About

Known credits:
122
Birthday:
1917-12-22
Place of birth:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Website:
N/A

Frankie Darro

Overview

Born into a show-business family - his parents were circus aerialists - Frankie Darro appeared in his first film at age six. Due to his small size and youthful appearance, he played teenagers well into his 20s. Always a physical performer, Darro often did his own stunts, many times out of necessity - his small stature made it difficult to find stunt doubles his size. He was an accomplished horseman and, in addition to westerns, made several films where he played jockeys. In 1933 he played the lead as a troubled teen in a major film for Warner Brothers, "Wild Boys Of The Road." It is a pre-code film with a realistic look at "The Great Depression," from the point of view of the youth of the time. This film seems to have been rediscovered only recently and has received critical acclaim.That same year, he played a troubled youth in the James Cagney classic, "The Mayor Of Hell". Later in 1935, he had a key role in the cult serial classic "The Phantom Empire"(1935). As Darro got older, however, he found it increasingly difficult to secure employment, and by the late 1940s was doing uncredited stunt work and bit parts. He had a recurring role on The Red Skelton Hour (1951), unrecognized by his fans, he played "Robby The Robot" in the groundbreaking sci-fi film "The Forbidden Planet" (1956), though Marvin Miller, best remembered as Michael Anthony of TVs "Millionaire"(1955-60), was the robot's voice. After that Frankie appeared sporadically in films and on TV .

Known for

Acting

1975 Fugitive Lovers Actor Lester the Drunk 59
Average
1975 Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1974 The Girl on the Late, Late Show Actor Studio Guard 58
Average
1969 Hook, Line and Sinker Actor Delivery Man (uncredited) 58
Average
1968 The Movie Orgy Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
1959 Operation Petticoat Actor Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley 64
Fair
1956 Forbidden Planet Actor Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited) 68
Fair
1954 The Lawless Rider Actor Jim Bascom 58
Average
1953 Two Gun Marshal Actor Clint Slocum N/A
N/A
1952 Pat and Mike Actor Caddy (uncredited) 59
Average
1951 Westward the Women Actor Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited) 60
Fair
1951 Across the Wide Missouri Actor Cadet (uncredited) 58
Average
1951 Pride of Maryland Actor Steve Loomis N/A
N/A
1950 Wyoming Mail Actor Rufe 58
Average
1950 Riding High Actor Jockey Williams 58
Average
1949 Sons of New Mexico Actor Gig Jackson 59
Average
1949 Hold That Baby! Actor Bananas Stewart 58
Average
1949 Fighting Fools Actor Johnny Higgins 58
Average
1948 Trouble Makers Actor Ben Feathers 59
Average
1948 Heart of Virginia Actor Jimmy Easter N/A
N/A
1948 Angels' Alley Actor Cousin Jimmy 59
Average
1948 Smart Politics Actor Roy Donne 59
Average
1947 That's My Man Actor Jockey 59
Average
1947 Sarge Goes to College Actor Roy Donne 58
Average
1947 Vacation Days Actor Roy Donne N/A
N/A
1946 High School Hero Actor Roy Donne 58
Average
1946 Junior Prom Actor Roy Donne 58
Average
1946 Freddie Steps Out Actor Roy Donne 58
Average
1944 Take It or Leave It Actor Radio Listener 58
Average
1942 Dead End Kids Go To War Actor Jack N/A
N/A
1942 Junior G-Men of the Air Actor Jack 59
Average
1941 Tuxedo Junction Actor Jack 'Sock' Anderson N/A
N/A
1941 Let's Go Collegiate Actor Frankie Monahan 59
Average
1941 The Gang's All Here Actor Frankie O'Malley 58
Average
1941 You're Out of Luck Actor Frankie O'Reilly 59
Average
1940 Up in the Air Actor Frankie Ryan 59
Average
1940 Laughing at Danger Actor Frankie Kelly N/A
N/A
1940 On the Spot Actor Frankie 'Doc' Kelly 59
Average
1940 Men with Steel Faces Actor Frankie Baxter 59
Average
1940 Pinocchio Actor Lampwick (voice) (uncredited) 70
Good
1940 Chasing Trouble Actor Jimmy O'Brien 58
Average
1939 Irish Luck Actor Buzzy O'Brien 59
Average
1939 Boys' Reformatory Actor Tommy Ryan 59
Average
1938 Tough Kid Actor 'Skipper' Murphy 59
Average
1938 Wanted by the Police Actor Danny Murphy 59
Average
1938 Juvenile Court Actor Stubby 59
Average
1938 The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Actor Jerry N/A
N/A
1938 Reformatory Actor Louie Miller 59
Average
1937 Young Dynamite Actor Freddie Shields 58
Average
1937 Thoroughbreds Don't Cry Actor "Dink" Reid 58
Average
1937 Headline Crasher Actor James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr. N/A
N/A
1937 Saratoga Actor Dixie Gordon 58
Average
1937 Anything for a Thrill Actor Dan Mallory 58
Average
1937 Tough to Handle Actor Mike Sanford N/A
N/A
1937 The Devil Diamond Actor Lee 58
Average
1936 Mind Your Own Business Actor Bob N/A
N/A
1936 Racing Blood Actor Frankie Reynolds 59
Average
1936 Born to Fight Actor 'Babyface' Madison N/A
N/A
1936 Charlie Chan at the Race Track Actor 'Tip' Collins, Jockey 59
Average
1936 Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs Actor Self 58
Average
1936 The Ex-Mrs. Bradford Actor Spike Salisbury (uncredited) 58
Average
1936 Black Gold Actor Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly 59
Average
1935 3 Kids and a Queen Actor Blackie 59
Average
1935 Valley of Wanted Men Actor Slivers Sanderson 59
Average
1935 Men of Action Actor Johnny Morgan 59
Average
1935 Stranded Actor James 'Jimmy' Rivers 59
Average
1935 Unwelcome Stranger Actor Charlie Anderson N/A
N/A
1935 The Phantom Empire Actor Frankie Baxter 58
Average
1935 Red Hot Tires Actor Johnny 58
Average
1935 The Payoff Actor Jimmy Moore 58
Average
1934 Broadway Bill Actor Ted Williams 58
Average
1934 Burn 'Em Up Barnes Actor Bobbie Riley 58
Average
1934 The Merry Frinks Actor Norman Frink 58
Average
1934 No Greater Glory Actor Feri Ats 59
Average
1934 Hollywood on Parade No. B-1 Actor 59
Average
1934 The Big Race Actor Knobby N/A
N/A
1934 Little Men Actor Dan 59
Average
1933 Wild Boys of the Road Actor Eddie Smith 59
Average
1933 The Wolf Dog Actor Frank Courtney 59
Average
1933 Tugboat Annie Actor Alec, as a Child 58
Average
1933 Laughing at Life Actor Chango 59
Average
1933 The Mayor of Hell Actor James 'Jimmie' Smith 59
Average
1932 The Devil Horse Actor Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy 58
Average
1932 Three on a Match Actor Bobby (uncredited) 59
Average
1932 Hollywood on Parade No. A-3 Actor Self (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1932 Hollywood on Parade Actor Self 58
Average
1932 Amateur Daddy Actor Pete Smith N/A
N/A
1931 Way Back Home Actor Robbie 58
Average
1931 The Lightning Warrior Actor Jimmy Carter 59
Average
1931 The Sin of Madelon Claudet Actor Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited) 58
Average
1931 The Mad Genius Actor Fedor as a Boy 59
Average
1931 The Vanishing Legion Actor Jimmie Williams 59
Average
1931 The Public Enemy Actor Matt as a Boy (uncredited) 64
Fair
1929 Blaze o' Glory Actor Jean Williams N/A
N/A
1929 Rainbow Man Actor Billy Ryan N/A
N/A
1929 Trail of the Horse Thieves Actor Buddy N/A
N/A
1928 The Circus Kid Actor Buddy N/A
N/A
1928 Texas Tornado Actor Buddy Martin N/A
N/A
1928 The Phantom of the Range Actor Spuds O'Brien N/A
N/A
1927 Little Mickey Grogan Actor Mickey Grogan N/A
N/A
1927 Judgement Of The Hills Actor Tad Dennison N/A
N/A
1927 Tom's Gang Actor Spuds N/A
N/A
1927 Moulders of Men Actor Sandy Barry N/A
N/A
1927 Lightning Lariats Actor Alexis, King of Roxenburg N/A
N/A
1926 Flesh and the Devil Actor Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited) 60
Fair
1926 The Cowboy Cop Actor Frankie N/A
N/A
1926 Hearts and Spangles Actor Bobby N/A
N/A
1926 The Masquerade Bandit Actor Tim Marble N/A
N/A
1926 Mike Actor Boy N/A
N/A
1926 Kiki Actor Pierre 59
Average
1926 Memory Lane Actor Urchin N/A
N/A
1926 Born to Battle Actor Birdie N/A
N/A
1925 The Cowboy Musketeer Actor Billy Gordon N/A
N/A
1925 The Midnight Flyer Actor Young Davey N/A
N/A
1925 Confessions of a Queen Actor Prince Zara 59
Average
1925 The Wyoming Wildcat Actor Barnie Finn N/A
N/A
1924 So Big Actor Dirk DeJong (child) N/A
N/A
1924 Roaring Rails Actor Little Bill 59
Average
1924 Racing for Life Actor Jimmy Danton N/A
N/A
1924 The Signal Tower Actor Sonny Tolliver 58
Average
1924 Judgment of the Storm Actor Heath Twin N/A
N/A

Crew

1962 The Notorious Landlady Crew Stunts 59
Average