Acting · Big Spring, Texas, USA · Born May 31, 1912
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.
Movie42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
2006
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThat's Entertainment, Part II
1976
as (archive footage)
MovieThe Big Parade of Comedy
1964
as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
MovieThe Desperados Are in Town
1956
as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
MovieThe Kettles in the Ozarks
1956
as Conductor
TVMGM Parade
1955
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)
MovieMeet the O'Briens
1954
as Dave
Out for Fun
1954
as Businessman Seeking Relaxation
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
as George Dibson
MovieTennessee Champ
1954
as Luke MacWade
MovieAin't It Aggravatin'
1954
as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
MovieThings We Can Do Without
1953
as Thaddeus E. Thud III
MovieKiss Me Kate
1953
as Ralph
MovieCash Stashers
1953
as A Shmoe Named Joe
MovieT.V. of Tomorrow
1953
as Man on TV
MovieI Love Children, But!
1952
as The Daddy
MovieReducing
1952
as Man on Bench (uncredited)
MovieWrong Way Butch
1950
as Butch
A Wife's Life
1950
as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
MovieDid'ja Know?
1950
as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
Pest Control
1950
as Cruising Wolf
Those Good Old Days
1949
MovieLet's Cogitate
1948
as Oliver T. Aseltafel
MovieJust Suppose
1948
as Husband (uncredited)
MovieYou 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
MovieSure Cures
1946
as Xavier T. Schneckendorf
MovieTreasures from Trash
1946
as Alonzo T. Mousebrain
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946
as Horace
MovieStudio Visit
1946
as O'Brien
MovieFlaming Bullets
1945
as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
MovieFrontier Fugitives
1945
as Dave Wyatt
MovieThree in the Saddle
1945
as Dave Wyatt
MovieEnemy of the Law
1945
as Dave Wyatt
MovieThe Phantom of 42nd Street
1945
as Tony Woolrich
MovieThe Man Who Walked Alone
1945
as Marion Scott
MovieMarked for Murder
1945
as Dave Wyatt
MovieThe Whispering Skull
1944
as Dave Wyatt
MovieTahiti Nights
1944
as Jack
Safety Sleuth
1944
as Careless Man
MovieDead or Alive
1944
as Dave Wyatt
MovieGangsters of the Frontier
1944
as Dave Wyatt
MovieGunsmoke Mesa
1944
as Tex Wyatt
MovieBrand of the Devil
1944
as Tex Wyatt
MovieMovie Pests
1944
as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
MovieSpook Town
1944
as Tex Wyatt
MovieThe Pinto Bandit
1944
as Tex Wyatt
Sportsman's Memories
1944
as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
MovieGuns of the Law
1944
as Tex Wyatt
MovieOutlaw Roundup
1944
as Tex Wyatt
MovieBoss of Rawhide
1943
as Tex Wyatt
MovieThe Return of the Rangers
1943
as Tex Wyatt
MovieTrail of Terror
1943
as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
MovieFighting Valley
1943
as Tex Wyatt
MovieSeventh Column
1943
as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
MovieBorder Buckaroos
1943
as Tex Wyatt
MovieWest of Texas
1943
as Tex Wyatt
MovieBad Men of Thunder Gap
1943
as Tex Wyatt
MovieThe Rangers Take Over
1942
as Tex Wyatt
Movie'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
1942
as Sgt. Phil Lyons
MovieThe Yanks Are Coming
1942
as Sgt. Callahan
MovieBowery at Midnight
1942
as Det. Pete Crawford
MovieCalling All Pa's
1942
as Joe Thunderstruck
MovieKing of the Stallions
1942
Carry Harry
1942
as Arthur - Harry's Friend
MovieSheriff of Sage Valley
1942
as Jeff
MovieLaw and Order
1942
as Jeff Travis
MoviePrisoner of Japan
1942
as U. S. Marine
MovieDown Texas Way
1942
as Dave Dodge
MovieVictory Quiz
1942
MovieBilly the Kid's Smoking Guns
1942
as Jeff
MovieWhat About Daddy?
1942
as The Husband
MovieCaptain Midnight
1942
as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
MovieForbidden Trails
1941
as Jim Cramer
MovieDouble Trouble
1941
as Sparky Barton
MovieSpooks Run Wild
1941
as Jeff Dixon
MovieBilly the Kid Wanted
1941
as Jeff
MovieThe Gunman From Bodie
1941
as Joe Martin
MovieThe Deadly Game
1941
as Ralph Spencer
MovieThe Texas Marshal
1941
as Buzz Weston
MovieBilly the Kid in Santa Fe
1941
as Texas Joe
MovieMurder by Invitation
1941
as Michael, the chauffeur
MovieThe Spider Returns
1941
as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
MovieBuzzy and the Phantom Pinto
1941
as Jim Dana
MovieFlying Wild
1941
as Tom Lawson
MovieThe Devil Bat
1940
as Johnny Layton
MovieThat Gang of Mine
1940
as Knuckles Dolan
MovieThe Cowboy from Sundown
1940
as Steve Davis
MovieQueen of the Yukon
1940
as Bob Adams
MovieGun Code
1940
as Henchman Gale
MovieBoys of the City
1940
as Knuckles Dolan
MovieSky Bandits
1940
as Constable Kelly
MovieHold That Woman!
1940
as Miles Hanover
MovieOn the Spot
1940
as Charlie
MoviePhantom Rancher
1940
as Henchman Lucke
MovieSon of the Navy
1940
as Nelson
MovieIsle Of Destiny
1940
as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
MovieMurder on the Yukon
1940
as Constable Kelly
MovieEast Side Kids
1940
as Knuckles Dolan
MovieDanger Ahead
1940
as Corporal Kelly
MovieYukon Flight
1940
as Constable Kelly
MovieCrashing Thru
1939
as Fred Chambers
MovieBuried Alive
1939
as Carson
MovieFighting Mad
1939
as Constable Kelly
MovieFlaming Lead
1939
as Frank Gordon
MovieMutiny in the Big House
1939
as Daniels
MovieOn Your Toes
1939
as Man in Audience
MovieThe Arizona Kid
1939
as Soldier
MovieThe Fighting Renegade
1939
as Dr. Jerry Leonard
MovieDaughter of the Tong
1939
as Jerry Morgan
MovieNew Frontier
1939
as Jason Braddock
MovieRiders of the Sage
1939
as Tom Martin
MovieWyoming Outlaw
1939
as Acacia Park Game Warden
MovieUndercover Agent
1939
as Billiards Player
MovieOutlaws' Paradise
1939
as Henchman Meggs
MovieTexas Wildcats
1939
as Ed Arden
MovieTrigger Smith
1939
as Duke
MovieRollin' Westward
1939
as Ranch hand Red
MovieCode of the Cactus
1939
as Bob Swane
MovieDrifting Westward
1939
as Henchman Trigger
MovieWater Rustlers
1939
as Bob Lawson
MovieSong of the Buckaroo
1938
as Tex Alden
MovieGun Packer
1938
as Red Baker - Henchman
MovieWhere the Buffalo Roam
1938
as Jeff Gray
MovieFrontier Scout
1938
as Steve Norris
MovieStarlight Over Texas
1938
as Henchman
MovieUtah Trail
1938
as Mason - Bookkeeper
MovieMan's Country
1938
as Bat
MovieTell Your Children
1938
as Ralph
MovieThe Singing Cowgirl
1938
as Dick Williams
MovieWhirlwind Horseman
1938
as Henchman Slade
MovieThe Secret of Treasure Island
1938
as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
MovieBorn to Be Wild
1938
as Trucker (uncredited)
MovieMillion Dollar Racket
1937
as Johnny Henessey
MovieRough Riding Rhythm
1937
as Detective Waters
MovieBrothers of the West
1937
as Bart
MovieLightnin' Crandall
1937
as Tommy Shannon
MovieWanted - A Master
1936
as Dog's Master (uncredited)
MovieThe Girl on the Front Page
1936
as Nightclub Patron
MovieThe Black Coin
1936
as Terry Navarro
MovieThe Adventures of Frank Merriwell
1936
as George Baldwin
MovieShip Cafe
1935
as Young Man (uncredited)
MovieShe Married Her Boss
1935
as Shopper
MovieWelcome Home
1935
as Stanley Phillips
MovieWoman Wanted
1935
as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
MovieDoubting Thomas
1935
as Member of Audience
MovieNo More Ladies
1935
as Party Guest (uncredited)
MovieMusic in the Air
1934
as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
MovieStudent Tour
1934
as Student
MovieGift of Gab
1934
as Dancer (uncredited)
MovieWe're Rich Again
1934
as Pete (uncredited)
MovieTomorrow's Children
1934
as Interne (uncredited)
MovieMurder at the Vanities
1934
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
MovieWonder Bar
1934
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
MovieSearch for Beauty
1934
as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
MovieThe World Changes
1933
as Otto Peterson (uncredited)
MovieSitting Pretty
1933
as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
MovieCollege Coach
1933
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
MovieOne Man's Journey
1933
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
MovieCollege Humor
1933
as Student
MoviePick-up
1933
as Party Boy (uncredited)
Movie42nd Street
1933
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
MovieThe Sign of the Cross
1932
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
MovieRasputin and the Empress
1932
as Soldier (uncredited)
MovieHot Saturday
1932
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
Movie70,000 Witnesses
1932
as Football Player (uncredited)
MovieDevil and the Deep
1932
as Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
MovieRoar of the Dragon
1932
as Submarine Crewman
MovieIs My Face Red?
1932
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
MovieConsolation Marriage
1931
as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
MovieFlying High
1931
as Dancer (uncredited)
MovieLover Come Back
1931
as Pool Party Boy (uncredited)
MovieMadam Satan
1930
as Zeppelin Reveler
MovieGood News
1930
as Student
MovieThe Dawn Patrol
1930
as Pilot (uncredited)
