Dave O'Brien

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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

Movies and shows, newest first

2006
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
Movie Self (archive footage)
1976
That's Entertainment, Part II
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
1964
The Big Parade of Comedy
Movie Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)
1956
The Desperados Are in Town
Movie Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown
1956
The Kettles in the Ozarks
Movie Conductor
1955
MGM Parade
TV show
1955
The Fall Guy
Movie Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)
1955
Just What I Needed
Movie Harry Horseknuckle
1955
The Man Around the House
Movie Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)
1954
Film Antics
Movie Director
1954
Meet the O'Briens
Movie Dave
1954
Out for Fun
Movie Businessman Seeking Relaxation
1954
Do Someone a Favor!
Movie George Dibson
1954
Tennessee Champ
Movie Luke MacWade
1954
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Movie Parking Space Hog / Apartment House Manager / Frugal Man / Harry Hollowhead
1953
Things We Can Do Without
Movie Thaddeus E. Thud III

More credits

1953
Kiss Me Kate
Movie Ralph
1953
Cash Stashers
Movie A Shmoe Named Joe
1953
Dogs 'n Ducks
Movie Original Story
1953
T.V. of Tomorrow
Movie Man on TV
1953
The Mosconi Story
Movie Director
1952
I Love Children, But!
Movie The Daddy
1952
Reducing
Movie Man on Bench (uncredited)
1952
Musiquiz
Movie Director
1951
The Red Skelton Show
TV show Writer
1951
Bargain Madness
Movie Director
1951
Camera Sleuth
Movie Director
1950
Wrong Way Butch
Movie Butch
1950
A Wife's Life
Movie George T. Hardnose (uncredited)
1950
Did'ja Know?
Movie Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant
1950
Crashing the Movies
Movie Director
1950
Pest Control
Movie Cruising Wolf
1949
We Can Dream, Can't We?
Movie Director
1949
Those Good Old Days
Movie
1949
Super Cue Men
Movie Director
1948
Let's Cogitate
Movie Oliver T. Aseltafel
1948
Ice Aces
Movie Writer
1948
Just Suppose
Movie Husband (uncredited)
1948
You Can't Win
Movie Harried Homeowner
1948
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
Movie The Son-In-Law / Husband