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