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.
Filmography (182 titles)
6.0Movie42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Self (archive footage) · 2006
7.0MovieThat's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage) · 1976
7.2MovieThe Big Parade of Comedy
Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage) · 1964
8.0MovieThe Desperados Are in Town
Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown · 1956
7.1MovieThe Kettles in the Ozarks
Conductor · 1956
7.5ShowMGM Parade
1955
The Fall Guy
Himself as Various Characters (archive footage) · 1955
Just What I Needed
Harry Horseknuckle · 1955
The Man Around the House
Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited) · 1955
MovieMeet the O'Briens
Dave · 1954
Out for Fun
Businessman Seeking Relaxation · 1954
Do Someone a Favor!
George Dibson · 1954
6.5MovieTennessee Champ
Luke MacWade · 1954
6.0MovieAin't It Aggravatin'
Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead · 1954
7.3MovieThings We Can Do Without
Thaddeus E. Thud III · 1953
6.5MovieKiss Me Kate
Ralph · 1953
7.0MovieCash Stashers
A Shmoe Named Joe · 1953
6.6MovieT.V. of Tomorrow
Man on TV · 1953
10.0MovieI Love Children, But!
The Daddy · 1952
5.3MovieReducing
Man on Bench (uncredited) · 1952
6.4MovieWrong Way Butch
Butch · 1950
A Wife's Life
George T. Hardnose (uncredited) · 1950
5.0MovieDid'ja Know?
Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant · 1950
Pest Control
Cruising Wolf · 1950
Those Good Old Days
1949
7.5MovieLet's Cogitate
Oliver T. Aseltafel · 1948
7.0MovieJust Suppose
Husband (uncredited) · 1948
4.9MovieYou Can't Win
Harried Homeowner · 1948
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
The Son-In-Law / Husband · 1948
Have You Ever Wondered?
Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer · 1947