Dave O'Brien

Known For

Acting

Born

May 31, 1912

Died

Nov 08, 1969

Place of Birth

Big Spring, Texas, USA

Credits

201 titles

Dave O'Brien

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.

Known For

Filmography

2006

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

Self (archive footage)

Movie
1976

That's Entertainment, Part II

(archive footage)

Movie
1964

The Big Parade of Comedy

Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)

Movie
1956

The Desperados Are in Town

Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown

Movie
1956

The Kettles in the Ozarks

Conductor

Movie
1955

MGM Parade

Tv
1955

The Fall Guy

Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)

Movie
1955

Just What I Needed

Harry Horseknuckle

Movie
1955

The Man Around the House

Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)

Movie
1954

Film Antics

Director

Movie
1954

Meet the O'Briens

Dave

Movie
1954

Out for Fun

Businessman Seeking Relaxation

Movie
1954

Do Someone a Favor!

George Dibson

Movie
1954

Tennessee Champ

Luke MacWade

Movie
1954

Ain't It Aggravatin'

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

Movie
1953

Things We Can Do Without

Thaddeus E. Thud III

Movie
1953

Kiss Me Kate

Ralph

Movie
1953

Cash Stashers

A Shmoe Named Joe

Movie
1953

Dogs 'n Ducks

Screenplay

Movie
1953

T.V. of Tomorrow

Man on TV

Movie
1953

The Mosconi Story

Director

Movie
1952

I Love Children, But!

The Daddy

Movie
1952

Reducing

Man on Bench (uncredited)

Movie
1952

Musiquiz

Director

Movie
1951

The Red Skelton Show

Writer

Tv
1951

Bargain Madness

Director

Movie
1951

Camera Sleuth

Writer

Movie
1950

Wrong Way Butch

Butch

Movie
1950

A Wife's Life

George T. Hardnose (uncredited)

Movie
1950

Did'ja Know?

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

Movie
1950

Crashing the Movies

Director

Movie
1950

Pest Control

Cruising Wolf

Movie
1949

We Can Dream, Can't We?

Director

Movie
1949

Those Good Old Days

Movie
1949

Super Cue Men

Director

Movie
1948

Let's Cogitate

Oliver T. Aseltafel

Movie
1948

Ice Aces

Writer

Movie
1948

Just Suppose

Husband (uncredited)

Movie
1948

You Can't Win

Harried Homeowner

Movie
1948

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

The Son-In-Law / Husband

Movie
1948

Bowling Tricks

Director

Movie
1947

Have You Ever Wondered?

Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer

Movie
1947

Surfboard Rhythm

Director

Movie
1947

Football Thrills No. 10

Director

Movie
1947

Neighbor Pests

Movie
1947

I Love My Wife BUT!

The Husband

Movie
1947

Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13

Director

Movie
1947

Diamond Demon

Director

Movie
1946

I Love My Husband, But!

The Husband

Movie
1946

Sure Cures

Xavier T. Schneckendorf

Movie