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