dogs 'n Ducks 1953
Original Story, Screenplay
T.V. of Tomorrow 1953
as Man on TV
- The Mosconi Story
The Mosconi Story 1953
Director
I Love Children, But! 1952
as The Daddy, Director, Writer
Reducing 1952
as Man on Bench (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Original Story
- Musiquiz
Musiquiz 1952
Director
Bargain Madness 1951
Director, Writer
Camera Sleuth 1951
Director, Writer
Wrong Way Butch 1950
as Butch, Director, Original Story, Screenplay
- A Wife's Life
A Wife's Life 1950
as George T. Hardnose (uncredited), Director, Story, Screenplay
Did'ja Know? 1950
as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant, Director, Screenplay
Crashing the Movies 1950
Director
- Pest Control
Pest Control 1950
as Cruising Wolf, Director
- We Can Dream, Can't We?
We Can Dream, Can't We? 1949
Director
- Those Good Old Days
Those Good Old Days 1949
Actor, Director
- Super Cue Men
Super Cue Men 1949
Director
Let's Cogitate 1948
as Oliver T. Aseltafel, Director
Ice Aces 1948
Writer, Director
Just Suppose 1948
as Husband (uncredited), Director, Writer
You Can't Win 1948
as Harried Homeowner, Writer, Director
- I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
I Love My Mother-In-Law But... 1948
as The Son-In-Law / Husband, Director, Original Story, Screenplay
Bowling Tricks 1948
Director
- Have You Ever Wondered?
Have You Ever Wondered? 1947
as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer, Director, Writer
- Surfboard Rhythm
Surfboard Rhythm 1947
Director
- Football Thrills No. 10
Football Thrills No. 10 1947
Director
- Neighbor Pests
Neighbor Pests 1947
Actor, Director
- I Love My Wife BUT!
I Love My Wife BUT! 1947
as The Husband, Director, Screenplay, Story
- Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13
Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13 1947
Director
Diamond Demon 1947
Director, Writer
- I Love My Husband, But!
I Love My Husband, But! 1946
as The Husband, Director, Story, Screenplay
Sure Cures 1946
as Xavier T. Schneckendorf, Writer, Director
Treasures from Trash 1946
as Alonzo T. Mousebrain, Director, Screenplay
- Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 1946
as Horace, Director, Writer
Studio Visit 1946
as O'Brien
Flaming Bullets 1945
as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Frontier Fugitives 1945
as Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle 1945
as Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law 1945
as Dave Wyatt
The Phantom of 42nd Street 1945
as Tony Woolrich
The Man Who Walked Alone 1945
as Marion Scott
Marked for Murder 1945
as Dave Wyatt
The Whispering Skull 1944
as Dave Wyatt
Tahiti Nights 1944
as Jack
- Safety Sleuth
Safety Sleuth 1944
as Careless Man
Dead or Alive 1944
as Dave Wyatt
Gangsters of the Frontier 1944
as Dave Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa 1944
as Tex Wyatt
Brand of the Devil 1944
as Tex Wyatt
Movie Pests 1944
as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Spook Town 1944
as Tex Wyatt
The Pinto Bandit 1944
as Tex Wyatt
- Sportsman's Memories
Sportsman's Memories 1944
as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
Guns of the Law 1944
as Tex Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup 1944
as Tex Wyatt
Boss of Rawhide 1943
as Tex Wyatt
The Return of the Rangers 1943
as Tex Wyatt
Trail of Terror 1943
as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Fighting Valley 1943
as Tex Wyatt
Seventh Column 1943
as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
Border Buckaroos 1943
as Tex Wyatt
West of Texas 1943
as Tex Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap 1943
as Tex Wyatt
The Rangers Take Over 1942
as Tex Wyatt
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge 1942
as Sgt. Phil Lyons
The Yanks Are Coming 1942
as Sgt. Callahan
Bowery at Midnight 1942
as Det. Pete Crawford
Calling All Pa's 1942
as Joe Thunderstruck
King of the Stallions 1942
Actor
Carry Harry 1942
as Arthur - Harry's Friend
Sheriff of Sage Valley 1942
as Jeff
Law and Order 1942
as Jeff Travis
Prisoner of Japan 1942
as U. S. Marine
Down Texas Way 1942
as Dave Dodge
Victory Quiz 1942
Actor
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns 1942
as Jeff
What About Daddy? 1942
as The Husband
Captain Midnight 1942
as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
Forbidden Trails 1941
as Jim Cramer
Double Trouble 1941
as Sparky Barton
Spooks Run Wild 1941
as Jeff Dixon
Billy the Kid Wanted 1941
as Jeff
The Gunman From Bodie 1941
as Joe Martin
The Iron Claw 1941
Stunts
The Deadly Game 1941
as Ralph Spencer
The Texas Marshal 1941
as Buzz Weston
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe 1941
as Texas Joe
Murder by Invitation 1941
as Michael, the chauffeur
The Spider Returns 1941
as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto 1941
as Jim Dana
Sky Raiders 1941
Stunts
Flying Wild 1941
as Tom Lawson
The Devil Bat 1940
as Johnny Layton
That Gang of Mine 1940
as Knuckles Dolan
The Cowboy from Sundown 1940
as Steve Davis
Queen of the Yukon 1940
as Bob Adams
Gun Code 1940
as Henchman Gale
Boys of the City 1940
as Knuckles Dolan
Sky Bandits 1940
as Constable Kelly
Hold That Woman! 1940
as Miles Hanover
On the Spot 1940
as Charlie
Phantom Rancher 1940
as Henchman Lucke
Son of the Navy 1940
as Nelson
Isle Of Destiny 1940
as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Murder on the Yukon 1940
as Constable Kelly
East Side Kids 1940
as Knuckles Dolan
Danger Ahead 1940
as Corporal Kelly
Yukon Flight 1940
as Constable Kelly
Crashing Thru 1939
as Fred Chambers
Buried Alive 1939
as Carson
Fighting Mad 1939
as Constable Kelly
Flaming Lead 1939
as Frank Gordon
Mutiny in the Big House 1939
as Daniels
On Your Toes 1939
as Man in Audience
The Arizona Kid 1939
as Soldier
The Fighting Renegade 1939
as Dr. Jerry Leonard
Daughter of the Tong 1939
as Jerry Morgan
New Frontier 1939
as Jason Braddock
Riders of the Sage 1939
as Tom Martin
Wyoming Outlaw 1939
as Acacia Park Game Warden
Undercover Agent 1939
as Billiards Player
Outlaws' Paradise 1939
as Henchman Meggs
Texas Wildcats 1939
as Ed Arden
Trigger Smith 1939
as Duke
Rollin' Westward 1939
as Ranch hand Red
Code of the Cactus 1939
as Bob Swane
Drifting Westward 1939
as Henchman Trigger
Water Rustlers 1939
as Bob Lawson
Song of the Buckaroo 1938
as Tex Alden
Gun Packer 1938
as Red Baker - Henchman
The Spider's Web 1938
Stunts
Where the Buffalo Roam 1938
as Jeff Gray
Frontier Scout 1938
as Steve Norris
Starlight Over Texas 1938
as Henchman
Utah Trail 1938
as Mason - Bookkeeper
Man's Country 1938
as Bat
Tell Your Children 1938
as Ralph
The Singing Cowgirl 1938
as Dick Williams
Whirlwind Horseman 1938
as Henchman Slade
The Secret of Treasure Island 1938
as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
Born to Be Wild 1938
as Trucker (uncredited)
Million Dollar Racket 1937
as Johnny Henessey
Rough Riding Rhythm 1937
as Detective Waters
Brothers of the West 1937
as Bart
Lightnin' Crandall 1937
as Tommy Shannon
Wanted - A Master 1936
as Dog's Master (uncredited)
The Girl on the Front Page 1936
as Nightclub Patron
The Black Coin 1936
as Terry Navarro
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell 1936
as George Baldwin
Ship Cafe 1935
as Young Man (uncredited)
She Married Her Boss 1935
as Shopper
Welcome Home 1935
as Stanley Phillips
Woman Wanted 1935
as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas 1935
as Member of Audience
No More Ladies 1935
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Music in the Air 1934
as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
Student Tour 1934
as Student
Gift of Gab 1934
as Dancer (uncredited)
We're Rich Again 1934
as Pete (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Children 1934
as Interne (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities 1934
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Wonder Bar 1934
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Search for Beauty 1934
as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
The World Changes 1933
as Otto Peterson (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty 1933
as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
College Coach 1933
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
One Man's Journey 1933
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
College Humor 1933
as Student
Pick-up 1933
as Party Boy (uncredited)
42nd Street 1933
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Rasputin and the Empress 1932
as Soldier (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross 1932
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
Hot Saturday 1932
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses 1932
as Football Player (uncredited)
Devil and the Deep 1932
as Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
Roar of the Dragon 1932
as Submarine Crewman
Is My Face Red? 1932
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Consolation Marriage 1931
as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Flying High 1931
as Dancer (uncredited)
Lover Come Back 1931
as Pool Party Boy (uncredited)
Madam Satan 1930
as Zeppelin Reveler
Good News 1930
as Student
The Dawn Patrol 1930
as Pilot (uncredited)
Credits from TMDB.