Spoiler : Actor Edmond O’Brien was born Redmond O’Brien (really? They couldn’t let him keep the R?) in New York City one hundred years ago today. O’Brien played a wide range of roles on Broadway, on radio and television, and in the movies, but he’s perhaps best remembered for his work in film noir, especially his role in one of the classics of that genre, D.O.A. (1950). In that picture, O’Brien plays Frank Bigelow, a man who, having learned he is not so slowly dying after being poisoned, sets out to track down his murderer. Some years ago, we made one of our periodic pilgrimages to Los Angeles, where we always like to track down film locations for our favorite pictures. On this trip, one of our stops was at the Bradbury Building, a classic structure in downtown L.A. that has appeared in countless motion pictures and television programs. In a key scene in D.O.A., Frank Bigelow is in the Bradbury Building after hours, and he takes a rather extravagant spill there in the darkened lobby. It was mid-day when we visited the Bradbury, but we didn’t let that stop us. We took a spill of our own as a tribute to a great movie and a terrific actor, and didn’t let the skunk eye cast our way by the security guards in the lobby bother us. Happy birthday, Mr. O’Brien. We’ll raise a toast to you today—a gimlet, with perhaps just a drop of “luminous toxin” in it for that extra kick.

Spoiler : Wonderful actor. Two of my favorites: The editor of the "Shinbone Star" in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," and that poor man in "D.O.A."

Spoiler : My favorite actor when I was a kid

Spoiler : Star of one of the best Suspense episodes: Dead Ernest.

Spoiler : Loved him in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance".

Spoiler : Johnny Midnight his TV series was also great..

Spoiler : My favorite Johnny Dollar. Had a good coworker that I discovered also listened to KNX every night. He always laughed at the way O'Brien kind of slurred out " Johnny Dollarrr"

Spoiler : And he was overshadowed on the series by Bob Bailey's portrayal of Dollar. But Edmund was a wonderful actor!

Spoiler : Johnny Dollar is awesome! Very entertaining.

Spoiler : Happy birthday, Edmund O'Brien! A respected character actor O'Brien played 'the man with the action packed expense account', Johnny Dollar from 1950-1952.

Spoiler : Oscar-winner actor Edmond O'Brien was born Sept 10, 1915 in NYC. His got his Hollywood break playing Gringoire in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME in 1939. Around the time of the filming, he appeared in “Crazytown” on ARCH OBOLER'S PLAYS #9 May 20, 1939, the story of two bomber pilots who crash and wind up in a strange prison. “In a world where everyone is mad, no one is mad.” A strong anti-fascist, anti-war drama. With Charlotte Manson, John Brown, Paul Stewart, Betty Kane.

Spoiler : In 1950 his Warner Brothers contract ran out. He began freelancing, including a 2-year stint as the 2nd Johnny Dollar. While the first actor, Charles Russell played Dollar in a lighter vein ala Howard Duff's Spade, O'Brien's Dollar was much more of a tough guy, like the noir detectives he played in films. From CBS on Aug 15, 1951 “The Lucky Costa Matter” for Wrigley's Spearmint Gum. A good story about a fellow detective gone bad, with excellent organ bridges by Eddie Dunstedter. Featuring Virginia Gregg, Sidney Miller, Peter Leeds, Gloria Blondell, Hy Averback, and announcer Bob Stevenson.

Spoiler : Born in New York City 9/10/1915; died 5/9/1985 of Alozheimer's disease in Inglewood, California. Brother of actor/screenwriter/television producer Liam O'Brien. Married to actress Nancy Kelly (?-?); actress Olga San Juan (known as the Puerto Rican Pepper Pot 1948-1985 his death). Father of actress Maria O'Brien. He attended Fordham University, then left after a year to study drama at The Neighborhood Playhouse.

Spoiler : Screen debut in The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1939). Served in the Armed Forces during WWII. Academy Award for "The Barefoot Contessa" (1954). Last movie was 99 44/100% Dead (1974). Johnny Dollar on Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar for CBS-Radio (1950-1952).

Spoiler : Johnny Midnight on the syndicated television series, Johnny Midnight (1960). Sam Benedict on the NBC-TV series (1962-63). Will "Boss" Varner on The Long, Hot Summer for ABC-TV (1965). Narrator for the syndicated television series, Men In Crisis (1965).

Spoiler : Excellent actor ! Just watched him again the other night as the US Senator from Georgia in the political thriller, "Seven Days in May", written by Rod Serling and directed by John ("Manchurian Candidate") Frankenheimer. O'Brien joined by a cast of more greats, Douglas, Lancaster, and two time Oscar winner Fredric March as the president.

Spoiler : On 9th May 1985, Edmond O'Brien passed away. In 1950, he became the second Johnny Dollar in the detective series 'Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar' and played the role until the series went off the air in the winter of 1952. His portrayal was the most hard boiled and world-weary of all the Johnny Dollar actors. He would go on to have a distinguished career in film and television, winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe.