FLIXREC
Dave O'Brien

Dave O'Brien

Acting May 31, 1912 (57 years old) November 8, 1969 Big Spring, Texas, USA

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.

Movies 181

42nd Street 7.0

42nd Street

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1933
That's Entertainment, Part II 7.0

That's Entertainment, Part II

as (archive footage) (uncredited)

1976
The Sign of the Cross 6.5

The Sign of the Cross

as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)

1932
Kiss Me Kate 6.6

Kiss Me Kate

as Ralph

1953
Wonder Bar 6.0

Wonder Bar

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1934
Murder at the Vanities 5.7

Murder at the Vanities

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1934
She Married Her Boss 7.3

She Married Her Boss

as Shopper

1935
Double Trouble 10.0

Double Trouble

as Sparky Barton

1941
Devil and the Deep 5.1

Devil and the Deep

as Submarine Crewman (uncredited)

1932
The World Changes 4.8

The World Changes

as Otto Peterson (uncredited)

1933
We're Rich Again 6.2

We're Rich Again

as Pete (uncredited)

1934
New Frontier 5.7

New Frontier

as Jason Braddock

1939
Flaming Bullets 6.0

Flaming Bullets

as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson

1945
Rasputin and the Empress 5.4

Rasputin and the Empress

as Soldier (uncredited)

1932
Spooks Run Wild 5.1

Spooks Run Wild

as Jeff Dixon

1941
Carry Harry 4.2

Carry Harry

as Arthur - Harry's Friend

1942
That Gang of Mine 5.8

That Gang of Mine

as Knuckles Dolan

1940
Queen of the Yukon 6.0

Queen of the Yukon

as Bob Adams

1940
Lightnin' Crandall 4.0

Lightnin' Crandall

as Tommy Shannon

1937
The Desperados Are in Town 8.0

The Desperados Are in Town

as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown

1956
The Big Parade of Comedy 7.2

The Big Parade of Comedy

as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)

1964
Bowery at Midnight 5.0

Bowery at Midnight

as Det. Pete Crawford

1942
T.V. of Tomorrow 6.6

T.V. of Tomorrow

as Man on TV

1953
Pick-up 5.1

Pick-up

as Party Boy (uncredited)

1933
Undercover Agent 4.2

Undercover Agent

as Billiards Player

1939
Three in the Saddle 9.0

Three in the Saddle

as Dave Wyatt

1945
I Love My Mother-In-Law But... 7.2

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

as The Son-In-Law / Husband

1948
The Phantom of 42nd Street 4.8

The Phantom of 42nd Street

as Tony Woolrich

1945
Where the Buffalo Roam 5.5

Where the Buffalo Roam

as Jeff Gray

1938
Fighting Valley

Fighting Valley

as Tex Wyatt

1943
Sheriff of Sage Valley 5.7

Sheriff of Sage Valley

as Jeff

1942
Student Tour 6.7

Student Tour

as Student

1934
The Man Who Walked Alone 5.9

The Man Who Walked Alone

as Marion Scott

1945
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell 5.7

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

as George Baldwin

1936
The Gunman From Bodie 5.3

The Gunman From Bodie

as Joe Martin

1941
Born to Be Wild 7.5

Born to Be Wild

as Trucker (uncredited)

1938
College Coach 4.6

College Coach

as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)

1933
Tell Your Children 4.4

Tell Your Children

as Ralph

1938
One Man's Journey 6.6

One Man's Journey

as Dance Extra (uncredited)

1933
Wyoming Outlaw 5.8

Wyoming Outlaw

as Acacia Park Game Warden

1939
Madam Satan 6.0

Madam Satan

as Zeppelin Reveler

1930
The Dawn Patrol 6.6

The Dawn Patrol

as Pilot (uncredited)

1930
Water Rustlers 4.7

Water Rustlers

as Bob Lawson

1939
College Humor 5.6

College Humor

as Student

1933
Gangsters of the Frontier 4.3

Gangsters of the Frontier

as Dave Wyatt

1944
The Kettles in the Ozarks 6.4

The Kettles in the Ozarks

as Conductor

1956
East Side Kids 6.4

East Side Kids

as Knuckles Dolan

1940
Music in the Air 5.6

Music in the Air

as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)

1934
The Spider Returns 8.5

The Spider Returns

as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide

1941
Billy the Kid Wanted 5.6

Billy the Kid Wanted

as Jeff

1941
Bad Men of Thunder Gap 8.0

Bad Men of Thunder Gap

as Tex Wyatt

1943
Daughter of the Tong 5.2

Daughter of the Tong

as Jerry Morgan

1939
Victory Quiz 6.2

Victory Quiz

1942
The Cowboy from Sundown 9.0

The Cowboy from Sundown

as Steve Davis

1940
The Deadly Game 7.0

The Deadly Game

as Ralph Spencer

1941
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge 6.3

'Neath Brooklyn Bridge

as Sgt. Phil Lyons

1942
The Pinto Bandit 7.0

The Pinto Bandit

as Tex Wyatt

1944
Guns of the Law 6.0

Guns of the Law

as Tex Wyatt

1944
Forbidden Trails 5.6

Forbidden Trails

as Jim Cramer

1941
Just Suppose 7.0

Just Suppose

as Husband (uncredited)

1948
Murder on the Yukon 5.7

Murder on the Yukon

as Constable Kelly

1940
On Your Toes 4.5

On Your Toes

as Man in Audience

1939
Is My Face Red? 5.0

Is My Face Red?

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

1932
The Secret of Treasure Island 4.5

The Secret of Treasure Island

as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]

1938
The Devil Bat 5.3

The Devil Bat

as Johnny Layton

1940
Hold That Woman! 7.0

Hold That Woman!

as Miles Hanover

1940
The Girl on the Front Page 7.0

The Girl on the Front Page

as Nightclub Patron

1936
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage 6.0

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

as Self (archive footage)

2006
Do Someone a Favor! 7.0

Do Someone a Favor!

as George Dibson

1954
Woman Wanted 6.8

Woman Wanted

as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)

1935
Brand of the Devil 7.0

Brand of the Devil

as Tex Wyatt

1944
Captain Midnight 6.3

Captain Midnight

as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight

1942
Flying Wild 6.1

Flying Wild

as Tom Lawson

1941
Isle Of Destiny 5.7

Isle Of Destiny

as Whitey - Navy Radio Man

1940
A Wife's Life 6.0

A Wife's Life

as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)

1950
Law and Order 7.5

Law and Order

as Jeff Travis

1942
King of the Stallions 7.3

King of the Stallions

1942
Meet the O'Briens

Meet the O'Briens

as Dave

1954
Wanted - A Master 6.8

Wanted - A Master

as Dog's Master (uncredited)

1936
The Singing Cowgirl 7.5

The Singing Cowgirl

as Dick Williams

1938
Mutiny in the Big House 5.3

Mutiny in the Big House

as Daniels

1939
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto 10.0

Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto

as Jim Dana

1941
Enemy of the Law 6.0

Enemy of the Law

as Dave Wyatt

1945
The Man Around the House

The Man Around the House

as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)

1955
Have You Ever Wondered? 6.5

Have You Ever Wondered?

as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer

1947
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe 6.0

Billy the Kid in Santa Fe

as Texas Joe

1941
Outlaw Roundup 10.0

Outlaw Roundup

as Tex Wyatt

1944
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns 6.3

Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns

as Jeff

1942
Brothers of the West 6.3

Brothers of the West

as Bart

1937
The Arizona Kid 6.1

The Arizona Kid

as Soldier

1939
Boys of the City 5.3

Boys of the City

as Knuckles Dolan

1940
Murder by Invitation 6.0

Murder by Invitation

as Michael, the chauffeur

1941
Consolation Marriage 6.4

Consolation Marriage

as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)

1931
Song of the Buckaroo 10.0

Song of the Buckaroo

as Tex Alden

1938
Whirlwind Horseman 7.0

Whirlwind Horseman

as Henchman Slade

1938
Fighting Mad 4.5

Fighting Mad

as Constable Kelly

1939
No More Ladies 5.0

No More Ladies

as Party Guest (uncredited)

1935
I Love My Wife BUT! 7.0

I Love My Wife BUT!

as The Husband

1947
The Return of the Rangers 7.0

The Return of the Rangers

as Tex Wyatt

1943
The Black Coin 6.5

The Black Coin

as Terry Navarro

1936
Dead or Alive 5.0

Dead or Alive

as Dave Wyatt

1944
The Fighting Renegade 6.8

The Fighting Renegade

as Dr. Jerry Leonard

1939
Flying High 5.8

Flying High

as Dancer (uncredited)

1931
Roar of the Dragon 6.5

Roar of the Dragon

as Submarine Crewman

1932
Tomorrow's Children 5.0

Tomorrow's Children

as Interne (uncredited)

1934
Code of the Cactus 6.2

Code of the Cactus

as Bob Swane

1939
The Rangers Take Over 7.0

The Rangers Take Over

as Tex Wyatt

1942
Hot Saturday 6.5

Hot Saturday

as Party Guest (Uncredited)

1932
Son of the Navy 6.2

Son of the Navy

as Nelson

1940
Calling All Pa's 6.7

Calling All Pa's

as Joe Thunderstruck

1942
Rough Riding Rhythm 9.0

Rough Riding Rhythm

as Detective Waters

1937
Did'ja Know? 5.0

Did'ja Know?

as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant

1950
Studio Visit 5.5

Studio Visit

as O'Brien

1946
Frontier Scout 6.0

Frontier Scout

as Steve Norris

1938
Trail of Terror 8.0

Trail of Terror

as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt

1943
Down Texas Way 6.5

Down Texas Way

as Dave Dodge

1942
Danger Ahead 8.0

Danger Ahead

as Corporal Kelly

1940
Doubting Thomas 7.5

Doubting Thomas

as Member of Audience

1935
Neighbor Pests

Neighbor Pests

1947
Phantom Rancher 4.6

Phantom Rancher

as Henchman Lucke

1940
Crashing Thru 7.5

Crashing Thru

as Fred Chambers

1939
Riders of the Sage 6.5

Riders of the Sage

as Tom Martin

1939
Treasures from Trash 7.0

Treasures from Trash

as Alonzo T. Mousebrain

1946
Sky Bandits 5.7

Sky Bandits

as Constable Kelly

1940
West of Texas 8.0

West of Texas

as Tex Wyatt

1943
What About Daddy? 7.0

What About Daddy?

as The Husband

1942
Gunsmoke Mesa 4.5

Gunsmoke Mesa

as Tex Wyatt

1944
Tennessee Champ 6.5

Tennessee Champ

as Luke MacWade

1954
Yukon Flight 4.1

Yukon Flight

as Constable Kelly

1940
Gun Packer 7.0

Gun Packer

as Red Baker - Henchman

1938
Welcome Home 9.0

Welcome Home

as Stanley Phillips

1935
Gun Code 8.0

Gun Code

as Henchman Gale

1940
Sitting Pretty 8.0

Sitting Pretty

as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)

1933
Boss of Rawhide 6.7

Boss of Rawhide

as Tex Wyatt

1943
Outlaws' Paradise 8.0

Outlaws' Paradise

as Henchman Meggs

1939
Border Buckaroos 10.0

Border Buckaroos

as Tex Wyatt

1943
Prisoner of Japan 5.0

Prisoner of Japan

as U. S. Marine

1942
The Yanks Are Coming 5.3

The Yanks Are Coming

as Sgt. Callahan

1942
Gift of Gab 5.2

Gift of Gab

as Dancer (uncredited)

1934
Spook Town 7.0

Spook Town

as Tex Wyatt

1944
Frontier Fugitives 7.0

Frontier Fugitives

as Dave Wyatt

1945
The Whispering Skull 6.0

The Whispering Skull

as Dave Wyatt

1944
Things We Can Do Without 7.3

Things We Can Do Without

as Thaddeus E. Thud III

1953
Texas Wildcats 8.0

Texas Wildcats

as Ed Arden

1939
Buried Alive 5.1

Buried Alive

as Carson

1939
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 6.5

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

as Horace

1946
Starlight Over Texas 7.0

Starlight Over Texas

as Henchman

1938
Flaming Lead 5.5

Flaming Lead

as Frank Gordon

1939
Let's Cogitate 7.5

Let's Cogitate

as Oliver T. Aseltafel

1948
Drifting Westward 8.0

Drifting Westward

as Henchman Trigger

1939
You Can't Win 4.9

You Can't Win

as Harried Homeowner

1948
I Love My Husband, But! 10.0

I Love My Husband, But!

as The Husband

1946
The Texas Marshal 8.0

The Texas Marshal

as Buzz Weston

1941
Million Dollar Racket 6.5

Million Dollar Racket

as Johnny Henessey

1937
Good News 6.2

Good News

as Student

1930
Utah Trail 7.0

Utah Trail

as Mason - Bookkeeper

1938
Ship Cafe 8.0

Ship Cafe

as Young Man (uncredited)

1935
Those Good Old Days 8.0

Those Good Old Days

1949
Rollin' Westward 5.8

Rollin' Westward

as Ranch hand Red

1939
Lover Come Back 3.3

Lover Come Back

as Pool Party Boy (uncredited)

1931
70,000 Witnesses 5.7

70,000 Witnesses

as Football Player (uncredited)

1932
Pest Control

Pest Control

as Cruising Wolf

1950
Reducing 5.3

Reducing

as Man on Bench (uncredited)

1952
Trigger Smith 9.0

Trigger Smith

as Duke

1939
Tahiti Nights 9.0

Tahiti Nights

as Jack

1944
Safety Sleuth

Safety Sleuth

as Careless Man

1944
Ain't It Aggravatin' 6.0

Ain't It Aggravatin'

as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead

1954
Sportsman's Memories

Sportsman's Memories

as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)

1944
Wrong Way Butch 6.4

Wrong Way Butch

as Butch

1950
On the Spot 5.8

On the Spot

as Charlie

1940
Just What I Needed

Just What I Needed

as Harry Horseknuckle

1955
Cash Stashers 6.8

Cash Stashers

as A Shmoe Named Joe

1953
Marked for Murder 5.0

Marked for Murder

as Dave Wyatt

1945
Movie Pests 6.1

Movie Pests

as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest

1944
I Love Children, But! 10.0

I Love Children, But!

as The Daddy

1952
Out for Fun 9.0

Out for Fun

as Businessman Seeking Relaxation

1954
Seventh Column 7.0

Seventh Column

as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man

1943
Search for Beauty 5.5

Search for Beauty

as Talent Contestant (uncredited)

1934
Sure Cures 5.7

Sure Cures

as Xavier T. Schneckendorf

1946
Man's Country 5.5

Man's Country

as Bat

1938
The Fall Guy 7.5

The Fall Guy

as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)

1955

TV Shows 2

Reviews

Loading reviews...