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