Dave O'Brien

Dave O'Brien

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1912-05-31
Deathday: 1969-11-08 (57 years old)

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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.

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Filmography

all 189

Movies 189

Director 11

Writer 3

self 2

Self (archive footage)
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage (2006)

Movie
(archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)

Movie
Writer
Clown Alley

Clown Alley (1966)

Movie
(archive footage)
The Big Parade of Comedy

The Big Parade of Comedy (1964)

Movie
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Desperados Are in Town

The Desperados Are in Town (1956)

Movie
Conductor
The Kettles in the Ozarks

The Kettles in the Ozarks (1956)

Movie
Dave O'Brien - Fall Guy
The Fall Guy

The Fall Guy (1955)

Movie
The Fall Guy / Harry Horseknuckle
Just What I Needed

Just What I Needed (1955)

Movie
Hugo Hightonsils - the Husband
The Man Around the House

The Man Around the House (1955)

Movie
Director
Film Antics

Film Antics (1954)

Movie
Businessman seeking Relaxation
Out for Fun

Out for Fun (1954)

Movie
George Dibson
Do Someone a Favor!

Do Someone a Favor! (1954)

Movie
Luke MacWade
Tennessee Champ

Tennessee Champ (1954)

Movie
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man
Ain't It Aggravatin'

Ain't It Aggravatin' (1954)

Movie
Thaddeus E. Thud III
Things We Can Do Without

Things We Can Do Without (1953)

Movie
Ralph
Kiss Me Kate

Kiss Me Kate (1953)

Movie
Joe Shmoe
Cash Stashers

Cash Stashers (1953)

Movie
Writer
Dogs 'n Ducks

Dogs 'n Ducks (1953)

Movie
Man on TV
T.V. of Tomorrow

T.V. of Tomorrow (1953)

Movie
The Daddy
I Love Children, But!

I Love Children, But! (1952)

Movie
Man on Bench
Reducing

Reducing (1952)

Movie
Director
Musiquiz

Musiquiz (1952)

Movie
Director
Bargain Madness

Bargain Madness (1951)

Movie
Director
Camera Sleuth

Camera Sleuth (1951)

Movie
Butch
Wrong Way Butch

Wrong Way Butch (1950)

Movie
George T. Hardnose - Husband
A Wife's Life

A Wife's Life (1950)

Movie
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Customer / Patient
Did'ja Know?

Did'ja Know? (1950)

Movie
Director
Crashing the Movies

Crashing the Movies (1950)

Movie
Cruising Wolf / Antique Dealer / Man in Tux
Pest Control

Pest Control (1950)

Movie
Bowler with Cube Ball
Sports Oddities

Sports Oddities (1949)

Movie
Actor
Those Good Old Days

Those Good Old Days (1949)

Movie
Director
Super Cue Men

Super Cue Men (1949)

Movie
Director
Let's Cogitate

Let's Cogitate (1948)

Movie
Director
Ice Aces

Ice Aces (1948)

Movie
Husband
Just Suppose

Just Suppose (1948)

Movie
Harried Homeowner
You Can't Win

You Can't Win (1948)

Movie
Husband
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...

I Love My Mother-In-Law But... (1948)

Movie
Director
Bowling Tricks

Bowling Tricks (1948)

Movie
Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine
Have You Ever Wondered?

Have You Ever Wondered? (1947)

Movie
The Pest
Neighbor Pests

Neighbor Pests (1947)

Movie
Husband
I Love My Wife BUT!

I Love My Wife BUT! (1947)

Movie
Roller Skate Maker
Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13

Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13 (1947)

Movie
Director
Diamond Demon

Diamond Demon (1947)

Movie
Writer
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12

Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12 (1947)

Movie
The Husband
I Love My Husband, But!

I Love My Husband, But! (1946)

Movie
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
Sure Cures

Sure Cures (1946)

Movie
Alonzo T. Mousebrain
Treasures from Trash

Treasures from Trash (1946)

Movie
Horace
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11

Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 (1946)

Movie
O'Brien - Film Director
Studio Visit

Studio Visit (1946)

Movie
Ranger Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Flaming Bullets

Flaming Bullets (1945)

Movie
Ranger Dave Wyatt
Frontier Fugitives

Frontier Fugitives (1945)

Movie
Ranger Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle

Three in the Saddle (1945)

Movie
Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law

Enemy of the Law (1945)

Movie
Tony Woolrich
The Phantom of 42nd Street

The Phantom of 42nd Street (1945)

Movie
Cpl. Marion Scott
The Man Who Walked Alone

The Man Who Walked Alone (1945)

Movie
Dve Wyatt - Texas Ranger
Marked for Murder

Marked for Murder (1945)

Movie
Dave Wyatt
The Whispering Skull

The Whispering Skull (1944)

Movie
Jack
Tahiti Nights

Tahiti Nights (1944)

Movie
Careless Man
Safety Sleuth

Safety Sleuth (1944)

Movie
Dave Wyatt
Dead or Alive

Dead or Alive (1944)

Movie
Dave Wyatt
Gangsters of the Frontier

Gangsters of the Frontier (1944)

Movie
6
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa

Gunsmoke Mesa (1944)

Movie
Tex Wyatt
Brand of the Devil

Brand of the Devil (1944)

Movie
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Movie Pests

Movie Pests (1944)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
Spook Town

Spook Town (1944)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
The Pinto Bandit

The Pinto Bandit (1944)

Movie
Joe Funk
Sportsman's Memories

Sportsman's Memories (1944)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
Guns of the Law

Guns of the Law (1944)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup

Outlaw Roundup (1944)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
Boss of Rawhide

Boss of Rawhide (1943)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
The Return of the Rangers

The Return of the Rangers (1943)

Movie
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Trail of Terror

Trail of Terror (1943)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
Fighting Valley

Fighting Valley (1943)

Movie
Falstaff Pratt - The Indestructible Man
Seventh Column

Seventh Column (1943)

Movie
Tex Wyatt
Border Buckaroos

Border Buckaroos (1943)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
West of Texas

West of Texas (1943)

Movie
Tex Wyatt - Texas Ranger
Bad Men of Thunder Gap

Bad Men of Thunder Gap (1943)

Movie
Texas Ranger Tex Wyatt
The Rangers Take Over

The Rangers Take Over (1942)

Movie
Sgt. Phil Lyons
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge

'Neath Brooklyn Bridge (1942)

Movie
3.5
Sgt. Callahan
The Yanks Are Coming

The Yanks Are Coming (1942)

Movie
Det. Pete Crawford
Bowery at Midnight

Bowery at Midnight (1942)

Movie
Woman Who Falls Down Stairs
Famous Boners

Famous Boners (1942)

Movie
Joe Thunderstruck
Calling All Pa's

Calling All Pa's (1942)

Movie
Steve Mason
King of the Stallions

King of the Stallions (1942)

Movie
Jeff Travis
Sheriff of Sage Valley

Sheriff of Sage Valley (1942)

Movie
Jeff
Law and Order

Law and Order (1942)

Movie
U. S. Marine
Prisoner of Japan

Prisoner of Japan (1942)

Movie
Dave Dodge
Down Texas Way

Down Texas Way (1942)

Movie
Submarine Lookout
Victory Quiz

Victory Quiz (1942)

Movie
Jeff Travis
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns

Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns (1942)

Movie
Captain Midnight
Captain Midnight

Captain Midnight (1942)

Movie
Jim Cramer
Forbidden Trails

Forbidden Trails (1941)

Movie
Sparky Barton
Double Trouble

Double Trouble (1941)

Movie
Jeff Dixon
Spooks Run Wild

Spooks Run Wild (1941)

Movie
3.71
Jeff
Billy the Kid Wanted

Billy the Kid Wanted (1941)

Movie
Joe Martin
The Gunman From Bodie

The Gunman From Bodie (1941)

Movie
Stunts
The Iron Claw

The Iron Claw (1941)

Movie
Ralph Spencer
The Deadly Game

The Deadly Game (1941)

Movie
Buzz Weston
The Texas Marshal

The Texas Marshal (1941)

Movie
Texas Joe
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe

Billy the Kid in Santa Fe (1941)

Movie
Michael, the chauffeur
Murder by Invitation

Murder by Invitation (1941)

Movie
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
The Spider Returns

The Spider Returns (1941)

Movie
Jim Dana
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto

Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto (1941)

Movie
Stunts
Sky Raiders

Sky Raiders (1941)

Movie
Tom Larson
Flying Wild

Flying Wild (1941)

Movie
3.88
Ken Blair
Buzzy Rides the Range

Buzzy Rides the Range (1940)

Movie
Johnny Layton
The Devil Bat

The Devil Bat (1940)

Movie
5
Knuckles Dolan
That Gang of Mine

That Gang of Mine (1940)

Movie
4
Steve Davis
The Cowboy from Sundown

The Cowboy from Sundown (1940)

Movie
Bob Adams
Queen of the Yukon

Queen of the Yukon (1940)

Movie
Henchman Gale
Gun Code

Gun Code (1940)

Movie
Knuckles Dolan
Boys of the City

Boys of the City (1940)

Movie
3.57
Constable Kelly
Sky Bandits

Sky Bandits (1940)

Movie
Miles Hanover
Hold That Woman!

Hold That Woman! (1940)

Movie
Charlie
On the Spot

On the Spot (1940)

Movie
Henchman Lucke
Phantom Rancher

Phantom Rancher (1940)

Movie
Nelson
Son of the Navy

Son of the Navy (1940)

Movie
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Isle Of Destiny

Isle Of Destiny (1940)

Movie
Constable Kelly
Murder on the Yukon

Murder on the Yukon (1940)

Movie
Knuckles Dolan
East Side Kids

East Side Kids (1940)

Movie
2
Corporal Kelly
Danger Ahead

Danger Ahead (1940)

Movie
Constable Kelly
Yukon Flight

Yukon Flight (1940)

Movie
Fred Chambers
Crashing Thru

Crashing Thru (1939)

Movie
Carson
Buried Alive

Buried Alive (1939)

Movie
Constable Kelly
Fighting Mad

Fighting Mad (1939)

Movie
Frank Gordon
Flaming Lead

Flaming Lead (1939)

Movie
Daniels
Mutiny in the Big House

Mutiny in the Big House (1939)

Movie
Man in Audience
On Your Toes

On Your Toes (1939)

Movie
Soldier
The Arizona Kid

The Arizona Kid (1939)

Movie
Dr. Jerry Leonard
The Fighting Renegade

The Fighting Renegade (1939)

Movie
Jerry Morgan
Daughter of the Tong

Daughter of the Tong (1939)

Movie
Jason Braddock
New Frontier

New Frontier (1939)

Movie
3.67
Tom Martin
Riders of the Sage

Riders of the Sage (1939)

Movie
Acacia Park Game Warden
Wyoming Outlaw

Wyoming Outlaw (1939)

Movie
4
Billiards Player
Undercover Agent

Undercover Agent (1939)

Movie
Henchman Meggs
Outlaws' Paradise

Outlaws' Paradise (1939)

Movie
Ed Arden
Texas Wildcats

Texas Wildcats (1939)

Movie
Duke
Trigger Smith

Trigger Smith (1939)

Movie
Ranch hand Red
Rollin' Westward

Rollin' Westward (1939)

Movie
Bob Swane
Code of the Cactus

Code of the Cactus (1939)

Movie
Henchman Trigger
Drifting Westward

Drifting Westward (1939)

Movie
Bob Lawson
Water Rustlers

Water Rustlers (1939)

Movie
Tex Alden
Song of the Buckaroo

Song of the Buckaroo (1938)

Movie
Red Baker - Henchman
Gun Packer

Gun Packer (1938)

Movie
Stunts
The Spider's Web

The Spider's Web (1938)

Movie
Jeff Gray
Where the Buffalo Roam

Where the Buffalo Roam (1938)

Movie
Steve Norris
Frontier Scout

Frontier Scout (1938)

Movie
Henchman
Starlight Over Texas

Starlight Over Texas (1938)

Movie
Mason - Bookkeeper
Utah Trail

Utah Trail (1938)

Movie
Bat
Man's Country

Man's Country (1938)

Movie
Ralph
Tell Your Children

Tell Your Children (1938)

Movie
7.5
Dick Williams
The Singing Cowgirl

The Singing Cowgirl (1938)

Movie
Henchman Slade
Whirlwind Horseman

Whirlwind Horseman (1938)

Movie
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
The Secret of Treasure Island

The Secret of Treasure Island (1938)

Movie
Trucker (uncredited)
Born to Be Wild

Born to Be Wild (1938)

Movie
Johnny Henessey
Million Dollar Racket

Million Dollar Racket (1937)

Movie
Detective Waters
Rough Riding Rhythm

Rough Riding Rhythm (1937)

Movie
Henchman Bart
Brothers of the West

Brothers of the West (1937)

Movie
Tommy Shannon
Lightnin' Crandall

Lightnin' Crandall (1937)

Movie
Diner Man Who Feeds Hector
Wanted - A Master

Wanted - A Master (1936)

Movie
Nightclub Patron
The Girl on the Front Page

The Girl on the Front Page (1936)

Movie
Terry Navarro
The Black Coin

The Black Coin (1936)

Movie
George Baldwin
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell (1936)

Movie
Young Man (uncredited)
Ship Cafe

Ship Cafe (1935)

Movie
Stanley Phillips
Welcome Home

Welcome Home (1935)

Movie
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Woman Wanted

Woman Wanted (1935)

Movie
Member of Audience
Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas (1935)

Movie
Party Guest (uncredited)
No More Ladies

No More Ladies (1935)

Movie
Student
Student Tour

Student Tour (1934)

Movie
Dancer (uncredited)
Gift of Gab

Gift of Gab (1934)

Movie
Pete (uncredited)
We're Rich Again

We're Rich Again (1934)

Movie
Interne (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Children

Tomorrow's Children (1934)

Movie
4
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Wonder Bar

Wonder Bar (1934)

Movie
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
Search for Beauty

Search for Beauty (1934)

Movie
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty (1933)

Movie
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
College Coach

College Coach (1933)

Movie
Dance Extra (uncredited)
One Man's Journey

One Man's Journey (1933)

Movie
Student
College Humor

College Humor (1933)

Movie
Party Boy (uncredited)
Pick-up

Pick-up (1933)

Movie
Soldier (uncredited)
Rasputin and the Empress

Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

Movie
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross

The Sign of the Cross (1932)

Movie
Party Guest (Uncredited)
Hot Saturday

Hot Saturday (1932)

Movie
Football Player (uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses

70,000 Witnesses (1932)

Movie
Submarine Crewman
Roar of the Dragon

Roar of the Dragon (1932)

Movie
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Is My Face Red?

Is My Face Red? (1932)

Movie
Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Consolation Marriage

Consolation Marriage (1931)

Movie
Dancer (uncredited)
Flying High

Flying High (1931)

Movie
Student
Good News

Good News (1930)

Movie
Pilot (uncredited)
The Dawn Patrol

The Dawn Patrol (1930)

Movie

Ratings

Average 4.65
Based on 58.7 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1930
1939
1941
1939
2006
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Dave O'BrienDave O'Brien

Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1912-05-31

Deathday
1969-11-08 (57 years old)

Birth Name
David Poole Fronabarger

Birth Place
Big Spring, United States of America

Relationships
Dorothy Short (1936-01-01 - 1954-01-01)

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
David Poole Fronabarger, David Fronabarger, David O'Brien, Dave O'Brian, Dave Tex O'Brien, Dave 'Tex' O'Brien, Tex O'Brien, Tex Coe, David Barclay, Dave Barclay

Awards
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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