Dave O'Neil

David O'Neil (born 8 May 1965) is an Australian stand-up comedian, actor, bass guitarist, writer, television and radio presenter.

Early life O'Neil was a Cub, Scout, Venturer and Rover. His late father Kevin was the Group Leader at the 1st/3rd Mitcham Scout Group.

After finishing high school at Mitcham High School in Melbournes East O'Neil completed a course in primary school teaching; however, he never taught. He became a field officer for the Red Cross, giving talks and training sessions, where he first enjoyed public speaking and the opportunity to tell jokes.

In the late 1980s, he was a member of Melbourne band Captain Cocoa, in which he played bass. His identical twin brother, Glenn, was the lead vocalist.

O’Neil is a supporter of the Geelong Football Club in the AFL .

Career

Radio O'Neil ventured into radio in the early 1990s, appearing on the Osso Booko Show on Melbourne community station 3RRR from 1992 to 1997. He co-hosted the one-hour sketch comedy show on Sundays with Vic Plume and Alan Parkes. He also spent some time on the RRR Breakfast team with Kate Langbroek and regular phone-ins from Dave Hughes.

In December 2001, he joined then-new radio station Nova 100 in Melbourne, on the top-rating Hughesy, Kate & Dave breakfast show. He later left in July 2006 for Nova's sister station, Vega 91.5 to co-host the breakfast show Dave and Denise with Shaun Micallef. In 2007, Ian "Dicko" Dickson and Chrissie Swan joined the show with Denise Scott with Shaun Micallef leaving the station.

In 2010, once Vega 91.5 became Classic Rock 91.5, Chrissie Swan departed the breakfast team. However, on 15 July 2010 Ian "Dicko" Dickson and O'Neil were axed from Classic Rock 91.5.

From 2017 until 2022, O'Neil was a regular guest and fill in for Sam Pang on Nova 100's breakfast show Chrissie, Sam & Browny.

In 2025, O'Neil is a regular fill-in host on ABC Radio Melbourne for Breakfast and ABC Nights as host. He also features in a weekly segment each with Brigitte Duclos on ABC Radio Melbourne Afternoon program every Wednesday, where they explore all things nostalgic.

Television In 1997, O'Neil featured on the RMITV show Under Melbourne Tonights 1997 Christmas Special. He appeared on the RMITV show The Loft Live on 8 July 1999 and again on The Loft Live Comedy Benefit" episode on 10 February 2000. From 2005 to 2021, he also appeared as a regular guest on the Australian music TV show Spicks and Specks. In 2010, O'Neil also appeared on the first episode of ABC1 miniseries Sleuth 101, in which he was a guest detective, solving a murder mystery. From 2011 to 2013, he also appeared regularly on the ABC1 talk show Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight. In 2013, he appeared on the ABC's Tractor Monkeys.

O'Neil has also appeared on All Star Family Feud, Celebrity Name Game, The Project, Show Me the Movie!, Have You Been Paying Attention? Hughesy, We Have a Problem, Fisk and Claire Hoopers House of Games.

From 1998 to 1999, O'Neil was a head writer for the Network 10 sketch comedy show, Totally Full Frontal.

Politics At the Australian federal election in 2007, O'Neil stood as an independent candidate for the federal seat of Gellibrand in Melbourne's industrial and portside inner western suburbs including Williamstown, Newport, Spotswood, Footscray, Braybrook, Altona and parts of Altona Meadows and Laverton. He received 2.3% of the vote.

Podcasts In 2017, O'Neil began a new podcast The Debrief with Dave O'Neil. Each episode he drives a comedian home from a gig and discusses comedy and their career. It's available through iTunes and other podcast apps. Guests on the show have included Colin Lane, Denise Scott, Tom Ballard, Dilruk Jayasinha, Fiona O'Loughlin, Joel Creasey Dave Thornton, Pete Helliar Anthony Lehman, Des Dowling, Brad Oakes and Cal Wilson.

O'Neil's other podcasts include Somehow Related which he co-hosts with Glenn Robbins and The Junkees co-hosted with Kitty Flanagan.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 2002 The Nugget Sue Feature film 2002 Guru Wayne End Devotee Feature film 2003 Take Away Mal the Butcher Feature film 2005 You and Your Stupid Mate Akela Feature film 2009 Less Adolescent Scout Leader Feature film 2010 Ricky! The Movie Self (cameo) Mockumentary film 2016 Uber X-Citing Day Self Short film

Television

Television (as self) Year Title Role Type 1995 Something Hot Before Bed Self TV series 1996 Full Frontal Guest performer TV series, 1 episode 1997 Under Melbourne Tonight Guest Christmas special 1997 Headliners Host TV series 1998–2011 Good News Week Panellist TV series, 8 episodes 1999 Hessie’s Shed Self TV series, 1 episode 1999 O'Loghlin on Saturday Night Self TV series, 1 episode 1999 The Loft Live Guest comedian TV series, 1 episode 1999 The Mick Molloy Show Self TV series, 6 episodes 1999 The Loft Live Comedian TV series, 1 episode 2000 The Loft Live Comedy Benefit Comedian TV special, 1 episode 2000–01 The Big Schmooze Self TV series, 43 episodes 2000–02 The Fat Guest TV series, 3 episodes 2000–05 Rove Live Guest TV series, 3 episodes 2001 The Micallef P(r)ogram(me) Self TV series, 1 episode 2001; 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Comedian TV special, 2 episode 2002–03 The Panel Comedian TV series, 1 episode 2003 Micallef Tonight Self TV series, 1 episode 2005–24 Spicks and Specks Regular team member TV series, 68 episodes 2006 Dancing with the Stars Contestant TV series, 1 episode 2006 Australia's Brainiest Self TV series, 1 episode 2006 Real Stories Self TV series, 1 episode 2007 The Nation Self TV series, 1 episode 2010 Sleuth 101 Guest detective TV series, 1 episode 2011 Statesmen of Comedy Guest TV series, 1 episode 2011 You Have Been Watching Guest TV series, 1 episode 2011–13 Can of Worms Comedian TV series, 3 episodes 2011–13 Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight Regular guest TV series, 20 episodes 2012 Talkin’ Bout Your Generation Contestant TV series, 1 episode 2012 Randling Contestant TV series, 7 episodes 2013 Tractor Monkeys Team Captain TV series, 17 episodes 2013–15 Total Agony Self TV series, 22 episodes 2014 Community Kitchen Guest TV series, 1 episode 2014 Fancy Boy Comedian TV series, 1 episode 2014–16 Comedy Up Late Self TV series, 3 episodes 2015 Comedians in Bars Drinking Beer Self TV series, 1 episode 2015 About Tonight Guest TV series, 1 episode 2015 Darren & Brose Guest TV series, 1 episode 2015 How Not to Behave Self TV series, 1 episode 2016 All Star Family Feud Contestant TV series, 1 episode 2019 Show Me the Movie! Panellist TV series, 1 episode 2019 Have You Been Paying Attention? Panellist TV series, 1 episode 2018–2020 Hughesy, We Have a Problem Self TV series, 6 episodes 2022 Tomorrow Tonight Panellist TV series, 1 episode 2022 Question Everything Panellist TV series, 1 episode 2023 The Project Guest TV series, 1 episode