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Dave O'Brien

Dave O'Brien

Acting

Born: May 31, 1912Big Spring, Texas, USA

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
Filmography
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

Self (archive footage)

2006
That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II

(archive footage)

1976
The Big Parade of Comedy

The Big Parade of Comedy

Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)

1964
The Desperados Are in Town

The Desperados Are in Town

Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown

1956
The Kettles in the Ozarks

The Kettles in the Ozarks

Conductor

1956

The Fall Guy

Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)

1955

Just What I Needed

Harry Horseknuckle

1955

The Man Around the House

Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)

1955
Meet the O'Briens

Meet the O'Briens

Dave

1954

Out for Fun

Businessman Seeking Relaxation

1954

Do Someone a Favor!

George Dibson

1954
Tennessee Champ

Tennessee Champ

Luke MacWade

1954

Ain't It Aggravatin'

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

1954
Things We Can Do Without

Things We Can Do Without

Thaddeus E. Thud III

1953
Kiss Me Kate

Kiss Me Kate

Ralph

1953
Cash Stashers

Cash Stashers

A Shmoe Named Joe

1953
T.V. of Tomorrow

T.V. of Tomorrow

Man on TV

1953
I Love Children, But!

I Love Children, But!

The Daddy

1952
Reducing

Reducing

Man on Bench (uncredited)

1952
Wrong Way Butch

Wrong Way Butch

Butch

1950

A Wife's Life

George T. Hardnose (uncredited)

1950
Did'ja Know?

Did'ja Know?

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

1950

Those Good Old Days

1949
Let's Cogitate

Let's Cogitate

Oliver T. Aseltafel

1948
Just Suppose

Just Suppose

Husband (uncredited)

1948
You Can't Win

You Can't Win

Harried Homeowner

1948

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

The Son-In-Law / Husband

1948

Have You Ever Wondered?

Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer

1947

Neighbor Pests

1947

I Love My Wife BUT!

The Husband

1947

I Love My Husband, But!

The Husband

1946
Sure Cures

Sure Cures

Xavier T. Schneckendorf

1946
Treasures from Trash

Treasures from Trash

Alonzo T. Mousebrain

1946

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

Horace

1946
Studio Visit

Studio Visit

O'Brien

1946
Flaming Bullets

Flaming Bullets

Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson

1945
Frontier Fugitives

Frontier Fugitives

Dave Wyatt

1945
Three in the Saddle

Three in the Saddle

Dave Wyatt

1945
Enemy of the Law

Enemy of the Law

Dave Wyatt

1945
The Phantom of 42nd Street

The Phantom of 42nd Street

Tony Woolrich

1945
The Man Who Walked Alone

The Man Who Walked Alone

Marion Scott

1945
Marked for Murder

Marked for Murder

Dave Wyatt

1945
The Whispering Skull

The Whispering Skull

Dave Wyatt

1944
Tahiti Nights

Tahiti Nights

Jack

1944

Safety Sleuth

Careless Man

1944
Dead or Alive

Dead or Alive

Dave Wyatt

1944
Gangsters of the Frontier

Gangsters of the Frontier

Dave Wyatt

1944
Gunsmoke Mesa

Gunsmoke Mesa

Tex Wyatt

1944
Brand of the Devil

Brand of the Devil

Tex Wyatt

1944
Movie Pests

Movie Pests

Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest

1944
Spook Town

Spook Town

Tex Wyatt

1944
The Pinto Bandit

The Pinto Bandit

Tex Wyatt

1944

Sportsman's Memories

Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)

1944
Guns of the Law

Guns of the Law

Tex Wyatt

1944
Outlaw Roundup

Outlaw Roundup

Tex Wyatt

1944
Boss of Rawhide

Boss of Rawhide

Tex Wyatt

1943
The Return of the Rangers

The Return of the Rangers

Tex Wyatt

1943
Trail of Terror

Trail of Terror

Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt

1943
Fighting Valley

Fighting Valley

Tex Wyatt

1943
Seventh Column

Seventh Column

Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man

1943
Border Buckaroos

Border Buckaroos

Tex Wyatt

1943
West of Texas

West of Texas

Tex Wyatt

1943
Bad Men of Thunder Gap

Bad Men of Thunder Gap

Tex Wyatt

1943
The Rangers Take Over

The Rangers Take Over

Tex Wyatt

1942
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge

'Neath Brooklyn Bridge

Sgt. Phil Lyons

1942
The Yanks Are Coming

The Yanks Are Coming

Sgt. Callahan

1942
Bowery at Midnight

Bowery at Midnight

Det. Pete Crawford

1942
Calling All Pa's

Calling All Pa's

Joe Thunderstruck

1942
King of the Stallions

King of the Stallions

1942

Carry Harry

Arthur - Harry's Friend

1942
Sheriff of Sage Valley

Sheriff of Sage Valley

Jeff

1942
Law and Order

Law and Order

Jeff Travis

1942
Prisoner of Japan

Prisoner of Japan

U. S. Marine

1942
Down Texas Way

Down Texas Way

Dave Dodge

1942
Victory Quiz

Victory Quiz

1942
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns

Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns

Jeff

1942
What About Daddy?

What About Daddy?

The Husband

1942
Captain Midnight

Captain Midnight

Captain Albright / Captain Midnight

1942
Forbidden Trails

Forbidden Trails

Jim Cramer

1941
Double Trouble

Double Trouble

Sparky Barton

1941
Spooks Run Wild

Spooks Run Wild

Jeff Dixon

1941
Billy the Kid Wanted

Billy the Kid Wanted

Jeff

1941
The Gunman From Bodie

The Gunman From Bodie

Joe Martin

1941
The Deadly Game

The Deadly Game

Ralph Spencer

1941
The Texas Marshal

The Texas Marshal

Buzz Weston

1941
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe

Billy the Kid in Santa Fe

Texas Joe

1941
Murder by Invitation

Murder by Invitation

Michael, the chauffeur

1941
The Spider Returns

The Spider Returns

Jackson, Wentworth's Aide

1941
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto

Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto

Jim Dana

1941
Flying Wild

Flying Wild

Tom Lawson

1941
The Devil Bat

The Devil Bat

Johnny Layton

1940
That Gang of Mine

That Gang of Mine

Knuckles Dolan

1940
The Cowboy from Sundown

The Cowboy from Sundown

Steve Davis

1940
Queen of the Yukon

Queen of the Yukon

Bob Adams

1940
Gun Code

Gun Code

Henchman Gale

1940
Boys of the City

Boys of the City

Knuckles Dolan

1940
Sky Bandits

Sky Bandits

Constable Kelly

1940
Hold That Woman!

Hold That Woman!

Miles Hanover

1940
On the Spot

On the Spot

Charlie

1940
Phantom Rancher

Phantom Rancher

Henchman Lucke

1940
Son of the Navy

Son of the Navy

Nelson

1940
Isle Of Destiny

Isle Of Destiny

Whitey - Navy Radio Man

1940
Murder on the Yukon

Murder on the Yukon

Constable Kelly

1940
East Side Kids

East Side Kids

Knuckles Dolan

1940
Danger Ahead

Danger Ahead

Corporal Kelly

1940
Yukon Flight

Yukon Flight

Constable Kelly

1940
Crashing Thru

Crashing Thru

Fred Chambers

1939
Buried Alive

Buried Alive

Carson

1939
Fighting Mad

Fighting Mad

Constable Kelly

1939
Flaming Lead

Flaming Lead

Frank Gordon

1939
Mutiny in the Big House

Mutiny in the Big House

Daniels

1939
On Your Toes

On Your Toes

Man in Audience

1939
The Arizona Kid

The Arizona Kid

Soldier

1939
The Fighting Renegade

The Fighting Renegade

Dr. Jerry Leonard

1939
Daughter of the Tong

Daughter of the Tong

Jerry Morgan

1939
New Frontier

New Frontier

Jason Braddock

1939
Riders of the Sage

Riders of the Sage

Tom Martin

1939
Wyoming Outlaw

Wyoming Outlaw

Acacia Park Game Warden

1939
Undercover Agent

Undercover Agent

Billiards Player

1939
Outlaws' Paradise

Outlaws' Paradise

Henchman Meggs

1939
Texas Wildcats

Texas Wildcats

Ed Arden

1939
Trigger Smith

Trigger Smith

Duke

1939
Rollin' Westward

Rollin' Westward

Ranch hand Red

1939
Code of the Cactus

Code of the Cactus

Bob Swane

1939
Drifting Westward

Drifting Westward

Henchman Trigger

1939
Water Rustlers

Water Rustlers

Bob Lawson

1939
Song of the Buckaroo

Song of the Buckaroo

Tex Alden

1938
Gun Packer

Gun Packer

Red Baker - Henchman

1938
Where the Buffalo Roam

Where the Buffalo Roam

Jeff Gray

1938
Frontier Scout

Frontier Scout

Steve Norris

1938
Starlight Over Texas

Starlight Over Texas

Henchman

1938
Utah Trail

Utah Trail

Mason - Bookkeeper

1938
Man's Country

Man's Country

Bat

1938
Tell Your Children

Tell Your Children

Ralph

1938
The Singing Cowgirl

The Singing Cowgirl

Dick Williams

1938
Whirlwind Horseman

Whirlwind Horseman

Henchman Slade

1938
The Secret of Treasure Island

The Secret of Treasure Island

Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]

1938
Born to Be Wild

Born to Be Wild

Trucker (uncredited)

1938
Million Dollar Racket

Million Dollar Racket

Johnny Henessey

1937
Rough Riding Rhythm

Rough Riding Rhythm

Detective Waters

1937
Brothers of the West

Brothers of the West

Bart

1937
Lightnin' Crandall

Lightnin' Crandall

Tommy Shannon

1937
Wanted - A Master

Wanted - A Master

Dog's Master (uncredited)

1936
The Girl on the Front Page

The Girl on the Front Page

Nightclub Patron

1936
The Black Coin

The Black Coin

Terry Navarro

1936
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

George Baldwin

1936
Ship Cafe

Ship Cafe

Young Man (uncredited)

1935
She Married Her Boss

She Married Her Boss

Shopper

1935
Welcome Home

Welcome Home

Stanley Phillips

1935
Woman Wanted

Woman Wanted

Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)

1935
Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas

Member of Audience

1935
No More Ladies

No More Ladies

Party Guest (uncredited)

1935
Music in the Air

Music in the Air

Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)

1934
Student Tour

Student Tour

Student

1934
Gift of Gab

Gift of Gab

Dancer (uncredited)

1934
We're Rich Again

We're Rich Again

Pete (uncredited)

1934
Tomorrow's Children

Tomorrow's Children

Interne (uncredited)

1934
Murder at the Vanities

Murder at the Vanities

Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1934
Wonder Bar

Wonder Bar

Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1934
Search for Beauty

Search for Beauty

Talent Contestant (uncredited)

1934
The World Changes

The World Changes

Otto Peterson (uncredited)

1933
Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty

Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)

1933
College Coach

College Coach

Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)

1933
One Man's Journey

One Man's Journey

Dance Extra (uncredited)

1933
College Humor

College Humor

Student

1933
Pick-up

Pick-up

Party Boy (uncredited)

1933
The Sign of the Cross

The Sign of the Cross

Christian on Stairway (uncredited)

1932
Rasputin and the Empress

Rasputin and the Empress

Soldier (uncredited)

1932
Hot Saturday

Hot Saturday

Party Guest (Uncredited)

1932
70,000 Witnesses

70,000 Witnesses

Football Player (uncredited)

1932
Devil and the Deep

Devil and the Deep

Submarine Crewman (uncredited)

1932
Roar of the Dragon

Roar of the Dragon

Submarine Crewman

1932
Is My Face Red?

Is My Face Red?

Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1932
Consolation Marriage

Consolation Marriage

Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)

1931
Flying High

Flying High

Dancer (uncredited)

1931
Lover Come Back

Lover Come Back

Pool Party Boy (uncredited)

1931
Madam Satan

Madam Satan

Zeppelin Reveler

1930
Good News

Good News

Student

1930
The Dawn Patrol

The Dawn Patrol

Pilot (uncredited)

1930