
Person
Dave O'Brien
Acting · 1912–1969 · Big Spring, Texas, USA
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.
Known for

The Red Skelton Show
Writer

MGM Parade
1955

Double Trouble
Sparky Barton

College Humor
Student

42nd Street
Chorus Boy (uncredited)

Wonder Bar
Chorus Boy (uncredited)

Flaming Bullets
Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson

The Sign of the Cross
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)

Kiss Me Kate
Ralph

Forbidden Trails
Jim Cramer
Filmography
- 200642nd Street: From Book to Screen to StageSelf (archive footage)
- 1976That's Entertainment, Part II(archive footage)
- 1964The Big Parade of ComedyActor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
- 1956The Desperados Are in TownDock Lapman / Mr. Brown
- 1956The Kettles in the OzarksConductor
- 1955MGM Parade
- 1955The Fall GuyHimself as Various Characters (archive footage)
- 1955Just What I NeededHarry Horseknuckle
- 1955The Man Around the HouseHugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
- 1954Film AnticsDirector
- 1954Meet the O'BriensDave
- 1954Out for FunBusinessman Seeking Relaxation
- 1954Do Someone a Favor!George Dibson
- 1954Tennessee ChampLuke MacWade
- 1954Ain't It Aggravatin'Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
- 1953Things We Can Do WithoutThaddeus E. Thud III
- 1953Kiss Me KateRalph
- 1953Cash StashersA Shmoe Named Joe
- 1953Dogs 'n DucksScreenplay
- 1953T.V. of TomorrowMan on TV
- 1953The Mosconi StoryDirector
- 1952I Love Children, But!The Daddy
- 1952ReducingMan on Bench (uncredited)
- 1952MusiquizDirector
- 1951The Red Skelton ShowWriter
- 1951Bargain MadnessDirector
- 1951Camera SleuthWriter
- 1950Wrong Way ButchButch
- 1950A Wife's LifeGeorge T. Hardnose (uncredited)
- 1950Did'ja Know?Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
- 1950Crashing the MoviesDirector
- 1950Pest ControlCruising Wolf
- 1949We Can Dream, Can't We?Director
- 1949Those Good Old Days
- 1949Super Cue MenDirector
- 1948Let's CogitateOliver T. Aseltafel
- 1948Ice AcesWriter
- 1948Just SupposeHusband (uncredited)
- 1948You Can't WinHarried Homeowner
- 1948I Love My Mother-In-Law But...The Son-In-Law / Husband
- 1948Bowling TricksDirector
- 1947Have You Ever Wondered?Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
- 1947Surfboard RhythmDirector
- 1947Football Thrills No. 10Director
- 1947Neighbor Pests
- 1947I Love My Wife BUT!The Husband
- 1947Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13Director
- 1947Diamond DemonDirector
- 1946I Love My Husband, But!The Husband
- 1946Sure CuresXavier T. Schneckendorf
- 1946Treasures from TrashAlonzo T. Mousebrain
- 1946Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11Horace
- 1946Studio VisitO'Brien
- 1945Flaming BulletsDave Wyatt / Steve Carson
- 1945Frontier FugitivesDave Wyatt
- 1945Three in the SaddleDave Wyatt
- 1945Enemy of the LawDave Wyatt
- 1945The Phantom of 42nd StreetTony Woolrich
- 1945The Man Who Walked AloneMarion Scott
- 1945Marked for MurderDave Wyatt
- 1944The Whispering SkullDave Wyatt
- 1944Tahiti NightsJack
- 1944Safety SleuthCareless Man
- 1944Dead or AliveDave Wyatt
- 1944Gangsters of the FrontierDave Wyatt
- 1944Gunsmoke MesaTex Wyatt
- 1944Brand of the DevilTex Wyatt
- 1944Movie PestsFeet-in-the-Aisle Pest
- 1944Spook TownTex Wyatt
- 1944The Pinto BanditTex Wyatt
- 1944Sportsman's MemoriesFabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
- 1944Guns of the LawTex Wyatt
- 1944Outlaw RoundupTex Wyatt
- 1943Boss of RawhideTex Wyatt
- 1943The Return of the RangersTex Wyatt
- 1943Trail of TerrorTex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
- 1943Fighting ValleyTex Wyatt
- 1943Seventh ColumnFalstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
- 1943Border BuckaroosTex Wyatt
- 1943West of TexasTex Wyatt
- 1943Bad Men of Thunder GapTex Wyatt
- 1942The Rangers Take OverTex Wyatt
- 1942'Neath Brooklyn BridgeSgt. Phil Lyons
- 1942The Yanks Are ComingSgt. Callahan
- 1942Bowery at MidnightDet. Pete Crawford
- 1942Calling All Pa'sJoe Thunderstruck
- 1942King of the Stallions
- 1942Carry HarryArthur - Harry's Friend
- 1942Sheriff of Sage ValleyJeff
- 1942Law and OrderJeff Travis
- 1942Prisoner of JapanU. S. Marine
- 1942Down Texas WayDave Dodge
- 1942Victory Quiz
- 1942Billy the Kid's Smoking GunsJeff
- 1942What About Daddy?The Husband
- 1942Captain MidnightCaptain Albright / Captain Midnight
- 1941Forbidden TrailsJim Cramer
- 1941Double TroubleSparky Barton
- 1941Spooks Run WildJeff Dixon
- 1941Billy the Kid WantedJeff
- 1941The Gunman From BodieJoe Martin
- 1941The Iron ClawStunts
- 1941The Deadly GameRalph Spencer
- 1941The Texas MarshalBuzz Weston
- 1941Billy the Kid in Santa FeTexas Joe
- 1941Murder by InvitationMichael, the chauffeur
- 1941The Spider ReturnsJackson, Wentworth's Aide
- 1941Buzzy and the Phantom PintoJim Dana
- 1941Sky RaidersStunts
- 1941Flying WildTom Lawson
- 1940The Devil BatJohnny Layton
- 1940That Gang of MineKnuckles Dolan
- 1940The Cowboy from SundownSteve Davis
- 1940Queen of the YukonBob Adams
- 1940Gun CodeHenchman Gale
- 1940Boys of the CityKnuckles Dolan
- 1940Sky BanditsConstable Kelly
- 1940Hold That Woman!Miles Hanover
- 1940On the SpotCharlie
- 1940Phantom RancherHenchman Lucke
- 1940Son of the NavyNelson
- 1940Isle Of DestinyWhitey - Navy Radio Man
- 1940Murder on the YukonConstable Kelly
- 1940East Side KidsKnuckles Dolan
- 1940Danger AheadCorporal Kelly
- 1940Yukon FlightConstable Kelly
- 1939Crashing ThruFred Chambers
- 1939Buried AliveCarson
- 1939Fighting MadConstable Kelly
- 1939Flaming LeadFrank Gordon
- 1939Mutiny in the Big HouseDaniels
- 1939On Your ToesMan in Audience
- 1939The Arizona KidSoldier
- 1939The Fighting RenegadeDr. Jerry Leonard
- 1939Daughter of the TongJerry Morgan
- 1939New FrontierJason Braddock
- 1939Riders of the SageTom Martin
- 1939Wyoming OutlawAcacia Park Game Warden
- 1939Undercover AgentBilliards Player
- 1939Outlaws' ParadiseHenchman Meggs
- 1939Texas WildcatsEd Arden
- 1939Trigger SmithDuke
- 1939Rollin' WestwardRanch hand Red
- 1939Code of the CactusBob Swane
- 1939Drifting WestwardHenchman Trigger
- 1939Water RustlersBob Lawson
- 1938Song of the BuckarooTex Alden
- 1938Gun PackerRed Baker - Henchman
- 1938The Spider's WebStunts
- 1938Where the Buffalo RoamJeff Gray
- 1938Frontier ScoutSteve Norris
- 1938Starlight Over TexasHenchman
- 1938Utah TrailMason - Bookkeeper
- 1938Man's CountryBat
- 1938Tell Your ChildrenRalph
- 1938The Singing CowgirlDick Williams
- 1938Whirlwind HorsemanHenchman Slade
- 1938The Secret of Treasure IslandDet. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
- 1938Born to Be WildTrucker (uncredited)
- 1937Million Dollar RacketJohnny Henessey
- 1937Rough Riding RhythmDetective Waters
- 1937Brothers of the WestBart
- 1937Lightnin' CrandallTommy Shannon
- 1936Wanted - A MasterDog's Master (uncredited)
- 1936The Girl on the Front PageNightclub Patron
- 1936The Black CoinTerry Navarro
- 1936The Adventures of Frank MerriwellGeorge Baldwin
- 1935Ship CafeYoung Man (uncredited)
- 1935She Married Her BossShopper
- 1935Welcome HomeStanley Phillips
- 1935Woman WantedSteve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
- 1935Doubting ThomasMember of Audience
- 1935No More LadiesParty Guest (uncredited)
- 1934Music in the AirKarl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
- 1934Student TourStudent
- 1934Gift of GabDancer (uncredited)
- 1934We're Rich AgainPete (uncredited)
- 1934Tomorrow's ChildrenInterne (uncredited)
- 1934Murder at the VanitiesChorus Boy (uncredited)
- 1934Wonder BarChorus Boy (uncredited)
- 1934Search for BeautyTalent Contestant (uncredited)
- 1933The World ChangesOtto Peterson (uncredited)
- 1933Sitting PrettyAssistant Cameraman (uncredited)
- 1933College CoachStudent on Tennis Court (uncredited)
- 1933One Man's JourneyDance Extra (uncredited)
- 1933College HumorStudent
- 1933Pick-upParty Boy (uncredited)
- 193342nd StreetChorus Boy (uncredited)
- 1932The Sign of the CrossChristian on Stairway (uncredited)
- 1932Rasputin and the EmpressSoldier (uncredited)
- 1932Hot SaturdayParty Guest (Uncredited)
- 193270,000 WitnessesFootball Player (uncredited)
- 1932Devil and the DeepSubmarine Crewman (uncredited)
- 1932Roar of the DragonSubmarine Crewman
- 1932Is My Face Red?Chorus Boy (uncredited)
- 1931Consolation MarriageMan Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
- 1931Flying HighDancer (uncredited)
- 1931Lover Come BackPool Party Boy (uncredited)
- 1930Madam SatanZeppelin Reveler
- 1930Good NewsStudent
- 1930The Dawn PatrolPilot (uncredited)
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