Dave 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.
Acting
Movie
42nd Street
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1933
Movie
Tell Your Children
as Ralph
1938
Movie
Kiss Me Kate
as Ralph
1953
Movie
The Devil Bat
as Johnny Layton
1940
Movie
The Sign of the Cross
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
1932
Movie
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
1976
Movie
Bowery at Midnight
as Det. Pete Crawford
1942
Movie
The Dawn Patrol
as Pilot (uncredited)
1930
Movie
Madam Satan
as Zeppelin Reveler
1930
Movie
Spooks Run Wild
as Jeff Dixon
1941
Movie
T.V. of Tomorrow
as Man on TV
1953
Movie
New Frontier
as Jason Braddock
1939
Movie
Wonder Bar
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
1934
Movie
Hot Saturday
as Party Guest (Uncredited)
1932
Movie
Rasputin and the Empress
as Soldier (uncredited)
1932
Movie
Devil and the Deep
as Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
1932
Movie
That Gang of Mine
as Knuckles Dolan
1940
Movie
Boys of the City
as Knuckles Dolan
1940
Movie
College Coach
as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)
1933
Movie
The Phantom of 42nd Street
as Tony Woolrich
1945
Movie
One Man's Journey
as Dance Extra (uncredited)
1933
Movie
Search for Beauty
as Talent Contestant (uncredited)
1934
Movie
Murder by Invitation
as Michael, the chauffeur
1941
Movie
Consolation Marriage
as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)
1931
Crew
TV
The Red Skelton Show
Writer
1951
Movie
You Can't Win
Writer
1948
Movie
Sure Cures
Writer
1946
Movie
Wrong Way Butch
Director
1950
Movie
Sky Raiders
Stunts
1941
Movie
Did'ja Know?
Director
1950
Movie
Diamond Demon
Director
1947
Movie
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
Director
1948
Movie
The Iron Claw
Stunts
1941
Movie
Things We Can Do Without
Story
1953
Movie
Bowling Tricks
Director
1948
Movie
The Spider's Web
Stunts
1938