Tom O'Brien (July 25, 1890 – June 8, 1947) was an American silent and

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character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

known for his burly serio-comic roles. He worked in the

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

The Gentleman from America ''The Gentleman from America'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson and Louise Lorraine. It also featured a young Boris Karloff in an uncredited bit part. The screenplay was written by Geor ...

'' (1923) as Johnny Day, which is about the humorous tale of two American buddies (O'Brien and

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitione ...

) and they have numerous adventures in

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. Tom O'Brien appeared in over 80 films in a 22 years of career. He was primarily cast as stocky "Irish types" in comic supporting roles. He also worked in ''

The Big Parade ''The Big Parade'' is a 1925 American silent war drama film directed by King Vidor, starring John Gilbert, Renée Adorée, Hobart Bosworth, Tom O'Brien, and Karl Dane. Written by World War I veteran, Laurence Stallings, the film is about an ...

'' (1925) as Corporal Bull O'Hara. He was buried at

Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original and current flagship location of Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries, a chain of six cemeteries and four additional mortuaries in Southern Cal ...

.''Resting Places''
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Filmography

Feature films

* ''

The Murder in the Museum ''The Murder in the Museum'' is a 1934 American film directed by Melville Shyer. The film is also known as ''The Five Deadly Vices'' (American reissue title). Plot summary A city councilman is murdered while investigating allegations of drug ...

'' (1934) as Alfred Carr * ''

The Woman Condemned ''The Woman Condemned'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by Dorothy Davenport, best known as a silent actress and the wife of actor Wallace Reid. Plot A radio star takes a vacation and is later found murdered. Barbara Hammond is ac ...

'' (1934) as First Detective * '' Only Yesterday'' (1933) * ''

Lucky Dog The ''beneficiary rule'', commonly referred to as the "lucky dog" or "free pass", is a rule in some motor racing leagues allowing the closest lapped driver to the front of the field to gain back a lap when a caution is called. The driver is call ...

'' (1933) as The Detective * ''

It's a Cinch __NOTOC__ These are the films of the American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter Roscoe Arbuckle. Films marked with a diamond (♦) were directed by and featured Arbuckle. He used the name William Goodrich on the films he dir ...

'' (1932) as Spike * ''

The Night Mayor ''The Night Mayor'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Lee Tracy, Evalyn Knapp and Don Dillaway.Palmer, p. 132 Cast * Lee Tracy as Mayor Bobby Kingston * Evalyn Knapp as Doree Dawn * Don Dillaw ...

'' (1932) as Delaney * ''

The Phantom Express The Phantom Express is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery crime-drama directed by Emory Johnson and based on the Emory Johnson story. The film stars William Collier, Jr. as Bruce Harrington, Sally Blane as Carolyn Nolan and Hobart Bosworth as Mr ...

'' (1932) as Red Connelly, the Telegraph Operator * ''

The Unexpected Father ''The Unexpected Father'' is a 1932 American comedy film directed by Thornton Freeland and starring Slim Summerville, Zasu Pitts, and Cora Sue Collins.Stumpf p. 136 The film's sets were designed by the art director Thomas F. O'Neill. Plot Ca ...

'' (1932) as Policeman * ''

The Phantom ''The Phantom'' is an American adventure comic strip, first published by Lee Falk in February 1936. The main character, the Phantom, is a fictional costumed crime-fighter who operates from the fictional African country of Bangalla. The charact ...

'' (1931) as Police Sgt. Pat Collins * ''

Hell-Bent for Frisco ''Hell-Bent for Frisco'' is a 1931 American pre-Code action film directed by Stuart Paton and starring Charles Delaney, Vera Reynolds and Carroll Nye.Darby, p. 107 Synopsis After his girlfriend's brother is murdered, a San Francisco newspaperm ...

'' (1931) as Fogarty * '' Trapped'' (1931) as Joe Farley * '' The Hawk'' (1931) as Killdane * '' Midnight Special'' (1930) as Dan Padden * ''

Moby Dick ''Moby-Dick; or, The Whale'' is an 1851 novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is the sailor Ishmael's narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship ''Pequod'', for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant whit ...

'' (1930) as Starbuck * '' Call of the West'' (1930) as Bull Clarkson * ''

Dance Hall Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for Dance, dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub. The majority of towns and citi ...

'' (1929) as Truck Driver * ''

Dark Skies ''Dark Skies'' is an American UFO conspiracy theory-based sci-fi television series that debuted on NBC on September 21, 1996, and ended on May 31, 1997, and was later rerun by the Sci-Fi Channel; 18 episodes and a two-hour pilot episode were br ...

'' (1929) as Pete * ''

The Talk of Hollywood ''The Talk of Hollywood'' is a 1929 American musical comedy film directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Nat Carr, Fay Marbe and Hope Sutherland.Munden p.785 It was shot at the New York studios of RKO Pictures. The film's sets were designed b ...

'' (1929) as Reel-Mixing Projectionist * '' Untamed'' (1929) as Moran * ''

Broadway Scandals ''Broadway Scandals'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code musical film. Cast * Sally O'Neil - Mary * Jack Egan - Ted Howard * Carmel Myers - Valeska * J. Barney Sherry - Le Claire * Charles C. Wilson - Jack Lane * Doris Dawson - Bobby * Wild Bill El ...

'' (1929) as Bill Gray * ''

Hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

'' (1929) as Dugan * ''

Smiling Irish Eyes ''Smiling Irish Eyes'' (1929) is a Vitaphone American pre-Code musical film with Technicolor sequences. The film is now considered a lost film. However, the Vitaphone discs still exist. Plot Rory O'More leaves his sweetheart Kathleen O'Connor ba ...

'' (1929) as Black Barney * '' The Flying Fool'' (1929) as Tom Dugan * '' His Lucky Day'' (1929) as James, the Chauffeur * '' It Can Be Done'' (1929) as Detective * ''

The Peacock Fan ''The Peacock Fan'' is a 1929 American silent mystery film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Lucien Prival, Dorothy Dwan and Tom O'Brien.Pitts p.87 A review in ''Variety'' described it as a "fairly interesting melodrama of the who-killed-Regi ...

'' (1929) as Sgt. O'Brien * ''

The Office Scandal ''The Office Scandal'' is a 1929 American drama film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Phyllis Haver, Raymond Hatton and Margaret Livingston.Langman p.84 It was originally made as a silent, but some sound effects a musical score and talkin ...

'' (1929) as Pool Hall Lookout * ''

The Last Warning ''The Last Warning'' is a 1928 American mystery film directed by Paul Leni, and starring Laura La Plante, Montagu Love, and Margaret Livingston. ''The Last Warning'' was also one of the very last silent films Universal made — except it was a ...

'' (1929) as Inspector * '' The Chorus Kid'' (1928) as Bill Whipple * '' Anybody Here Seen Kelly?'' (1928) as Buck Johnson * ''

San Francisco Nights ''San Francisco Nights'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Percy Marmont, Mae Busch, and George E. Stone.''Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema'', p. 60 Cast * Percy Marmont as John Vicker ...

'' (1928) as 'Red' * ''

Outcast Souls ''Outcast Souls'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Louis Chaudet and starring Priscilla Bonner, Charles Delaney and Ralph Lewis.Munden p.579 Cast * Priscilla Bonner as Alice Davis * Charles Delaney Charles Delaney (August ...

'' (1928) as Officer * ''

That's My Daddy ''That's My Daddy'' is a 1928 American silent comedy starring Reginald Denny (actor), Reginald Denny and Barbara Kent. The film's story is credited to Denny; though the direction is credited to Fred C. Newmeyer, Denny claimed to have directed mos ...

'' (1927) as Officer Patrick Moran * ''

The Private Life of Helen of Troy ''The Private Life of Helen of Troy'' is a 1927 American silent film about Helen of Troy based on the 1925 novel of the same name by John Erskine, and adapted to screen by Gerald Duffy. The film was directed by Alexander Korda and starred Mar� ...

'' (1927) as Ulysses * ''

The Bugle Call ''The Bugle Call'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Jackie Coogan and Claire Windsor, which was released on August 6, 1927. The Lost Film Files database lists this film as being lost. Plot Billy ...

'' (1927) as Sgt. Doolan * ''

Twelve Miles Out ''Twelve Miles Out'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring John Gilbert and Joan Crawford. It is based on the 1925 Broadway play ''Twelve Miles Out'' by William Anthony McGuire. Synopsis Jerry Fay (Gilber ...

'' (1927) as Irish * ''

The Frontiersman ''The Frontiersman'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Reginald Barker and written by Tom Miranda and Gordon Rigby. The film stars Tim McCoy, Claire Windsor, Tom O'Brien, Russell Simpson, Lillian Leighton and Louise Lorraine ...

'' (1927) as Abner Hawkins * '' Rookies'' (1927) as Sgt. O'Brien * ''

Winners of the Wilderness ''Winners of the Wilderness'' is a 1927 American silent war drama film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Tim McCoy and Joan Crawford. In this costume drama, set during the French and Indian War (1754-1763), Rene Contrecouer (Crawford), t ...

'' (1927) as Timothy * ''

The Fire Brigade ''The Fire Brigade'' (also known as ''Fire!'') is 1926 American silent drama film directed by William Nigh. The film stars May McAvoy and Charles Ray. ''The Fire Brigade'' originally contained sequences shot in two-color Technicolor. A print ...

'' (1926) as Joe O'Neil * '' Tin Hats'' (1926) as Sergeant McGurk * ''

The Flaming Forest ''The Flaming Forest'' is a 1926 American Silent film, silent drama film directed by Reginald Barker and starring Antonio Moreno and Renée Adorée. The film is based on the novel of the same name by James Oliver Curwood, and was produced by Cos ...

'' (1926) as Mike * '' The Winner'' (1926) as Slugger Martin * '' Take It from Me'' (1926) as Taxi Driver * ''

The Runaway Express ''The Runaway Express'' is a 1926 American silent action film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Jack Dougherty, Blanche Mehaffey, and Tom O'Brien.Poker Faces ''Poker Faces'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Harry A. Pollard starring Edward Everett Horton and Laura La Plante. It was produced and released by Universal Pictures. The film is preserved at George Eastman House Motion Pict ...

'' (1926) as The Prizefighter * '' Sally, Irene and Mary'' (1925) as Stage Manager * ''

The Last Edition ''The Last Edition'' is a 1925 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Emory Johnson based on the story by Emilie Johnson. The photoplay is set in San Francisco, California, and stars Ralph Lewis (actor), Ralph Lewis as a Printing pr ...

'' (1925) as Bull, Job Foreman * ''

'' (1925) as Bull * ''

Crack o' Dawn ''Crack o' Dawn'' is an extant 1925 silent action adventure film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Reed Howes. Cast *Reed Howes - Earle Thorpe Jr. * J. P. McGowan - Earle Thorpe Sr. * Ruth Dwyer - Earl Thompson * Henry A. Barrows - Henr ...

'' (1925) as Stanley Steele *''

White Fang ''White Fang'' is a novel by American author Jack London (1876–1916) — and the name of the book's eponymous character, a wild wolfdog. First serialized in ''Outing'' magazine between May and October 1906, it was published in book form in Oc ...

'' (1925) as Matt * ''

Winning a Woman ''Winning a Woman'' is a 1925 American silent film, silent action film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Jack Perrin, Josephine Hill and William J. Turner.Munden p.909 Cast * Jack Perrin * Josephine Hill * William J. Turner * Tom O'Brien (a ...

'' (1925) as Unknown role * '' So This Is Marriage?'' (1924) as Riley * '' Winner Take All'' (1924) as Dynamite Galloway * '' Never Say Die'' (1924) as Gun Murray * ''

What Shall I Do? ''What Shall I Do?'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by John G. Adolfi and starring Dorothy Mackaill, John Harron, and Louise Dresser. Synopsis After an accident, a man suffers from amnesia and leaves his wife and child to retur ...

'' (1924) as Big Jim Brown * ''

Untamed Youth ''Untamed Youth'' is a 1957 American teen film directed by Howard W. Koch, written by John C. Higgins and Stephen Longstreet, and starring Mamie Van Doren and Lori Nelson as two starstruck sisters who are sentenced to farm labor. Plot Sisters ...

'' (1924) as Jim Larson * ''

Fools Highway ''Fools Highway'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Mary Philbin. The film was produced and released by Universal Pictures. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Mamie Rose, little ...

'' (1924) as Philadelphia O'Brien * ''

Flapper Wives ''Flapper Wives'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Justin H. McCloskey and Jane Murfin and starring May Allison, Rockliffe Fellowes, and Vera Reynolds. Cast * May Allison as Claudia Bigelow * Rockliffe Fellowes as Stephen Care ...

'' (1924) as Tim Callahan * '' Tipped Off'' (1923) as Jim 'Pug' Murphy, Mildred's Brother * ''

'' (1923) as Johnny Day * ''

The Scarlet Car ''The Scarlet Car'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and featuring Lon Chaney, Edith Johnson and Franklyn Farnum. The film was written by William Parker, based upon the novel ''The Scarlet Car'' by Richard Harding ...

'' (1923) as Mitt Deagon * ''

Youth to Youth ''Youth to Youth'' is a 1922 American silent melodrama film directed by Emile Chautard and starring Billie Dove, Edythe Chapman, and Hardee Kirkland. It was released on October 16, 1922. Cast * Billie Dove as Eve Allinson * Edythe Chapman as M ...

'' (1922) as Ralph Horry * ''

Up and Going ''Up and Going'' is a 1922 American silent adventure film directed by Lynn Reynolds and starring Tom Mix, Eva Novak and William Conklin.Solomon p.276 Cast * Tom Mix as David Brandon (in play) * Eva Novak as Jackie McNabb (in play) * William Con ...

'' (1922) as Sergeant Langley * '' Their Mutual Child'' (1921) as Steve Dingle * '' The Devil Within'' (1921) as Wansley * '' Scrap Iron'' (1921) as Battling Burke * ''

The Sagebrusher ''The Sagebrusher'' is a 1920 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sloman and starring Roy Stewart, Marguerite De La Motte and Noah Beery.Goble p.229 Cast * Roy Stewart as Dr. Barnes * Marguerite De La Motte as Mary Warren * ...

'' (1920) as Charlie Dornewald * ''

Dangerous Hours ''Dangerous Hours'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Fred Niblo. Prints of the film survive in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. It premiered in February 1920. The film was based on a short story "A Prodigal in Utopia" publ ...

'' (1919) as Bolshevik at Meeting * ''

Square Deal Sanderson ''Square Deal Sanderson'' is a 1919 American silent Western film directed by William S. Hart and Lambert Hillyer, written by Lambert Hillyer and Charles Alden Seltzer, and starring William S. Hart, Ann Little, Frank Whitson, Lloyd Bacon, Edwin ...

'' (1919) as Williams * '' The Mints of Hell'' (1919) as Unknown role

Short films

* ''Fun in the Clouds'' (1928, short) as The Director * ''Pardon My Glove'' (1922, short) as The Champ * ''Bucking Broadway'' (1922, short) as The Stage Manager * ''A Hickory Hick'' (1922, short) as The Crooked Crook * ''Plumb Crazy'' (1923, short) as Olie Margerine * ''Spooks and Spasms'' (1917, short) as The Big V Riot Squad * ''The Runaway Freight'' (1914, short) as Slim, a Yeggman * ''McCarn Plays Fate'' (1914, short) as Bull Klein

References

Bibliography

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:O'Brien, Tom 1890 births 1947 deaths American male silent film actors 20th-century American male actors