Dave O'Brien
Acting
🎂 1912-05-31
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.
Cast credits(174)
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1932
Johnny Layton
1940
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
1932
(archive footage)
1976
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
1935
Ralph
1953
Man in Audience
1939
Ralph
1938
Tom Martin
1939
Dancer (uncredited)
1931
Jason Braddock
1939
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
1934
Tony Woolrich
1945
Luke MacWade
1954
Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
1964
Det. Pete Crawford
1942
Constable Kelly
1939
1942
Knuckles Dolan
1940
Soldier (uncredited)
1932
Party Guest (Uncredited)
1932
Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
1931
Pilot (uncredited)
1930
Submarine Crewman
1932
Member of Audience
1935
Self (archive footage)
2006
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1934
Acacia Park Game Warden
1939
Henchman Trigger
1939
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
1933
Henchman Lucke
1940
Zeppelin Reveler
1930
Nightclub Patron
1936
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
1941
Dancer (uncredited)
1934
Trucker (uncredited)
1938
Constable Kelly
1940
Marion Scott
1945
Fred Chambers
1939
Mason - Bookkeeper
1938
Jeff Dixon
1941
Jeff
1942
Young Man (uncredited)
1935
Michael, the chauffeur
1941
Tex Wyatt
1943
Tex Wyatt
1943
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
1933
Soldier
1939
Knuckles Dolan
1940
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1934
Student
1933
Jack
1944
Nelson
1940
Interne (uncredited)
1934
Ralph Spencer
1941
Jeff Gray
1938
Carson
1939
Party Guest (uncredited)
1935
Tex Wyatt
1942
Dance Extra (uncredited)
1933
Frank Gordon
1939
Dave Wyatt
1945
Student
1934
Buzz Weston
1941
Dave Wyatt
1945
Dave Wyatt
1945
Dr. Jerry Leonard
1939
Tex Wyatt
1944
Dave Dodge
1942
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
1940
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
1944
Dave Wyatt
1944
Sgt. Callahan
1942
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
1956
Billiards Player
1939
Sparky Barton
1941
Henchman Slade
1938
Shopper
1935
Charlie
1940
Party Boy (uncredited)
1933
Miles Hanover
1940
Jeff
1941
Tex Wyatt
1944
Ed Arden
1939
Jim Cramer
1941
Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
1943
Terry Navarro
1936
Tex Alden
1938
Dave Wyatt
1944
Jeff
1942
Bob Adams
1940
Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
1945
Bat
1938
Bob Swane
1939
Ranch hand Red
1939
Tex Wyatt
1944
Constable Kelly
1940
Jerry Morgan
1939
U. S. Marine
1942
Texas Joe
1941
Tex Wyatt
1944
Dave Wyatt
1945
Bart
1937
Student
1930
Man on Bench (uncredited)
1952
Steve Davis
1940
Tom Lawson
1941
Conductor
1956
Husband (uncredited)
1948
Sgt. Phil Lyons
1942
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
1938
Henchman Meggs
1939
Dave Wyatt
1944
Red Baker - Henchman
1938
Johnny Henessey
1937
Detective Waters
1937
Tex Wyatt
1944
Tommy Shannon
1937
Knuckles Dolan
1940
Joe Martin
1941
Duke
1939
Tex Wyatt
1944
Henchman
1938
Pete (uncredited)
1934
George Baldwin
1936
Dick Williams
1938
Man on TV
1953
A Shmoe Named Joe
1953
Tex Wyatt
1943
Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
1947
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
1950
Bob Lawson
1939
Henchman Gale
1940
Football Player (uncredited)
1932
Daniels
1939
Tex Wyatt
1943
Stanley Phillips
1935
Jeff Travis
1942
Tex Wyatt
1943
George Dibson
1954
Corporal Kelly
1940
Constable Kelly
1940
Tex Wyatt
1943
The Husband
1947
Jim Dana
1941
The Husband
1946
Horace
1946
Steve Norris
1938
The Husband
1942
Alonzo T. Mousebrain
1946
Dog's Master (uncredited)
1936
Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
1955
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
1943
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
1954
O'Brien
1946
Businessman Seeking Relaxation
1954
Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
1955
Arthur - Harry's Friend
1942
1942
Harry Horseknuckle
1955
The Son-In-Law / Husband
1948
The Daddy
1952
Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
1944
Butch
1950
Oliver T. Aseltafel
1948
Thaddeus E. Thud III
1953
Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
1942
Joe Thunderstruck
1942
Careless Man
1944
Harried Homeowner
1948
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
1946
1947
George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
1950
1949
Crew (3)
Directing (40)
Director
1952
Director
1948
Director
1953
Director
1947
Director
1950
Director
1954
Director
1954
Director
1947
Director
1952
Director
1946
Director
1949
Director
1946
Director
1947
Director
1951
Director
1949
Director
1946
Director
1955
Director
1954
Director
1947
Director
1951
Director
1948
Director
1954
Director
1955
Director
1955
Director
1948
Director
1950
Director
1952
Director
1950
Director
1948
Director
1953
Director
1948
Director
1946
Director
1953
Director
1948
Director
1947
Director
1950
Director
1947
Director
1947
Director
1950
Director
1949
Writing (36)
Screenplay
1952
Original Story
1952
Writer
1948
Story
1953
Screenplay
1953
Writer
1947
Screenplay
1950
Screenplay
1954
Story
1947
Screenplay
1947
Story
1946
Screenplay
1946
Writer
1946
Writer
1947
Writer
1951
Screenplay
1946
Story
1954
Writer
1951
Writer
1954
Screenplay
1955
Story
1955
Screenplay
1955
Original Story
1948
Screenplay
1948
Screenplay
1953
Original Story
1953
Writer
1952
Original Story
1950
Screenplay
1950
Story
1953
Screenplay
1953
Writer
1948
Writer
1946
Writer
1948
Screenplay
1950
Story
1950