
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.
Filmography

42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
2006
as Self (archive footage)

That's Entertainment, Part II
1976
as (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Big Parade of Comedy
1964
as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)

The Desperados Are in Town
1956
as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown

The Kettles in the Ozarks
1956
as Conductor
- No poster
The Fall Guy
1955
as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
- No poster
Just What I Needed
1955
as Harry Horseknuckle
- No poster
The Man Around the House
1955
as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)

Meet the O'Briens
1954
as Dave
- No poster
Out for Fun
1954
as Businessman Seeking Relaxation
- No poster
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
as George Dibson

Tennessee Champ
1954
as Luke MacWade

Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954
as Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead

Things We Can Do Without
1953
as Thaddeus E. Thud III

Kiss Me Kate
1953
as Ralph

Cash Stashers
1953
as A Shmoe Named Joe

T.V. of Tomorrow
1953
as Man on TV

I Love Children, But!
1952
as The Daddy

Reducing
1952
as Man on Bench (uncredited)

Wrong Way Butch
1950
as Butch
- No poster
A Wife's Life
1950
as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)

Did'ja Know?
1950
as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
- No poster
Pest Control
1950
as Cruising Wolf
- No poster
Those Good Old Days
1949