Biography
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.
Acted in 164
1970s
- 1976
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1960s
- 1964
The Big Parade of Comedy
Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
1950s
- 1956
The Desperados Are in Town
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Kettles in the Ozarks
Conductor
- 1954
Meet the O'Briens
Dave
Tennessee Champ
Luke MacWade
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
- 1953
Things We Can Do Without
Thaddeus E. Thud III
Cash Stashers
A Shmoe Named Joe
T.V. of Tomorrow
Man on TV
- 1952
I Love Children, But!
The Daddy
Reducing
Man on Bench (uncredited)
- 1950
Wrong Way Butch
Butch
Did'ja Know?
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
1940s
- 1948
Let's Cogitate
Oliver T. Aseltafel
Just Suppose
Husband (uncredited)
You Can't Win
Harried Homeowner
- 1946
Sure Cures
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
Treasures from Trash
Alonzo T. Mousebrain
Studio Visit
O'Brien
- 1945
Frontier Fugitives
Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law
Dave Wyatt
The Phantom of 42nd Street
Tony Woolrich
Marked for Murder
Dave Wyatt
- 1944
The Whispering Skull
Dave Wyatt
Tahiti Nights
Jack
Gangsters of the Frontier
Dave Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa
Tex Wyatt
Brand of the Devil
Tex Wyatt
Movie Pests
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Spook Town
Tex Wyatt
The Pinto Bandit
Tex Wyatt
Guns of the Law
Tex Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup
Tex Wyatt
- 1943
Boss of Rawhide
Tex Wyatt
The Return of the Rangers
Tex Wyatt
Trail of Terror
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Fighting Valley
Tex Wyatt
Seventh Column
Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
Border Buckaroos
Tex Wyatt
West of Texas
Tex Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
Tex Wyatt
- 1942
The Rangers Take Over
Tex Wyatt
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
Sgt. Phil Lyons
The Yanks Are Coming
Sgt. Callahan
Calling All Pa's
Joe Thunderstruck
King of the Stallions
Movie
Carry Harry
Arthur - Harry's Friend
Sheriff of Sage Valley
Jeff
Law and Order
Jeff Travis
Prisoner of Japan
U. S. Marine
Down Texas Way
Dave Dodge
Victory Quiz
Movie
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
Jeff
What About Daddy?
The Husband
Captain Midnight
Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
- 1941
Billy the Kid Wanted
Jeff
The Deadly Game
Ralph Spencer
The Texas Marshal
Buzz Weston
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
Texas Joe
Murder by Invitation
Michael, the chauffeur
The Spider Returns
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
Jim Dana
Flying Wild
Tom Lawson
- 1940
That Gang of Mine
Knuckles Dolan
Queen of the Yukon
Bob Adams
Gun Code
Henchman Gale
Boys of the City
Knuckles Dolan
Sky Bandits
Constable Kelly
Hold That Woman!
Miles Hanover
On the Spot
Charlie
Son of the Navy
Nelson
Isle Of Destiny
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Murder on the Yukon
Constable Kelly
East Side Kids
Knuckles Dolan
Danger Ahead
Corporal Kelly
Yukon Flight
Constable Kelly
1930s
- 1939
Crashing Thru
Fred Chambers
Buried Alive
Carson
Fighting Mad
Constable Kelly
Flaming Lead
Frank Gordon
Mutiny in the Big House
Daniels
On Your Toes
Man in Audience
The Fighting Renegade
Dr. Jerry Leonard
Daughter of the Tong
Jerry Morgan
Riders of the Sage
Tom Martin
Wyoming Outlaw
Acacia Park Game Warden
Outlaws' Paradise
Henchman Meggs
Texas Wildcats
Ed Arden
Trigger Smith
Duke
Rollin' Westward
Ranch hand Red
Code of the Cactus
Bob Swane
Drifting Westward
Henchman Trigger
Water Rustlers
Bob Lawson
- 1938
Song of the Buckaroo
Tex Alden
Gun Packer
Red Baker - Henchman
Frontier Scout
Steve Norris
Starlight Over Texas
Henchman
Utah Trail
Mason - Bookkeeper
Man's Country
Bat
The Singing Cowgirl
Dick Williams
Whirlwind Horseman
Henchman Slade
The Secret of Treasure Island
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
- 1937
Million Dollar Racket
Johnny Henessey
Rough Riding Rhythm
Detective Waters
Brothers of the West
Bart
- 1936
Wanted - A Master
Dog's Master (uncredited)
The Girl on the Front Page
Nightclub Patron
The Black Coin
Terry Navarro
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
George Baldwin
- 1935
Ship Cafe
Young Man (uncredited)
She Married Her Boss
Shopper
Welcome Home
Stanley Phillips
Woman Wanted
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas
Member of Audience
No More Ladies
Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1934
Music in the Air
Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
Student Tour
Student
Gift of Gab
Dancer (uncredited)
We're Rich Again
Pete (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Search for Beauty
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
- 1933
The World Changes
Otto Peterson (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
College Coach
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
One Man's Journey
Dance Extra (uncredited)
College Humor
Student
Pick-up
Party Boy (uncredited)
- 1932
Rasputin and the Empress
Soldier (uncredited)
Hot Saturday
Party Guest (Uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
Football Player (uncredited)
Devil and the Deep
Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
Roar of the Dragon
Submarine Crewman
Is My Face Red?
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
- 1931
Consolation Marriage
Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Flying High
Dancer (uncredited)
Lover Come Back
Pool Party Boy (uncredited)
- 1930
Good News
Student
The Dawn Patrol
Pilot (uncredited)
Directed 19
1950s
- 1954
Film Antics
Director
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Director
- 1953
Things We Can Do Without
Director
Cash Stashers
Director
- 1952
I Love Children, But!
Director
Reducing
Director
- 1951
Bargain Madness
Director
Camera Sleuth
Director
- 1950
Wrong Way Butch
Director
Did'ja Know?
Director
Crashing the Movies
Director
1940s
- 1948
Let's Cogitate
Director
Ice Aces
Director
Just Suppose
Director
You Can't Win
Director
Bowling Tricks
Director
- 1947
Diamond Demon
Director
- 1946
Sure Cures
Director
Treasures from Trash
Director
Wrote 18
1950s
- 1954
Meet the O'Briens
Teleplay
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Story
- 1953
Things We Can Do Without
Screenplay, Story
Cash Stashers
Story, Screenplay
Dogs 'n Ducks
Screenplay, Original Story
- 1952
I Love Children, But!
Writer
Reducing
Screenplay, Original Story
- 1951
Bargain Madness
Writer
Camera Sleuth
Writer
- 1950
Wrong Way Butch
Original Story, Screenplay
Did'ja Know?
Screenplay
1940s
- 1948
Ice Aces
Writer
Just Suppose
Writer
You Can't Win
Writer
- 1947
Diamond Demon
Writer
- 1946
Sure Cures
Writer
Treasures from Trash
Screenplay
Other crew 3
1940s
- 1941
The Iron Claw
Stunts
Sky Raiders
Stunts
1930s
- 1938
The Spider's Web
Stunts
Produced 1
1950s
- 1954
Meet the O'Briens
Producer
Appearances2
2000s
- 2006
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Self (archive footage)
1950s
- 1955
