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
Tell Your Children
(1938)
Ralph
Kiss Me Kate
(1953)
Ralph
Doubting Thomas
(1935)
Member of Audience
That's Entertainment, Part II
(1976)
(archive footage)
No More Ladies
(1935)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Flying Wild
(1941)
Tom Lawson
Full Filmography
Acting
The Dawn Patrol
(1930)
Pilot (uncredited)
Good News
(1930)
Student
Consolation Marriage
(1931)
Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Flying High
(1931)
Dancer (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross
(1932)
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
Is My Face Red?
(1932)
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Rasputin and the Empress
(1932)
Soldier (uncredited)
Roar of the Dragon
(1932)
Submarine Crewman
Hot Saturday
(1932)
Party Guest (Uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
(1932)
Football Player (uncredited)
One Man's Journey
(1933)
Dance Extra (uncredited)
College Humor
(1933)
Student
Pick-up
(1933)
Party Boy (uncredited)
College Coach
(1933)
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
(1933)
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
Wonder Bar
(1934)
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Gift of Gab
(1934)
Dancer (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Children
(1934)
Interne (uncredited)
Search for Beauty
(1934)
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
We're Rich Again
(1934)
Pete (uncredited)
Student Tour
(1934)
Student
Ship Cafe
(1935)
Young Man (uncredited)
Welcome Home
(1935)
Stanley Phillips
Woman Wanted
(1935)
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
No More Ladies
(1935)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas
(1935)
Member of Audience
Wanted - A Master
(1936)
Dog's Master (uncredited)
The Girl on the Front Page
(1936)
Nightclub Patron
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
(1936)
George Baldwin
The Black Coin
(1936)
Terry Navarro
Brothers of the West
(1937)
Bart
Lightnin' Crandall
(1937)
Tommy Shannon
Million Dollar Racket
(1937)
Johnny Henessey
Rough Riding Rhythm
(1937)
Detective Waters
Man's Country
(1938)
Bat
Song of the Buckaroo
(1938)
Tex Alden
The Secret of Treasure Island
(1938)
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
The Singing Cowgirl
(1938)
Dick Williams
Where the Buffalo Roam
(1938)
Jeff Gray
Born to Be Wild
(1938)
Trucker (uncredited)
Whirlwind Horseman
(1938)
Henchman Slade
Frontier Scout
(1938)
Steve Norris
Tell Your Children
(1938)
Ralph
Utah Trail
(1938)
Mason - Bookkeeper
Gun Packer
(1938)
Red Baker - Henchman
Starlight Over Texas
(1938)
Henchman
Buried Alive
(1939)
Carson
Water Rustlers
(1939)
Bob Lawson
Flaming Lead
(1939)
Frank Gordon
Daughter of the Tong
(1939)
Jerry Morgan
Drifting Westward
(1939)
Henchman Trigger
Trigger Smith
(1939)
Duke
Riders of the Sage
(1939)
Tom Martin
Crashing Thru
(1939)
Fred Chambers
On Your Toes
(1939)
Man in Audience
Fighting Mad
(1939)
Constable Kelly
The Fighting Renegade
(1939)
Dr. Jerry Leonard
New Frontier
(1939)
Jason Braddock
The Arizona Kid
(1939)
Soldier
Undercover Agent
(1939)
Billiards Player
Code of the Cactus
(1939)
Bob Swane
Outlaws' Paradise
(1939)
Henchman Meggs
Wyoming Outlaw
(1939)
Acacia Park Game Warden
Rollin' Westward
(1939)
Ranch hand Red
Texas Wildcats
(1939)
Ed Arden
Mutiny in the Big House
(1939)
Daniels
That Gang of Mine
(1940)
Knuckles Dolan
East Side Kids
(1940)
Knuckles Dolan
Boys of the City
(1940)
Knuckles Dolan
Murder on the Yukon
(1940)
Constable Kelly
Danger Ahead
(1940)
Corporal Kelly
Yukon Flight
(1940)
Constable Kelly
Sky Bandits
(1940)
Constable Kelly
Phantom Rancher
(1940)
Henchman Lucke
Queen of the Yukon
(1940)
Bob Adams
On the Spot
(1940)
Charlie
Gun Code
(1940)
Henchman Gale
The Devil Bat
(1940)
Johnny Layton
Isle Of Destiny
(1940)
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Hold That Woman!
(1940)
Miles Hanover
Son of the Navy
(1940)
Nelson
The Cowboy from Sundown
(1940)
Steve Davis
Double Trouble
(1941)
Sparky Barton
The Texas Marshal
(1941)
Buzz Weston
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
(1941)
Jim Dana
The Deadly Game
(1941)
Ralph Spencer
Flying Wild
(1941)
Tom Lawson
Forbidden Trails
(1941)
Jim Cramer
Spooks Run Wild
(1941)
Jeff Dixon
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
(1941)
Texas Joe
The Spider Returns
(1941)
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
Billy the Kid Wanted
(1941)
Jeff
The Gunman From Bodie
(1941)
Joe Martin
Murder by Invitation
(1941)
Michael, the chauffeur
Prisoner of Japan
(1942)
U. S. Marine
The Rangers Take Over
(1942)
Tex Wyatt
Captain Midnight
(1942)
Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
(1942)
Sgt. Phil Lyons
Law and Order
(1942)
Jeff Travis
Carry Harry
(1942)
Arthur - Harry's Friend
Down Texas Way
(1942)
Dave Dodge
Bowery at Midnight
(1942)
Det. Pete Crawford
Victory Quiz
(1942)
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
(1942)
Jeff
Sheriff of Sage Valley
(1942)
Jeff
King of the Stallions
(1942)
Calling All Pa's
(1942)
Joe Thunderstruck
The Yanks Are Coming
(1942)
Sgt. Callahan
The Return of the Rangers
(1943)
Tex Wyatt
Fighting Valley
(1943)
Tex Wyatt
Boss of Rawhide
(1943)
Tex Wyatt
Border Buckaroos
(1943)
Tex Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
(1943)
Tex Wyatt
West of Texas
(1943)
Tex Wyatt
Trail of Terror
(1943)
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Seventh Column
(1943)
Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
The Pinto Bandit
(1944)
Tex Wyatt
Movie Pests
(1944)
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Guns of the Law
(1944)
Tex Wyatt
Brand of the Devil
(1944)
Tex Wyatt
Tahiti Nights
(1944)
Jack
Sportsman's Memories
(1944)
Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
Gangsters of the Frontier
(1944)
Dave Wyatt
Dead or Alive
(1944)
Dave Wyatt
Safety Sleuth
(1944)
Careless Man
The Whispering Skull
(1944)
Dave Wyatt
Spook Town
(1944)
Tex Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup
(1944)
Tex Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa
(1944)
Tex Wyatt
The Man Who Walked Alone
(1945)
Marion Scott
The Phantom of 42nd Street
(1945)
Tony Woolrich
Frontier Fugitives
(1945)
Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law
(1945)
Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
(1945)
Dave Wyatt
Marked for Murder
(1945)
Dave Wyatt
Flaming Bullets
(1945)
Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Studio Visit
(1946)
O'Brien
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
(1946)
Horace
Sure Cures
(1946)
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
I Love My Husband, But!
(1946)
The Husband
Treasures from Trash
(1946)
Alonzo T. Mousebrain
Neighbor Pests
(1947)
Have You Ever Wondered?
(1947)
Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
I Love My Wife BUT!
(1947)
The Husband
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
(1948)
The Son-In-Law / Husband
You Can't Win
(1948)
Harried Homeowner
Just Suppose
(1948)
Husband (uncredited)
Let's Cogitate
(1948)
Oliver T. Aseltafel
Those Good Old Days
(1949)
Did'ja Know?
(1950)
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
Wrong Way Butch
(1950)
Butch
A Wife's Life
(1950)
George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
Reducing
(1952)
Man on Bench (uncredited)
I Love Children, But!
(1952)
The Daddy
Things We Can Do Without
(1953)
Thaddeus E. Thud III
T.V. of Tomorrow
(1953)
Man on TV
Kiss Me Kate
(1953)
Ralph
Cash Stashers
(1953)
A Shmoe Named Joe
Ain't It Aggravatin'
(1954)
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
Do Someone a Favor!
(1954)
George Dibson
Out for Fun
(1954)
Businessman Seeking Relaxation
Tennessee Champ
(1954)
Luke MacWade
The Fall Guy
(1955)
Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
Just What I Needed
(1955)
Harry Horseknuckle
The Man Around the House
(1955)
Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
The Kettles in the Ozarks
(1956)
Conductor
The Desperados Are in Town
(1956)
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Big Parade of Comedy
(1964)
Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
(1976)
(archive footage)
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
(2006)
Self (archive footage)
Crew
Writing
I Love My Husband, But!
(1946)
Story and Screenplay
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
(1946)
Writer
Treasures from Trash
(1946)
Screenplay
Sure Cures
(1946)
Writer
Diamond Demon
(1947)
Writer
Have You Ever Wondered?
(1947)
Writer
I Love My Wife BUT!
(1947)
Screenplay and Story
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
(1948)
Original Story and Screenplay
Just Suppose
(1948)
Writer
You Can't Win
(1948)
Writer
Ice Aces
(1948)
Writer
A Wife's Life
(1950)
Story and Screenplay
Wrong Way Butch
(1950)
Original Story and Screenplay
Did'ja Know?
(1950)
Screenplay
Camera Sleuth
(1951)
Writer
Bargain Madness
(1951)
Writer
I Love Children, But!
(1952)
Writer
Reducing
(1952)
Screenplay and Original Story
Dogs 'n Ducks
(1953)
Original Story and Screenplay
Cash Stashers
(1953)
Story and Screenplay
Things We Can Do Without
(1953)
Story and Screenplay
Do Someone a Favor!
(1954)
Screenplay
Ain't It Aggravatin'
(1954)
Story
Out for Fun
(1954)
Writer
The Man Around the House
(1955)
Story and Screenplay
Just What I Needed
(1955)
Screenplay
Directing
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
(1946)
Director
Sure Cures
(1946)
Director
Treasures from Trash
(1946)
Director
I Love My Husband, But!
(1946)
Director
Neighbor Pests
(1947)
Director
I Love My Wife BUT!
(1947)
Director
Diamond Demon
(1947)
Director
Have You Ever Wondered?
(1947)
Director
Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13
(1947)
Director
Just Suppose
(1948)
Director
Let's Cogitate
(1948)
Director
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
(1948)
Director
You Can't Win
(1948)
Director
Bowling Tricks
(1948)
Director
Ice Aces
(1948)
Director
Those Good Old Days
(1949)
Director
Super Cue Men
(1949)
Director
We Can Dream, Can't We?
(1949)
Director
A Wife's Life
(1950)
Director
Crashing the Movies
(1950)
Director
Did'ja Know?
(1950)
Director
Pest Control
(1950)
Director
Wrong Way Butch
(1950)
Director
Camera Sleuth
(1951)
Director
Bargain Madness
(1951)
Director
I Love Children, But!
(1952)
Director
Musiquiz
(1952)
Director
Reducing
(1952)
Director
Cash Stashers
(1953)
Director
Things We Can Do Without
(1953)
Director
Do Someone a Favor!
(1954)
Director
Out for Fun
(1954)
Director
Ain't It Aggravatin'
(1954)
Director
Film Antics
(1954)
Director
The Man Around the House
(1955)
Director
Just What I Needed
(1955)
Director
The Fall Guy
(1955)
Director