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.
Stanley Phillips
Welcome Home
Johnny Layton
The Devil Bat
Johnny Henessey
Million Dollar Racket
Jeff Dixon
Spooks Run Wild
Tex Alden
Song of the Buckaroo
Ralph
Tell Your Children
Those Good Old Days
Bat
Man's Country
Det. Pete Crawford
Bowery at Midnight
Trucker (uncredited)
Born to Be Wild
Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
The Sign of the Cross
Neighbor Pests
Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]
The Secret of Treasure Island
Oliver T. Aseltafel
Let's Cogitate
Duke
Trigger Smith
Conductor
The Kettles in the Ozarks
Jim Dana
Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
Tom Lawson
Flying Wild
Charlie
On the Spot
Jim Cramer
Forbidden Trails
Steve Norris
Frontier Scout
Tom Martin
Riders of the Sage
Henchman Slade
Whirlwind Horseman
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Wonder Bar
Fred Chambers
Crashing Thru
Dave Wyatt
Gangsters of the Frontier
Dave Wyatt
Enemy of the Law
Dave Wyatt
Frontier Fugitives
Tony Woolrich
The Phantom of 42nd Street
Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
Consolation Marriage
Dave Dodge
Down Texas Way
Marion Scott
The Man Who Walked Alone
Bob Adams
Queen of the Yukon
Terry Navarro
The Black Coin
Jeff Travis
Law and Order
Bart
Brothers of the West
Jerry Morgan
Daughter of the Tong
Jeff Gray
Where the Buffalo Roam
Mason - Bookkeeper
Utah Trail
Dick Williams
The Singing Cowgirl
Dance Extra (uncredited)
One Man's Journey
Self (archive footage)
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Red Baker - Henchman
Gun Packer
Businessman Seeking Relaxation
Out for Fun
Henchman Lucke
Phantom Rancher
Henchman Trigger
Drifting Westward
Frank Gordon
Flaming Lead
Captain Albright / Captain Midnight
Captain Midnight
Student
Good News
Man on TV
T.V. of Tomorrow
Party Guest (Uncredited)
Hot Saturday
Carson
Buried Alive
Bob Lawson
Water Rustlers
Dancer (uncredited)
Flying High
Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)
Woman Wanted
Student
College Humor
Dave Wyatt
The Whispering Skull
Man in Audience
On Your Toes
Submarine Crewman
Roar of the Dragon
Tex Wyatt
Guns of the Law
Bob Swane
Code of the Cactus
Henchman Meggs
Outlaws' Paradise
Billiards Player
Undercover Agent
Acacia Park Game Warden
Wyoming Outlaw
Jason Braddock
New Frontier
Constable Kelly
Fighting Mad
Dr. Jerry Leonard
The Fighting Renegade
Soldier
The Arizona Kid
Daniels
Mutiny in the Big House
Jeff
Billy the Kid Wanted
Sparky Barton
Double Trouble
Tex Wyatt
The Pinto Bandit
Ed Arden
Texas Wildcats
Corporal Kelly
Danger Ahead
Constable Kelly
Murder on the Yukon
Buzz Weston
The Texas Marshal
Constable Kelly
Yukon Flight
Constable Kelly
Sky Bandits
Ranch hand Red
Rollin' Westward
Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt
Trail of Terror
Jack
Tahiti Nights
Tex Wyatt
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
George Baldwin
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
Thaddeus E. Thud III
Things We Can Do Without
Arthur - Harry's Friend
Carry Harry
Knuckles Dolan
Boys of the City
Knuckles Dolan
That Gang of Mine
Talent Contestant (uncredited)
Search for Beauty
Knuckles Dolan
East Side Kids
U. S. Marine
Prisoner of Japan
Sgt. Phil Lyons
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
Did'ja Know?
Tex Wyatt
The Rangers Take Over
Joe Martin
The Gunman From Bodie
Detective Waters
Rough Riding Rhythm
Steve Davis
The Cowboy from Sundown
Student
Student Tour
Interne (uncredited)
Tomorrow's Children
Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)
Sitting Pretty
Dancer (uncredited)
Gift of Gab
Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
College Coach
Nelson
Son of the Navy
Whitey - Navy Radio Man
Isle Of Destiny
Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest
Movie Pests
Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
The Fall Guy
Xavier T. Schneckendorf
Sure Cures
The Husband
I Love My Husband, But!
Miles Hanover
Hold That Woman!
Horace
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
Pete (uncredited)
We're Rich Again
Member of Audience
Doubting Thomas
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Is My Face Red?
Party Boy (uncredited)
Pick-up
Nightclub Patron
The Girl on the Front Page
Ralph Spencer
The Deadly Game
Tex Wyatt
Border Buckaroos
Tex Wyatt
Boss of Rawhide
Jackson, Wentworth's Aide
The Spider Returns
Jeff
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
O'Brien
Studio Visit
Jeff
Sheriff of Sage Valley
Texas Joe
Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
Henchman Gale
Gun Code
Tex Wyatt
Fighting Valley
Tex Wyatt
The Return of the Rangers
Tex Wyatt
West of Texas
Tex Wyatt
Brand of the Devil
Dave Wyatt
Dead or Alive
Tex Wyatt
Outlaw Roundup
Dave Wyatt
Marked for Murder
Tex Wyatt
Gunsmoke Mesa
Tex Wyatt
Spook Town
Dave Wyatt
Three in the Saddle
Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson
Flaming Bullets
Henchman
Starlight Over Texas
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
The Desperados Are in Town
Michael, the chauffeur
Murder by Invitation
Tommy Shannon
Lightnin' Crandall
Pilot (uncredited)
The Dawn Patrol
The Husband
I Love My Wife BUT!
George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
A Wife's Life
The Son-In-Law / Husband
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
A Shmoe Named Joe
Cash Stashers
The Daddy
I Love Children, But!
Harry Horseknuckle
Just What I Needed
Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
The Man Around the House
Soldier (uncredited)
Rasputin and the Empress
Butch
Wrong Way Butch
Harried Homeowner
You Can't Win
George Dibson
Do Someone a Favor!
(archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
Husband (uncredited)
Just Suppose
Man on Bench (uncredited)
Reducing
Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer
Have You Ever Wondered?
Victory Quiz
Joe Thunderstruck
Calling All Pa's
Careless Man
Safety Sleuth
King of the Stallions
Alonzo T. Mousebrain
Treasures from Trash
Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
The Big Parade of Comedy
Football Player (uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
Young Man (uncredited)
Ship Cafe
Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man
Seventh Column
Ralph
Kiss Me Kate
Dog's Master (uncredited)
Wanted - A Master
Party Guest (uncredited)
No More Ladies
Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)
Sportsman's Memories
Luke MacWade
Tennessee Champ
Sgt. Callahan
The Yanks Are Coming
Shopper
She Married Her Boss
Zeppelin Reveler
Madam Satan
The Husband
What About Daddy?
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
174
Gender
Male
Birthday
1912-05-31
Place of Birth
Big Spring, Texas, USA
Also Known As
David Poole Fronabarger