Acting
Dave O'Brien
EN, NL, FR cinema · 199 credits
Born
31 May 1912
Died
8 November 1969 (aged 57)
Birthplace
Big Spring, Texas, USA
Also known as David Poole Fronabarger · David Fronabarger · David O'Brien · Dave O'Brian · Dave Tex O'Brien · Dave 'Tex' O'Brien
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
Filmography
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
The Kettles in the Ozarks
as Conductor
The Desperados Are in Town
as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Fall Guy
1955
The Fall Guy
as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage), Director
Just What I Needed
1955
Just What I Needed
as Harry Horseknuckle, Screenplay, Director
The Man Around the House
1955
The Man Around the House
as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited), Story, Director, Screenplay
Out for Fun
1954
Out for Fun
as Businessman Seeking Relaxation, Director, Writer
Ain't It Aggravatin'
as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead, Director, Story
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
Do Someone a Favor!
as George Dibson, Director, Screenplay
Tennessee Champ
as Luke MacWade
Meet the O'Briens
as Dave, Teleplay, Producer
Film Antics
Director
T.V. of Tomorrow
as Man on TV
Things We Can Do Without
as Thaddeus E. Thud III, Screenplay, Director, Story
Cash Stashers
as A Shmoe Named Joe, Director, Story, Screenplay
Kiss Me Kate
as Ralph
Dogs 'n Ducks
Screenplay, Original Story
I Love Children, But!
as The Daddy, Director, Writer
Reducing
as Man on Bench (uncredited), Screenplay, Director, Original Story
Musiquiz
1952
Musiquiz
Director
Camera Sleuth
Writer, Director
Bargain Madness
Writer, Director
Did'ja Know?
as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant, Director, Screenplay
A Wife's Life
1950
A Wife's Life
as George T. Hardnose (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Story
Wrong Way Butch
as Butch, Director, Original Story, Screenplay
Pest Control
1950
Pest Control
as Cruising Wolf, Director
Crashing the Movies
Director
Those Good Old Days
1949
Those Good Old Days
Actor, Director
Let's Cogitate
as Oliver T. Aseltafel, Director
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
as The Son-In-Law / Husband, Screenplay, Director, Original Story
You Can't Win
as Harried Homeowner, Director, Writer
Just Suppose
as Husband (uncredited), Director, Writer
Bowling Tricks
Director
Ice Aces
Writer, Director
Neighbor Pests
1947
Neighbor Pests
Actor, Director
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947
I Love My Wife BUT!
as The Husband, Story, Director, Screenplay
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947
Have You Ever Wondered?
as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer, Director, Writer
Diamond Demon
Writer, Director
Sure Cures
as Xavier T. Schneckendorf, Writer, Director
I Love My Husband, But!
1946
I Love My Husband, But!
as The Husband, Director, Screenplay, Story
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
as Horace, Writer, Director
Studio Visit
as O'Brien
Treasures from Trash
as Alonzo T. Mousebrain, Screenplay, Director
Enemy of the Law
as Dave Wyatt
Frontier Fugitives
as Dave Wyatt
The Phantom of 42nd Street
as Tony Woolrich
The Man Who Walked Alone
as Marion Scott
Marked for Murder
as Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
as Dave Wyatt
Flaming Bullets
as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Gangsters of the Frontier
as Dave Wyatt
The Whispering Skull
as Dave Wyatt
Guns of the Law
as Tex Wyatt
The Pinto Bandit
as Tex Wyatt
Tahiti Nights
as Jack
Movie Pests
as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Brand of the Devil
as Tex Wyatt
Dead or Alive
as Dave Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup
as Tex Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa
as Tex Wyatt
Spook Town
as Tex Wyatt
Safety Sleuth
1944
Safety Sleuth
as Careless Man
Sportsman's Memories
1944
Sportsman's Memories
as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
Trail of Terror
as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
as Tex Wyatt
Border Buckaroos
as Tex Wyatt
Boss of Rawhide
as Tex Wyatt
Fighting Valley
as Tex Wyatt
The Return of the Rangers
as Tex Wyatt
West of Texas
as Tex Wyatt
Seventh Column
as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
Bowery at Midnight
as Det. Pete Crawford
Down Texas Way
as Dave Dodge
Law and Order
as Jeff Travis
Captain Midnight
as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
Carry Harry
as Arthur - Harry's Friend
Prisoner of Japan
as U. S. Marine
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
as Sgt. Phil Lyons
The Rangers Take Over
as Tex Wyatt
Calling All Pa's
as Joe Thunderstruck
The Yanks Are Coming
as Sgt. Callahan
What About Daddy?
as The Husband
Spooks Run Wild
as Jeff Dixon
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
as Jim Dana
Flying Wild
as Tom Lawson
Forbidden Trails
as Jim Cramer
Double Trouble
as Sparky Barton
The Texas Marshal
as Buzz Weston
The Gunman From Bodie
as Joe Martin
The Deadly Game
as Ralph Spencer
The Spider Returns
as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
as Texas Joe
Murder by Invitation
as Michael, the chauffeur
Sky Raiders
Stunts
The Devil Bat
as Johnny Layton
On the Spot
as Charlie
Queen of the Yukon
as Bob Adams
Phantom Rancher
as Henchman Lucke
Danger Ahead
as Corporal Kelly
Murder on the Yukon
as Constable Kelly
Yukon Flight
as Constable Kelly
Sky Bandits
as Constable Kelly
Boys of the City
as Knuckles Dolan
That Gang of Mine
as Knuckles Dolan
East Side Kids
as Knuckles Dolan
The Cowboy from Sundown
as Steve Davis
Son of the Navy
as Nelson
Isle Of Destiny
as Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Hold That Woman!
as Miles Hanover
Gun Code
as Henchman Gale
Trigger Smith
as Duke
Riders of the Sage
as Tom Martin
Crashing Thru
as Fred Chambers
Daughter of the Tong
as Jerry Morgan
Drifting Westward
as Henchman Trigger
Flaming Lead
as Frank Gordon
Buried Alive
as Carson
Water Rustlers
as Bob Lawson
On Your Toes
as Man in Audience
Code of the Cactus
as Bob Swane
Outlaws' Paradise
as Henchman Meggs
Undercover Agent
as Billiards Player
Wyoming Outlaw
as Acacia Park Game Warden
New Frontier
as Jason Braddock
Fighting Mad
as Constable Kelly
The Fighting Renegade
as Dr. Jerry Leonard
The Arizona Kid
as Soldier
Mutiny in the Big House
as Daniels
Texas Wildcats
as Ed Arden
Rollin' Westward
as Ranch hand Red
Song of the Buckaroo
as Tex Alden
Tell Your Children
as Ralph
Born to Be Wild
as Trucker (uncredited)
The Secret of Treasure Island
as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
Frontier Scout
as Steve Norris
Whirlwind Horseman
as Henchman Slade
Where the Buffalo Roam
as Jeff Gray
Utah Trail
as Mason - Bookkeeper
The Singing Cowgirl
as Dick Williams
Gun Packer
as Red Baker - Henchman
Starlight Over Texas
as Henchman
Million Dollar Racket
as Johnny Henessey
Rough Riding Rhythm
as Detective Waters
Lightnin' Crandall
as Tommy Shannon
The Black Coin
as Terry Navarro
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as George Baldwin
The Girl on the Front Page
as Nightclub Patron
Wanted - A Master
as Dog's Master (uncredited)
Welcome Home
as Stanley Phillips
Woman Wanted
as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas
as Member of Audience
Ship Cafe
as Young Man (uncredited)
No More Ladies
as Party Guest (uncredited)
She Married Her Boss
as Shopper
Wonder Bar
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Search for Beauty
as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
Student Tour
as Student
Tomorrow's Children
as Interne (uncredited)
Gift of Gab
as Dancer (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
We're Rich Again
as Pete (uncredited)
Music in the Air
as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)
One Man's Journey
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
College Humor
as Student
Sitting Pretty
as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
College Coach
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
Pick-up
as Party Boy (uncredited)
The World Changes
as Otto Peterson (uncredited)
42nd Street
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
Hot Saturday
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
Roar of the Dragon
as Submarine Crewman
Is My Face Red?
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Rasputin and the Empress
as Soldier (uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
as Football Player (uncredited)
Devil and the Deep
as Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
Consolation Marriage
as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Flying High
as Dancer (uncredited)
Lover Come Back
as Pool Party Boy (uncredited)
Good News
as Student
The Dawn Patrol
as Pilot (uncredited)
Madam Satan
as Zeppelin Reveler