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Dave O'Brien

Dave O'Brien

Actor · Died November 8, 1969, aged 57 · Big Spring, Texas, USA

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 31, 1912
Died
November 8, 1969 (aged 57)
From
Big Spring, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 199 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 25% in 30 days

What are Dave O'Brien's films like?

Across their 42 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama27 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 15th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
57%
Bonds
19%
Power
10%
Society
9%
Self
3%
Survival
2%
Justice34 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity13 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 42 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 34 · Serious 6 · Dark 2

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 35 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 24 · Charged 17 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 34 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 27 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 28 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 39 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 42 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

23 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 12 of 23 analyzed roles.

Hero
12 of 23
Ally
7 of 23
Trickster
2 of 23
Shadow
1 of 23
Mentor
1 of 23
Show the 23 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Thrilling
24
Hopeful
24
Absurd
8
Warm
6
Other
17

How their films linger

Fun24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy37
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Dave O'Brien's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 46 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (37).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dave O'Brien's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

199 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • That's Entertainment, Part II(1976)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Big Parade of Comedy(1964)

    as Actor in the Pete Smith Shorts (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Desperados Are in Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Dock Lapman / Mr. Brown

  • The Kettles in the Ozarks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Conductor

  • The Fall Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director · as Himself as Various Characters (archive footage)

  • Just What I Needed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director · Screenplay · as Harry Horseknuckle

  • The Man Around the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director · Screenplay · Story · as Hugo Hightonsil (uncredited)

  • Film Antics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director

  • Meet the O'Briens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Producer · Teleplay · as Dave

  • Out for Fun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director · Writer · as Businessman Seeking Relaxation

  • Do Someone a Favor! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director · Screenplay · as George Dibson

  • Tennessee Champ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Luke MacWade

  • Ain't It Aggravatin' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

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

  • Things We Can Do Without (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director · Screenplay · Story · as Thaddeus E. Thud III

  • Kiss Me Kate(1953)

    as Ralph

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Cash Stashers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director · Screenplay · Story · as A Shmoe Named Joe

  • Dogs 'n Ducks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Original Story · Screenplay

  • T.V. of Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Man on TV

  • The Mosconi Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • I Love Children, But! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director · Writer · as The Daddy

  • Reducing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay · as Man on Bench (uncredited)

  • Musiquiz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Bargain Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director · Writer

  • Camera Sleuth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director · Writer

  • Wrong Way Butch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay · as Butch

  • A Wife's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director · Screenplay · Story · as George T. Hardnose (uncredited)

  • Did'ja Know? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director · Screenplay · as Expectant Father / Greeting Card Shopper / Hospital Patient / Job Applicant

  • Crashing the Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director

  • Pest Control (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director · as Cruising Wolf

  • We Can Dream, Can't We? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Those Good Old Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director · Actor

  • Super Cue Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Let's Cogitate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director · as Oliver T. Aseltafel

  • Ice Aces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director · Writer

  • Just Suppose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director · Writer · as Husband (uncredited)

  • You Can't Win (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director · Writer · as Harried Homeowner

  • I Love My Mother-In-Law But... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay · as The Son-In-Law / Husband

  • Bowling Tricks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Have You Ever Wondered? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director · Writer · as Husband / Driver / Man at Gumball Machine / Toupee Wearer

  • Surfboard Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Football Thrills No. 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Neighbor Pests (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director · Actor

  • I Love My Wife BUT! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director · Screenplay · Story · as The Husband

  • Early Sports Quiz: What's Your I.Q. No. 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Diamond Demon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director · Writer

  • I Love My Husband, But! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director · Screenplay · Story · as The Husband

  • Sure Cures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director · Writer · as Xavier T. Schneckendorf

  • Treasures from Trash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director · Screenplay · as Alonzo T. Mousebrain

  • Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director · Writer · as Horace

  • Studio Visit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as O'Brien

  • Flaming Bullets(1945)

    as Dave Wyatt / Steve Carson

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Frontier Fugitives(1945)

    as Dave Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Three in the Saddle(1945)

    as Dave Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Enemy of the Law(1945)

    as Dave Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom of 42nd Street(1945)

    as Tony Woolrich

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Walked Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Marion Scott

  • Marked for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Dave Wyatt

  • The Whispering Skull(1944)

    as Dave Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Tahiti Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Jack

  • Safety Sleuth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Careless Man

  • Dead or Alive(1944)

    as Dave Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gangsters of the Frontier(1944)

    as Dave Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Gunsmoke Mesa(1944)

    as Tex Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Brand of the Devil(1944)

    as Tex Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Movie Pests (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Feet-in-the-Aisle Pest

  • Spook Town(1944)

    as Tex Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Pinto Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Tex Wyatt

  • Sportsman's Memories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Fabian Tecumseh 'Joe' Funk (uncredited)

  • Guns of the Law(1944)

    as Tex Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Outlaw Roundup(1944)

    as Tex Wyatt

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Boss of Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Tex Wyatt

  • The Return of the Rangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Tex Wyatt

  • Trail of Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Tex Wyatt / Curly Wyatt

  • Fighting Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Tex Wyatt

  • Seventh Column (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Falstaff Pratt the Indestructible Man

  • Border Buckaroos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Tex Wyatt

  • West of Texas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Tex Wyatt

  • Bad Men of Thunder Gap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Tex Wyatt

  • The Rangers Take Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Tex Wyatt

  • 'Neath Brooklyn Bridge(1942)

    as Sgt. Phil Lyons

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Yanks Are Coming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Sgt. Callahan

  • Bowery at Midnight(1942)

    as Det. Pete Crawford

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Calling All Pa's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Joe Thunderstruck

  • King of the Stallions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Actor

  • Carry Harry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Arthur - Harry's Friend

  • Sheriff of Sage Valley(1942)

    as Jeff

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Law and Order (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jeff Travis

  • Prisoner of Japan(1942)

    as U. S. Marine

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Down Texas Way(1942)

    as Dave Dodge

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Victory Quiz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Actor

  • Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jeff

  • What About Daddy? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as The Husband

  • Captain Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Captain Albright / Captain Midnight

  • Forbidden Trails(1941)

    as Jim Cramer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Double Trouble(1941)

    as Sparky Barton

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Spooks Run Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Jeff Dixon

  • Billy the Kid Wanted(1941)

    as Jeff

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Gunman from Bodie(1941)

    as Joe Martin

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Iron Claw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Stunts

  • The Deadly Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Ralph Spencer

  • The Texas Marshal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Buzz Weston

  • Billy the Kid in Santa Fe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Texas Joe

  • Murder by Invitation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Michael, the chauffeur

  • The Spider Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Jackson, Wentworth's Aide

  • Buzzy and the Phantom Pinto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Jim Dana

  • Sky Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Stunts

  • Flying Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Tom Lawson

  • The Devil Bat(1940)

    as Johnny Layton

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • That Gang of Mine(1940)

    as Knuckles Dolan

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Cowboy from Sundown(1940)

    as Steve Davis

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Queen of the Yukon(1940)

    as Bob Adams

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Gun Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Henchman Gale

  • Boys of the City(1940)

    as Knuckles Dolan

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sky Bandits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Constable Kelly

  • Hold That Woman!(1940)

    as Miles Hanover

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • On the Spot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Charlie

  • Phantom Rancher(1940)

    as Henchman Lucke

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Son of the Navy(1940)

    as Nelson

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Isle Of Destiny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Whitey - Navy Radio Man

  • Murder on the Yukon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Constable Kelly

  • East Side Kids(1940)

    as Knuckles Dolan

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Danger Ahead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Corporal Kelly

  • Yukon Flight(1940)

    as Constable Kelly

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Crashing Thru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Fred Chambers

  • Buried Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Carson

  • Fighting Mad(1939)

    as Constable Kelly

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Flaming Lead(1939)

    as Frank Gordon

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mutiny in the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Daniels

  • On Your Toes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Man in Audience

  • The Arizona Kid(1939)

    as Soldier

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Fighting Renegade(1939)

    as Dr. Jerry Leonard

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Daughter of the Tong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Jerry Morgan

  • New Frontier(1939)

    as Jason Braddock

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Riders of the Sage(1939)

    as Tom Martin

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Wyoming Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Acacia Park Game Warden

  • Undercover Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Billiards Player

  • Outlaws' Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Henchman Meggs

  • Texas Wildcats(1939)

    as Ed Arden

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Trigger Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Duke

  • Rollin' Westward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ranch hand Red

  • Code of the Cactus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Bob Swane

  • Drifting Westward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Henchman Trigger

  • Water Rustlers(1939)

    as Bob Lawson

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Song of the Buckaroo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Tex Alden

  • Gun Packer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Red Baker - Henchman

  • The Spider's Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Stunts

  • Where the Buffalo Roam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Jeff Gray

  • Frontier Scout(1938)

    as Steve Norris

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Starlight Over Texas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Henchman

  • Utah Trail(1938)

    as Mason - Bookkeeper

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Man's Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Bat

  • Reefer Madness(1939)

    as Ralph

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Singing Cowgirl(1938)

    as Dick Williams

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Whirlwind Horseman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Henchman Slade

  • The Secret of Treasure Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Det. Jameson [Chs. 4-7]

  • Born to Be Wild(1938)

    as Trucker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Racket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Johnny Henessey

  • Rough Riding Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Detective Waters

  • Brothers of the West(1937)

    as Bart

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lightnin' Crandall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Tommy Shannon

  • Wanted - A Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dog's Master (uncredited)

  • The Girl on the Front Page (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Nightclub Patron

  • The Black Coin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Terry Navarro

  • The Adventures of Frank Merriwell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as George Baldwin

  • Ship Cafe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Young Man (uncredited)

  • She Married Her Boss(1935)

    as Shopper

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Welcome Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Stanley Phillips

  • Woman Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

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

  • Doubting Thomas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Member of Audience

  • No More Ladies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

  • Music in the Air(1934)

    as Karl Roder (singing voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Student Tour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Student

  • Gift of Gab (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Dancer (uncredited)

  • We're Rich Again(1934)

    as Pete (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Tomorrow's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Interne (uncredited)

  • Murder at the Vanities(1934)

    as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Wonder Bar(1934)

    as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Search for Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Talent Contestant (uncredited)

  • The World Changes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Otto Peterson (uncredited)

  • Sitting Pretty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Assistant Cameraman (uncredited)

  • College Coach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Student on Tennis Court (uncredited)

  • One Man's Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Dance Extra (uncredited)

  • College Humor(1933)

    as Student

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Pick-up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Party Boy (uncredited)

  • 42nd Street(1933)

    as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Rasputin and the Empress(1932)

    as Soldier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Sign of the Cross(1932)

    as Christian on Stairway (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Hot Saturday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Party Guest (Uncredited)

  • 70,000 Witnesses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Football Player (uncredited)

  • Devil and the Deep(1932)

    as Submarine Crewman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Roar of the Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Submarine Crewman

  • Is My Face Red?(1932)

    as Chorus Boy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Consolation Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Man Picking Up Stack of Newspapers (uncredited)

  • Flying High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Dancer (uncredited)

  • Lover Come Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Pool Party Boy (uncredited)

  • Madam Satan(1930)

    as Zeppelin Reveler

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Good News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Student

  • The Dawn Patrol(1930)

    as Pilot (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 200 titles from 1930 to 1976.

Highest rated

The Devil Bat (1940)

Midcredits 21st

Most popular right now

Double Trouble (1941)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting180 of 200: 154 only acting, 26 with another role · typical Midcredits score31stDirecting40 of 200: 11 only directing, 29 with another roleWriting28 of 200: 2 only writing, 26 with another roleProducing1 of 200: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew3 of 200: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

200 titles, 30 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 25 of them.

By decade

1930s75 · 74 acting · 1 crew1940s94 · 84 acting · 22 crew1950s29 · 20 acting · 23 crew1960s1 · acting1970s1 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Dave O'Brien's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 31st percentile, the median of all 62; across their 42 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 32nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Approval · how many liked their films

16thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Reach · how many have seen their films

8thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th23
  • Below 25th24

Shape of the crowd

44 of their 63 titles are Mixed.

  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed44

Most divisive · actor

Riders of the Sage (1939)

74th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

42nd Street (1933)

Midcredits 87th · 77% liked

Reviewers score the acting 49/100 in their films, across 36 reviewed titles; fans 64, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Dave O'Brien work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dave O'Brien's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charles King shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Charles King15 titles    See newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Charles King
  • Guy Wilkerson12 titles    See all 12 shared titles with Guy Wilkerson
  • Tex Ritter9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Tex Ritter
  • Bud Osborne8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Bud Osborne

Cinematographers and editors

Producers