Frankie Darro
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- December 22, 1917
- Died
- December 25, 1976 (aged 59)
- Birthplace
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
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
Photos
Filmography
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Fugitive Lovers
Movie · as Lester the Drunk
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
Movie · as Studio Guard
Hook, Line and Sinker
Movie · as Delivery Man (uncredited)
The Movie Orgy
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Guns of Will Sonnett
TV · as Bartender (uncredited) · 1 ep
Batman
TV · as Newsman · 2 eps
The Addams Family
TV · as Delivery Boy · 1 ep
Going My Way
TV · as Elevator Operator · 1 ep
Mister Ed
TV · 1 ep
Checkmate
TV · as Sonny · 1 ep
The Case of the Dangerous Robin
TV · 1 ep
Operation Petticoat
Movie · as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
Mr. Lucky
TV · 1 ep
Peter Gunn
TV · 1 ep
Bat Masterson
TV · as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison · 1 ep
Perry Mason
TV · as Elevator Operator, Messenger · 1 ep
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV · 1 ep
Forbidden Planet
Movie · as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
The Ten Commandments
Movie · as Slave (uncredited)
Hey, Jeannie!
TV · as Caddy · 1 ep
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV · as Little Dandy Dorf, Boots · 1 ep
The Lawless Rider
Movie · as Jim Bascom
Living It Up
Movie · as Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
Racing Blood
Movie · as Ben
Public Defender
TV · 2 eps
Two Gun Marshal
Movie · as Clint Slocum
Pat and Mike
Movie · as Caddy (uncredited)
Westward the Women
Movie · as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Across the Wide Missouri
Movie · as Cadet (uncredited)
Pride of Maryland
Movie · as Steve Loomis
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
TV · 1 ep
The Red Skelton Show
TV · as Maw Kadiddlehopper · 1 ep
Wyoming Mail
Movie · as Rufe
Riding High
Movie · as Jockey Williams
The Next Voice You Hear...
Movie · as Newsboy (uncredited)
Sons of New Mexico
Movie · as Gig Jackson
Hold That Baby!
Movie · as Bananas Stewart
Fighting Fools
Movie · as Johnny Higgins
Angels' Alley
Movie · as Cousin Jimmy
Trouble Makers
Movie · as Ben Feathers
Heart of Virginia
Movie · as Jimmy Easter
Smart Politics
Movie · as Roy Donne
That's My Man
Movie · as Jockey
Sarge Goes to College
Movie · as Roy Donne
Vacation Days
Movie · as Roy Donne
Junior Prom
Movie · as Roy Donne
High School Hero
Movie · as Roy Donne
Freddie Steps Out
Movie · as Roy Donne
Take It or Leave It
Movie · as Radio Listener
Dead End Kids Go To War
Movie · as Jack
Junior G-Men of the Air
Movie · as Jack
Tuxedo Junction
Movie · as Jack 'Sock' Anderson
The Gang's All Here
Movie · as Frankie O'Malley
You're Out of Luck
Movie · as Frankie O'Reilly
Let's Go Collegiate
Movie · as Frankie Monahan
Pinocchio
Movie · as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Up in the Air
Movie · as Frankie Ryan
On the Spot
Movie · as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Radio Ranch
Movie · as Frankie Baxter
Chasing Trouble
Movie · as Jimmy O'Brien
Laughing at Danger
Movie · as Frankie Kelly
Boys' Reformatory
Movie · as Tommy Ryan
Irish Luck
Movie · as Buzzy O'Brien
Reformatory
Movie · as Louie Miller
Juvenile Court
Movie · as Stubby
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Movie · as Jerry
Wanted by the Police
Movie · as Danny Murphy
Tough Kid
Movie · as 'Skipper' Murphy
Saratoga
Movie · as Dixie Gordon
Headline Crasher
Movie · as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
The Devil Diamond
Movie · as Lee
Tough to Handle
Movie · as Mike Sanford
Young Dynamite
Movie · as Freddie Shields
Anything for a Thrill
Movie · as Dan Mallory
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
Movie · as "Dink" Reid
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Movie · as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Movie · as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Black Gold
Movie · as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Born to Fight
Movie · as 'Babyface' Madison
Racing Blood
Movie · as Frankie Reynolds
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
Movie · as Self
Mind Your Own Business
Movie · as Bob
Unwelcome Stranger
Movie · as Charlie Anderson
Valley of Wanted Men
Movie · as Slivers Sanderson
The Phantom Empire
Movie · as Frankie Baxter
The Payoff
Movie · as Jimmy Moore
Red Hot Tires
Movie · as Johnny
Men of Action
Movie · as Johnny Morgan
Stranded
Movie · as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
3 Kids and a Queen
Movie · as Blackie
Little Men
Movie · as Dan
Broadway Bill
Movie · as Ted Williams
No Greater Glory
Movie · as Feri Ats
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
Movie · as Bobbie Riley
The Merry Frinks
Movie · as Norman Frink
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
Movie
The Big Race
Movie · as Knobby
Wild Boys of the Road
Movie · as Eddie Smith
The Mayor of Hell
Movie · as James 'Jimmie' Smith
The Wolf Dog
Movie · as Frank Courtney
Laughing at Life
Movie · as Chango
Tugboat Annie
Movie · as Alec, as a Child
Three on a Match
Movie · as Bobby (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
Movie · as Self (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade
Movie · as Self
The Devil Horse
Movie · as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Amateur Daddy
Movie · as Pete Smith
The Lightning Warrior
Movie · as Jimmy Carter
The Public Enemy
Movie · as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
The Mad Genius
Movie · as Fedor as a Boy
The Vanishing Legion
Movie · as Jimmie Williams
Way Back Home
Movie · as Robbie
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Movie · as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Cheyenne Cyclone
Movie · as Orphan McGuire
Blaze o' Glory
Movie · as Jean Williams
Rainbow Man
Movie · as Billy Ryan
Trail of the Horse Thieves
Movie · as Buddy
Idaho Red
Movie · as Tadpole
Gun Law
Movie · as Buster Brown
The Pride of Pawnee
Movie · as Jerry Wilson
Texas Tornado
Movie · as Buddy Martin
The Circus Kid
Movie · as Buddy
The Phantom of the Range
Movie · as Spuds O'Brien
The Avenging Rider
Movie · as Frankie Sheridan
Terror Mountain
Movie · as Buddy Roberts
When the Law Rides
Movie · as Frankie Ross
Tyrant of Red Gulch
Movie · as Tip
Judgement Of The Hills
Movie · as Tad Dennison
Moulders of Men
Movie · as Sandy Barry
Little Mickey Grogan
Movie · as Mickey Grogan
Tom's Gang
Movie · as Spuds
Lightning Lariats
Movie · as Alexis, King of Roxenburg
Her Father Said No
Movie · as Matt Doe
Long Pants
Movie · as Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
Cyclone of the Range
Movie · as Frankie Butler
The Desert Pirate
Movie · as Jimmy Rand
The Flying U Ranch
Movie · as Chip Jr.
Born to Battle
Movie · as Birdie
Hearts and Spangles
Movie · as Bobby
Kiki
Movie · as Pierre
Mike
Movie · as Boy
Flesh and the Devil
Movie · as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
Memory Lane
Movie · as Urchin
The Cowboy Cop
Movie · as Frankie
The Masquerade Bandit
Movie · as Tim Marble
Tom and His Pals
Movie · as Frankie Smith
Out of the West
Movie · as Frankie O'Connor
The Thrill Hunter
Movie · as Boy Prince
Wild to Go
Movie · as Frankie Blake
Red Hot Hoofs
Movie · as Frankie Buckley
The Midnight Flyer
Movie · as Young Davey
The Cowboy Musketeer
Movie · as Billy Gordon
Confessions of a Queen
Movie · as Prince Zara
The Wyoming Wildcat
Movie · as Barnie Finn
The People vs. Nancy Preston
Movie · as Bubsy
Let's Go, Gallagher
Movie · as Little Joey
Her Husband's Secret
Movie · as Young Elliot Owen
Fighting the Flames
Movie · as Mickey
Women and Gold
Movie · as Dan Barclay Jr.
The Phantom Express
Movie · as 'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
Racing for Life
Movie · as Jimmy Danton
Judgment of the Storm
Movie · as Heath Twin
The Signal Tower
Movie · as Sonny Tolliver
Roaring Rails
Movie · as Little Bill
So Big
Movie · as Dirk DeJong (child)
Half-a-Dollar Bill
Movie · as Half-a-Dollar Bill