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Dave O'Brien

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.

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

2006

as Self (archive footage)

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976

as (archive footage)

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

1955

as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)

Just What I Needed

1955

as Harry Horseknuckle

The Man Around the House

1955

as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)

Out for Fun

1954

as Businessman Seeking Relaxation

Do Someone a Favor!

1954

as George Dibson

Tennessee Champ

1954

as Luke MacWade

Ain't It Aggravatin'

1954

as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead

Things We Can Do Without

1953

as Thaddeus E. Thud III

Kiss Me, Kate

1953

as Ralph

Cash Stashers

1953

as A Shmoe Named Joe

T.V. of Tomorrow

1953

as Man on TV

I Love Children, But!

1952

as The Daddy

Reducing

1952

as Man on Bench (uncredited)

Wrong Way Butch

1950

as Butch

A Wife's Life

1950

as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)

Did'ja Know?

1950

as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant

Those Good Old Days

1949

Let's Cogitate

1948

as Oliver T. Aseltafel

Just Suppose

1948

as Husband (uncredited)

You Can't Win

1948

as Harried Homeowner

I Love My Mother-In-Law But...

1948

as The Son-In-Law / Husband

Have You Ever Wondered?

1947

as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer

Neighbor Pests

1947

I Love My Wife BUT!

1947

as The Husband

I Love My Husband, But!

1946

as The Husband

Sure Cures

1946

as Xavier T. Schneckendorf

Treasures from Trash

1946

as Alonzo T. Mousebrain

Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11

1946

as Horace

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

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

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

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

Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns

1942

as Jeff

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 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

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

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)

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)

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

Wonder Bar

1934

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

Search for Beauty

1934

as Talent Contestant (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)

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)

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)

Good News

1930

as Student

The Dawn Patrol

1930

as Pilot (uncredited)