{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/118633/dave-o-brien",
  "name": "Dave O'Brien",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/118633/dave-o-brien",
  "knownForDepartment": "Acting",
  "description": "From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nDave O'Brien (born David Poole Fronabarger, May 31, 1912 – November 8, 1969) was an American film actor, director, and writer.\n\nO'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.\n\nModern 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).\n\nAs 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.\n\nO'Brien died, aged 57, of a heart attack while competing in a yachting race.",
  "birthDate": "1912-05-31",
  "deathDate": "1969-11-08",
  "birthPlace": "Big Spring, Texas, USA",
  "alternateName": [
    "David Poole Fronabarger",
    "David Fronabarger",
    "David O'Brien",
    "Dave O'Brian",
    "Dave Tex O'Brien",
    "Dave 'Tex' O'Brien",
    "Tex O'Brien",
    "Tex Coe",
    "David Barclay",
    "Dave Barclay"
  ],
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/15LzlUysJ66GEfZpRWz8EuwHfZG.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0639495"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "3 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 135236,
      "title": "MGM Parade",
      "year": "1955",
      "role": "Cast",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 9,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/oso0jA0fxVfb0VUFRT5WN4F7gdz.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/135236/mgm-parade-1955"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 34857,
      "title": "Kiss Me Kate",
      "year": "1953",
      "role": "as Ralph",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.495,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/phJTfsjxxi0a6ibYQ7SCACoTXDC.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/34857/kiss-me-kate-1953"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 83817,
      "title": "Madam Satan",
      "year": "1930",
      "role": "as Zeppelin Reveler",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.9,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/fMRAu0p3cT1p06TCbPDsjcLgs4O.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/83817/madam-satan-1930"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 53719,
      "title": "New Frontier",
      "year": "1939",
      "role": "as Jason Braddock",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.75,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/dUM48xaxoNcghPqQZ9NTemqXZw4.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/53719/new-frontier-1939"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 227053,
      "title": "Undercover Agent",
      "year": "1939",
      "role": "as Billiards Player",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 4.25,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/x7vSS1593ZguCckVf9Jc2cwvBhP.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/227053/undercover-agent-1939"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 242963,
      "title": "Woman Wanted",
      "year": "1935",
      "role": "as Steve - Tap Dancer at Baxter's Party (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.75,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/zeFp3HFBVmHoK8aKH900Q5jyRnY.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/242963/woman-wanted-1935"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 74719,
      "title": "That's Entertainment, Part II",
      "year": "1976",
      "role": "as (archive footage)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/yuvgOvG0OSOS33EW1L42ZM7PEI0.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/74719/that-s-entertainment-part-ii-1976"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 160840,
      "title": "College Coach",
      "year": "1933",
      "role": "as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 4.577,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/aEEusTzSj80NZZuf31XNgCz8LOa.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/160840/college-coach-1933"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 52355,
      "title": "Hot Saturday",
      "year": "1932",
      "role": "as Party Guest (Uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.619,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ItvxwGzzA3WZgb3MBRzO8zNRRJ.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/52355/hot-saturday-1932"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 50070,
      "title": "The Sign of the Cross",
      "year": "1932",
      "role": "as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.24,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/qJdANRQy3BkTJGxXXHKMVoUigSD.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/50070/the-sign-of-the-cross-1932"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 132883,
      "title": "Wonder Bar",
      "year": "1934",
      "role": "as Chorus Boy (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/noCvd3gFaPtk5y601WRDzERl217.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/132883/wonder-bar-1934"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 242431,
      "title": "Student Tour",
      "year": "1934",
      "role": "as Student",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.667,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ahPbDT1Qw10cR0mNA422INiU1Qa.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/242431/student-tour-1934"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 386176,
      "title": "The Big Parade of Comedy",
      "year": "1964",
      "role": "as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.167,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/m7D4C03rFIEYxCsnblyu7fU5OIW.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/386176/the-big-parade-of-comedy-1964"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 169341,
      "title": "College Humor",
      "year": "1933",
      "role": "as Student",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.611,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/nmSwhsaGhQTizhntWh93v8FAjDj.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/169341/college-humor-1933"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 181491,
      "title": "Wyoming Outlaw",
      "year": "1939",
      "role": "as Acacia Park Game Warden",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.818,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/hNC3hLgwwZyDXX2NAFs67xBydwH.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/181491/wyoming-outlaw-1939"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 81847,
      "title": "The Dawn Patrol",
      "year": "1930",
      "role": "as Pilot (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rJQIJGOx1EMkPt0vkRGpEUuXvSw.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/81847/the-dawn-patrol-1930"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 255603,
      "title": "The Spider's Web",
      "year": "1938",
      "role": "Stunts",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/pG1iEh22Zezh525FzfRxmEiMGeX.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/255603/the-spider-s-web-1938"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 180924,
      "title": "Gift of Gab",
      "year": "1934",
      "role": "as Dancer (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/2C43vX57l9XkmRskWErrrnow3ZP.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/180924/gift-of-gab-1934"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 43132,
      "title": "Rasputin and the Empress",
      "year": "1932",
      "role": "as Soldier (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.467,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/txLqNjctfiVbCyxIKa261W5tz70.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/43132/rasputin-and-the-empress-1932"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 55602,
      "title": "Buried Alive",
      "year": "1939",
      "role": "as Carson",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.143,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5wI8N5jB9fwD4gzuPtstizVWr1u.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/55602/buried-alive-1939"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 136109,
      "title": "Consolation Marriage",
      "year": "1931",
      "role": "as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.364,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/oiIeAefuWZUx4bXC32togtw4kUQ.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/136109/consolation-marriage-1931"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 96525,
      "title": "Music in the Air",
      "year": "1934",
      "role": "as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.571,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/pB1jhghQMItqJOeE4oyF9vRzmb.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/96525/music-in-the-air-1934"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 230284,
      "title": "One Man's Journey",
      "year": "1933",
      "role": "as Dance Extra (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.667,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/xNY8lSFO6SyyDp5PNEwJIeVJaPe.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/230284/one-man-s-journey-1933"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 236006,
      "title": "We're Rich Again",
      "year": "1934",
      "role": "as Pete (uncredited)",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.167,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8LBV0n3trsHQnnwM5WlLMO5ZXxl.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/236006/we-re-rich-again-1934"
    }
  ]
}