Frankie Darro
Frankie Darro
Biography
Frankie Darro (December 22, 1917 – December 25, 1976) was an American actor. Born into a show-business family - his parents were circus aerialists - 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
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
139
Gender
Male
Birthday
1917-12-22 (107 years old)
Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Acting

1975

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? as Self (archive footage)

1975

Fugitive Lovers as Lester the Drunk

1974

The Girl on the Late, Late Show as Studio Guard

1969

Hook, Line and Sinker as Delivery Man (uncredited)

1968

The Movie Orgy as Self (archive footage)

1966

Batman as Newsman

1964

The Addams Family as Delivery Boy

1962

Going My Way as Not available

1961

Mister Ed as Not available

1960

Checkmate as Sonny

1959

Mr. Lucky as Not available

1959

Operation Petticoat as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley

1958

Peter Gunn as Not available

1958

Bat Masterson as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison

1957

Perry Mason as Elevator Operator

1957

Perry Mason as Messenger

1957

Have Gun, Will Travel as Not available

1956

Hey, Jeannie! as Caddy

1956

Forbidden Planet as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)

1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Little Dandy Dorf

1954

Public Defender as Not available

1954

Living It Up as Bellboy Captain (uncredited)

1954

The Lawless Rider as Jim Bascom

1953

Two Gun Marshal as Clint Slocum

1952

Pat and Mike as Caddy (uncredited)

1951

Across the Wide Missouri as Cadet (uncredited)

1951

Westward the Women as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)

1951

Pride of Maryland as Steve Loomis

1950

Riding High as Jockey Williams

1950

Wyoming Mail as Rufe

1949

Fighting Fools as Johnny Higgins

1949

Sons of New Mexico as Gig Jackson

1949

Hold That Baby! as Bananas Stewart

1948

Trouble Makers as Ben Feathers

1948

Heart of Virginia as Jimmy Easter

1948

Angels' Alley as Cousin Jimmy

1948

Smart Politics as Roy Donne

1947

That's My Man as Jockey

1947

Sarge Goes to College as Roy Donne

1947

Vacation Days as Roy Donne

1946

Junior Prom as Roy Donne

1946

High School Hero as Roy Donne

1946

Freddie Steps Out as Roy Donne

1944

Take It or Leave It as Radio Listener

1941

Let's Go Collegiate as Frankie Monahan

1941

Tuxedo Junction as Jack 'Sock' Anderson

1941

The Gang's All Here as Frankie O'Malley

1941

You're Out of Luck as Frankie O'Reilly

1940

Pinocchio as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)

1940

Up in the Air as Frankie Ryan

1940

Chasing Trouble as Jimmy O'Brien

1940

Men with Steel Faces as Frankie Baxter

1940

Laughing at Danger as Frankie Kelly

1940

On the Spot as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly

1939

Irish Luck as Buzzy O'Brien

1939

Boys' Reformatory as Tommy Ryan

1938

Reformatory as Louie Miller

1938

Juvenile Court as Stubby

1938

Tough Kid as 'Skipper' Murphy

1938

Wanted by the Police as Danny Murphy

1937

Saratoga as Dixie Gordon

1937

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry as "Dink" Reid

1937

Headline Crasher as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.

1937

The Devil Diamond as Lee

1937

Anything for a Thrill as Dan Mallory

1937

Young Dynamite as Freddie Shields

1937

Tough to Handle as Mike Sanford

1936

Born to Fight as 'Babyface' Madison

1936

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)

1936

Black Gold as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly

1936

Charlie Chan at the Race Track as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey

1936

Racing Blood as Frankie Reynolds

1935

The Phantom Empire as Frankie Baxter

1935

Stranded as James 'Jimmy' Rivers

1935

3 Kids and a Queen as Blackie

1935

The Payoff as Jimmy Moore

1935

Men of Action as Johnny Morgan

1935

Red Hot Tires as Johnny

1935

Unwelcome Stranger as Charlie Anderson

1935

Valley of Wanted Men as Slivers Sanderson

1934

Broadway Bill as Ted Williams

1934

Hollywood on Parade No. B-1 as Not available

1934

Little Men as Dan

1934

The Merry Frinks as Norman Frink

1934

The Big Race as Knobby

1934

No Greater Glory as Feri Ats

1934

Burn 'Em Up Barnes as Bobbie Riley

1933

Wild Boys of the Road as Eddie Smith

1933

The Mayor of Hell as James 'Jimmie' Smith

1933

The Wolf Dog as Frank Courtney

1933

Laughing at Life as Chango

1933

Tugboat Annie as Alec, as a Child

1932

Three on a Match as Bobby (uncredited)

1932

The Devil Horse as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy

1932

Hollywood on Parade as Self

1932

Hollywood on Parade No. A-3 as Self (uncredited)

1932

Amateur Daddy as Pete Smith

1931

The Public Enemy as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)

1931

The Lightning Warrior as Jimmy Carter

1931

Way Back Home as Robbie

1931

The Sin of Madelon Claudet as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)

1931

The Mad Genius as Fedor as a Boy

1931

The Vanishing Legion as Jimmie Williams

1929

Rainbow Man as Billy Ryan

1929

Blaze o' Glory as Jean Williams

1928

Texas Tornado as Buddy Martin

1928

The Circus Kid as Buddy

1928

The Phantom of the Range as Spuds O'Brien

1927

Tom's Gang as Spuds

1927

Moulders of Men as Sandy Barry

1927

Judgement Of The Hills as Tad Dennison

1927

Little Mickey Grogan as Mickey Grogan

1927

Lightning Lariats as Alexis, King of Roxenburg

1926

Flesh and the Devil as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)

1926

Kiki as Pierre

1926

Born to Battle as Birdie

1926

Memory Lane as Urchin

1926

The Masquerade Bandit as Tim Marble

1926

The Cowboy Cop as Frankie

1926

Mike as Boy

1926

Hearts and Spangles as Bobby

1925

The Cowboy Musketeer as Billy Gordon

1925

Confessions of a Queen as Prince Zara

1925

The Wyoming Wildcat as Barnie Finn

1925

The Midnight Flyer as Young Davey

1924

Roaring Rails as Little Bill

1924

So Big as Dirk DeJong (child)

1924

Judgment of the Storm as Heath Twin

1924

Racing for Life as Jimmy Danton

1924

The Signal Tower as Sonny Tolliver
Crew