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Dave O'Brien

Personal Information

Known ForActing
GenderMale
Born / DiedMay 31, 1912 (Died at 57)
Zodiac Sign♊Gemini
Place of BirthBig Spring, Texas, USA
Career Span1930 – 1969
Known Credits178 Titles
Official Links
ActingPopularity Score 0.8

Dave O'Brien

Also known as:David Poole FronabargerDavid FronabargerDavid O'BrienDave O'Brian+6 more
Total Works

178

176 movies • 2 shows

Avg Rating

6 / 10

across rated releases

Box Office

—

worldwide gross

Global Reach

#1

TMDB star index

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.

Signature Roles & Milestones

42nd Street
6.9
42nd Street
1933•movie
as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Kiss Me Kate
6.5
Kiss Me Kate
1953•movie
as Ralph
The Sign of the Cross
6.4
as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)
That's Entertainment, Part II
7.0
as (archive footage) (uncredited)

Full Filmography & Credits

Showing 178 titles featuring Dave O'Brien

42nd Street
6.9
42nd Street
1933•movie

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

Tell Your Children
4.4
Tell Your Children
1938•movie

as Ralph

Kiss Me Kate
6.5
Kiss Me Kate
1953•movie

as Ralph

The Devil Bat
5.3
The Devil Bat
1940•movie

as Johnny Layton

The Sign of the Cross
6.4

as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)

That's Entertainment, Part II
7.0

as (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Dawn Patrol
6.6
The Dawn Patrol
1930•movie

as Pilot (uncredited)

Bowery at Midnight
5.0
Bowery at Midnight
1942•movie

as Det. Pete Crawford

T.V. of Tomorrow
6.6
T.V. of Tomorrow
1953•movie

as Man on TV

Madam Satan
5.9
Madam Satan
1930•movie

as Zeppelin Reveler

Spooks Run Wild
5.1
Spooks Run Wild
1941•movie

as Jeff Dixon

New Frontier
5.7
New Frontier
1939•movie

as Jason Braddock

Hot Saturday
6.5
Hot Saturday
1932•movie

as Party Guest (Uncredited)

Wonder Bar
6.0
Wonder Bar
1934•movie

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

The Red Skelton Show
7.4

Role: Writer

Devil and the Deep
5.1
Devil and the Deep
1932•movie

as Submarine Crewman (uncredited)

Murder at the Vanities
5.7

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

Rasputin and the Empress
5.5

as Soldier (uncredited)

Boys of the City
5.3
Boys of the City
1940•movie

as Knuckles Dolan

That Gang of Mine
5.8
That Gang of Mine
1940•movie

as Knuckles Dolan

College Coach
4.6
College Coach
1933•movie

as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)

The Phantom of 42nd Street
4.8

as Tony Woolrich

One Man's Journey
6.7
One Man's Journey
1933•movie

as Dance Extra (uncredited)

Search for Beauty
5.5
Search for Beauty
1934•movie

as Talent Contestant (uncredited)

Murder by Invitation
6.0

as Michael, the chauffeur

Consolation Marriage
6.4

as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)

Wyoming Outlaw
5.8
Wyoming Outlaw
1939•movie

as Acacia Park Game Warden

'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
6.3

as Sgt. Phil Lyons

You Can't Win
4.9
You Can't Win
1948•movie

as Harried Homeowner

Flying Wild
6.1
Flying Wild
1941•movie

as Tom Lawson

Movie Pests
6.1
Movie Pests
1944•movie

as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest

Gangsters of the Frontier
4.3

as Dave Wyatt

College Humor
5.6
College Humor
1933•movie

as Student

Yukon Flight
4.1
Yukon Flight
1940•movie

as Constable Kelly

Tomorrow's Children
5.0

as Interne (uncredited)

No More Ladies
5.0
No More Ladies
1935•movie

as Party Guest (uncredited)

The Kettles in the Ozarks
6.4

as Conductor

Forbidden Trails
5.6
Forbidden Trails
1941•movie

as Jim Cramer

Woman Wanted
6.8
Woman Wanted
1935•movie

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

East Side Kids
6.4
East Side Kids
1940•movie

as Knuckles Dolan

Is My Face Red?
5.0
Is My Face Red?
1932•movie

as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

Wanted - A Master
6.8
Wanted - A Master
1936•movie

as Dog's Master (uncredited)

The World Changes
4.8
The World Changes
1933•movie

as Otto Peterson (uncredited)

Buried Alive
5.1
Buried Alive
1939•movie

as Carson

Undercover Agent
4.2
Undercover Agent
1939•movie

as Billiards Player

The Arizona Kid
6.1
The Arizona Kid
1939•movie

as Soldier

Isle Of Destiny
5.7
Isle Of Destiny
1940•movie

as Whitey - Navy Radio Man

Sure Cures
5.7
Sure Cures
1946•movie

as Xavier T. Schneckendorf

Pick-up
5.1
Pick-up
1933•movie

as Party Boy (uncredited)

Sheriff of Sage Valley
5.7

as Jeff

Wrong Way Butch
6.4
Wrong Way Butch
1950•movie

as Butch

The Yanks Are Coming
5.3

as Sgt. Callahan

Music in the Air
5.6
Music in the Air
1934•movie

as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)

Daughter of the Tong
5.2

as Jerry Morgan

Roar of the Dragon
6.5
Roar of the Dragon
1932•movie

as Submarine Crewman

Mutiny in the Big House
5.3

as Daniels

Sky Bandits
5.7
Sky Bandits
1940•movie

as Constable Kelly

We're Rich Again
6.2
We're Rich Again
1934•movie

as Pete (uncredited)

Marked for Murder
5.0
Marked for Murder
1945•movie

as Dave Wyatt

The Big Parade of Comedy
7.2

as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)

70,000 Witnesses
5.7
70,000 Witnesses
1932•movie

as Football Player (uncredited)

Tennessee Champ
6.5
Tennessee Champ
1954•movie

as Luke MacWade

On the Spot
5.8
On the Spot
1940•movie

as Charlie

The Man Who Walked Alone
5.9

as Marion Scott

Phantom Rancher
4.6
Phantom Rancher
1940•movie

as Henchman Lucke

Flying High
5.8
Flying High
1931•movie

as Dancer (uncredited)

On Your Toes
4.5
On Your Toes
1939•movie

as Man in Audience

Guns of the Law
6.0
Guns of the Law
1944•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Code of the Cactus
6.2
Code of the Cactus
1939•movie

as Bob Swane

Billy the Kid Wanted
5.6

as Jeff

Did'ja Know?
5.0
Did'ja Know?
1950•movie

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

Sitting Pretty
8.0
Sitting Pretty
1933•movie

as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)

Son of the Navy
6.2
Son of the Navy
1940•movie

as Nelson

Dead or Alive
5.0
Dead or Alive
1944•movie

as Dave Wyatt

Diamond Demon
7.6
Diamond Demon
1947•movie

Role: Director

The Secret of Treasure Island
4.5

as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]

Queen of the Yukon
6.0
Queen of the Yukon
1940•movie

as Bob Adams

Where the Buffalo Roam
5.5

as Jeff Gray

Good News
6.2
Good News
1930•movie

as Student

The Whispering Skull
6.0

as Dave Wyatt

Fighting Mad
4.5
Fighting Mad
1939•movie

as Constable Kelly

The Fighting Renegade
6.8

as Dr. Jerry Leonard

Carry Harry
4.2
Carry Harry
1942•movie

as Arthur - Harry's Friend

Prisoner of Japan
5.0
Prisoner of Japan
1942•movie

as U. S. Marine

Gift of Gab
5.2
Gift of Gab
1934•movie

as Dancer (uncredited)

The Spider Returns
8.5
The Spider Returns
1941•movie

as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide

Studio Visit
5.5
Studio Visit
1946•movie

as O'Brien

Cash Stashers
6.8
Cash Stashers
1953•movie

as A Shmoe Named Joe

Victory Quiz
6.2
Victory Quiz
1942•movie
Sky Raiders
7.2
Sky Raiders
1941•movie

Role: Stunts

Bargain Madness
6.2
Bargain Madness
1951•movie

Role: Director

Frontier Scout
6.0
Frontier Scout
1938•movie

as Steve Norris

Enemy of the Law
6.0
Enemy of the Law
1945•movie

as Dave Wyatt

Brothers of the West
6.3

as Bart

Captain Midnight
6.3
Captain Midnight
1942•movie

as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight

Water Rustlers
4.7
Water Rustlers
1939•movie

as Bob Lawson

Murder on the Yukon
5.7

as Constable Kelly

Rollin' Westward
5.8
Rollin' Westward
1939•movie

as Ranch hand Red

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
5.7

as George Baldwin

Things We Can Do Without
7.3

as Thaddeus E. Thud III

The Gunman From Bodie
5.3

as Joe Martin

Student Tour
6.7
Student Tour
1934•movie

as Student

The Girl on the Front Page
7.0

as Nightclub Patron

Boss of Rawhide
6.7
Boss of Rawhide
1943•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns
6.3

as Jeff

Billy the Kid in Santa Fe
6.0

as Texas Joe

Lightnin' Crandall
4.0
Lightnin' Crandall
1937•movie

as Tommy Shannon

Reducing
5.3
Reducing
1952•movie

as Man on Bench (uncredited)

Calling All Pa's
6.7
Calling All Pa's
1942•movie

as Joe Thunderstruck

King of the Stallions
7.3
Treasures from Trash
7.0

as Alonzo T. Mousebrain

She Married Her Boss
7.3

as Shopper

Lover Come Back
3.3
Lover Come Back
1931•movie

as Pool Party Boy (uncredited)

The Iron Claw
7.0
The Iron Claw
1941•movie

Role: Stunts

Camera Sleuth
7.0
Camera Sleuth
1951•movie

Role: Director

Film Antics
6.0
Film Antics
1954•movie

Role: Director

Ice Aces
7.0
Ice Aces
1948•movie

Role: Writer

Million Dollar Racket
6.5

as Johnny Henessey

Born to Be Wild
7.5
Born to Be Wild
1938•movie

as Trucker (uncredited)

Let's Cogitate
7.5
Let's Cogitate
1948•movie

as Oliver T. Aseltafel

Riders of the Sage
6.5
Riders of the Sage
1939•movie

as Tom Martin

Whirlwind Horseman
7.0
Whirlwind Horseman
1938•movie

as Henchman Slade

Crashing Thru
7.5
Crashing Thru
1939•movie

as Fred Chambers

Down Texas Way
6.5
Down Texas Way
1942•movie

as Dave Dodge

The Black Coin
6.5
The Black Coin
1936•movie

as Terry Navarro

Law and Order
7.5
Law and Order
1942•movie

as Jeff Travis

Utah Trail
7.0
Utah Trail
1938•movie

as Mason - Bookkeeper

The Singing Cowgirl
7.5

as Dick Williams

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
6.0

as Self (archive footage)

Flaming Lead
5.5
Flaming Lead
1939•movie

as Frank Gordon

Outlaws' Paradise
8.0
Outlaws' Paradise
1939•movie

as Henchman Meggs

The Pinto Bandit
7.0
The Pinto Bandit
1944•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Ain't It Aggravatin'
6.0

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

The Rangers Take Over
7.0

as Tex Wyatt

Hold That Woman!
7.0
Hold That Woman!
1940•movie

as Miles Hanover

Doubting Thomas
7.5
Doubting Thomas
1935•movie

as Member of Audience

The Deadly Game
7.0
The Deadly Game
1941•movie

as Ralph Spencer

Brand of the Devil
7.0
Brand of the Devil
1944•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Gunsmoke Mesa
4.5
Gunsmoke Mesa
1944•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Flaming Bullets
6.0
Flaming Bullets
1945•movie

as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson

Just Suppose
7.0
Just Suppose
1948•movie

as Husband (uncredited)

Seventh Column
7.0
Seventh Column
1943•movie

as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man

What About Daddy?
7.0
What About Daddy?
1942•movie

as The Husband

MGM Parade
7.5
2 eps
MGM Parade
1955•series
Bowling Tricks
6.5
Bowling Tricks
1948•movie

Role: Director

The Spider's Web
6.5
The Spider's Web
1938•movie

Role: Stunts

Crashing the Movies
7.0

Role: Director

Welcome Home
9.0
Welcome Home
1935•movie

as Stanley Phillips

Song of the Buckaroo
10.0

as Tex Alden

Man's Country
8.0
Man's Country
1938•movie

as Bat

Trigger Smith
9.0
Trigger Smith
1939•movie

as Duke

Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto
10.0

as Jim Dana

Frontier Fugitives
7.0
Frontier Fugitives
1945•movie

as Dave Wyatt

Gun Packer
7.0
Gun Packer
1938•movie

as Red Baker - Henchman

Drifting Westward
8.0
Drifting Westward
1939•movie

as Henchman Trigger

Double Trouble
10.0
Double Trouble
1941•movie

as Sparky Barton

Texas Wildcats
8.0
Texas Wildcats
1939•movie

as Ed Arden

Danger Ahead
8.0
Danger Ahead
1940•movie

as Corporal Kelly

The Texas Marshal
8.0
The Texas Marshal
1941•movie

as Buzz Weston

Trail of Terror
8.0
Trail of Terror
1943•movie

as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt

Tahiti Nights
9.0
Tahiti Nights
1944•movie

as Jack

Bad Men of Thunder Gap
8.0

as Tex Wyatt

Rough Riding Rhythm
9.0

as Detective Waters

The Cowboy from Sundown
9.0

as Steve Davis

Border Buckaroos
10.0
Border Buckaroos
1943•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Gun Code
8.0
Gun Code
1940•movie

as Henchman Gale

Fighting Valley
Fighting Valley
1943•movie

as Tex Wyatt

The Return of the Rangers
7.0

as Tex Wyatt

Outlaw Roundup
10.0
Outlaw Roundup
1944•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Spook Town
7.0
Spook Town
1944•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Three in the Saddle
9.0

as Dave Wyatt

Starlight Over Texas
7.0

as Henchman

The Desperados Are in Town
8.0

as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown

I Love Children, But!
10.0

as The Daddy

Ship Cafe
8.0
Ship Cafe
1935•movie

as Young Man (uncredited)

Dogs 'n Ducks
5.0
Dogs 'n Ducks
1953•movie

Role: Original Story

West of Texas
8.0
West of Texas
1943•movie

as Tex Wyatt

Meet the O'Briens
Meet the O'Briens
1954•movie

as Dave