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
Welcome Home
Stanley Phillips
The Devil Bat
Johnny Layton
Million Dollar Racket
Johnny Henessey
Spooks Run Wild
Jeff Dixon
Song of the Buckaroo
Tex Alden
Tell Your Children
Ralph
Those Good Old Days
Man's Country
Bat
Bowery at Midnight
Det. Pete Crawford
Born to Be Wild
Trucker (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
Neighbor Pests
The Secret of Treasure Island
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
Let's Cogitate
Oliver T. Aseltafel
Trigger Smith
Duke
The Kettles in the Ozarks
Conductor
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
Jim Dana
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
Gangsters of the Frontier
Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law
Dave Wyatt
Frontier Fugitives
Dave Wyatt
The Phantom of 42nd Street
Tony Woolrich
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
The Black Coin
Terry Navarro
Law and Order
Jeff Travis
Brothers of the West
Bart
Daughter of the Tong
Jerry Morgan
Where the Buffalo Roam
Jeff Gray
Utah Trail
Mason - Bookkeeper
The Singing Cowgirl
Dick Williams
One Man's Journey
Dance Extra (uncredited)
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Self (archive footage)
Gun Packer
Red Baker - Henchman
Out for Fun
Businessman Seeking Relaxation
Phantom Rancher
Henchman Lucke
Drifting Westward
Henchman Trigger
Flaming Lead
Frank Gordon
Captain Midnight
Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
Good News
Student
T.V. of Tomorrow
Man on TV
Hot Saturday
Party Guest (Uncredited)
Buried Alive
Carson
Water Rustlers
Bob Lawson
Flying High
Dancer (uncredited)
Woman Wanted
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
College Humor
Student
The Whispering Skull
Dave Wyatt
On Your Toes
Man in Audience
Roar of the Dragon
Submarine Crewman
Guns of the Law
Tex Wyatt
Code of the Cactus
Bob Swane
Outlaws' Paradise
Henchman Meggs
Undercover Agent
Billiards Player
Wyoming Outlaw
Acacia Park Game Warden
New Frontier
Jason Braddock
Fighting Mad
Constable Kelly
The Fighting Renegade
Dr. Jerry Leonard
The Arizona Kid
Soldier
Mutiny in the Big House
Daniels
Billy the Kid Wanted
Jeff
Double Trouble
Sparky Barton
The Pinto Bandit
Tex Wyatt
Texas Wildcats
Ed Arden
Danger Ahead
Corporal Kelly
Murder on the Yukon
Constable Kelly
The Texas Marshal
Buzz Weston
Yukon Flight
Constable Kelly
Sky Bandits
Constable Kelly
Rollin' Westward
Ranch hand Red
Trail of Terror
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Tahiti Nights
Jack
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
Tex Wyatt
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
George Baldwin
Things We Can Do Without
Thaddeus E. Thud III
Carry Harry
Arthur - Harry's Friend
Boys of the City
Knuckles Dolan
That Gang of Mine
Knuckles Dolan
Search for Beauty
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
East Side Kids
Knuckles Dolan
Prisoner of Japan
U. S. Marine
'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 Rangers Take Over
Tex Wyatt
The Gunman From Bodie
Joe Martin
Rough Riding Rhythm
Detective Waters
The Cowboy from Sundown
Steve Davis
Student Tour
Student
Tomorrow's Children
Interne (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
Gift of Gab
Dancer (uncredited)
College Coach
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
Son of the Navy
Nelson
Isle Of Destiny
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Movie Pests
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
The Fall Guy
Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
Sure Cures
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
I Love My Husband, But!
The Husband
Hold That Woman!
Miles Hanover
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Horace
Murder at the Vanities
We're Rich Again
Pete (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas
Member of Audience
Is My Face Red?
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Pick-up
Party Boy (uncredited)
The Girl on the Front Page
Nightclub Patron
The Deadly Game
Ralph Spencer
Border Buckaroos
Tex Wyatt
Boss of Rawhide
Tex Wyatt
The Spider Returns
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
Jeff
Studio Visit
O'Brien
Sheriff of Sage Valley
Jeff
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
Texas Joe
Gun Code
Henchman Gale
Fighting Valley
Tex Wyatt
The Return of the Rangers
Tex Wyatt
West of Texas
Tex Wyatt
Brand of the Devil
Tex Wyatt
Dead or Alive
Dave Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup
Tex Wyatt
Marked for Murder
Dave Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa
Tex Wyatt
Spook Town
Tex Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
Dave Wyatt
Flaming Bullets
Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
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
Just What I Needed
Harry Horseknuckle
The Man Around the House
Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
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)
70,000 Witnesses
Football Player (uncredited)
Ship Cafe
Young Man (uncredited)
Seventh Column
Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
Kiss Me, Kate
Ralph
Wanted - A Master
Dog's Master (uncredited)
No More Ladies
Party Guest (uncredited)
Sportsman's Memories
Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
Tennessee Champ
Luke MacWade
The Yanks Are Coming
Sgt. Callahan