NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — North Platte native and St. Patrick's High School graduate Dale W. O'Brien has been named one of the University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association's 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
O'Brien, a 1974 graduate of North Platte St. Patrick's High School, earned a bachelor's degree in speech and theater from Kearney State College the same year before going on to receive a master's degree in theater from the University of Arkansas.
He built a career in theater, entertainment and advertising that spanned decades, performing in regional theater productions, national touring companies and commercial campaigns across the country.
O'Brien is perhaps best known for serving more than 25 years as the spokesperson for Godfather's Pizza, becoming the familiar face and voice of the company's national advertising campaigns. In addition to appearing in television and radio commercials, he also helped write and produce marketing campaigns promoting the restaurant chain nationwide.
Before joining Godfather's Pizza, O'Brien worked as a professional actor in children's theater, dinner theater, opera, summer stock productions, off-Broadway and touring Broadway musicals. His career also included television appearances, commercial work and writing and directing theatrical productions.
Among his creative accomplishments, O'Brien wrote and directed Union Stories, a one-woman play performed at Kansas City's historic Union Station, and authored the script used by the station's tour guides.
In addition to his professional career, O'Brien has been active in community service. Through his work with Godfather's Pizza, he supported numerous charitable organizations and spent decades promoting literacy by reading to elementary school students throughout the Omaha area. After retiring, he donated more than 130 children's books to two Bellevue elementary schools.
O'Brien is one of five recipients who will receive the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award during the University of Nebraska at Kearney's 46th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 2, as part of the university's Homecoming celebration.