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