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 .
Acted in 154
1970s
- 1975
Fugitive Lovers
Lester the Drunk
- 1974
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
Studio Guard
1960s
- 1969
- 1967
- 1966
- 1964
- 1962
- 1961
- 1960
1950s
- 1959
- 1958
- 1957
- 1956
Hey, Jeannie!
Caddy · 1 episode
- 1955
- 1954
Living It Up
Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
The Lawless Rider
Jim Bascom
Racing Blood
Ben
- 1953
Two Gun Marshal
Clint Slocum
- 1952
- 1951
Pride of Maryland
Steve Loomis
- 1950
Wyoming Mail
Rufe
The Next Voice You Hear...
Newsboy (uncredited)
Riding High
Jockey Williams
1940s
- 1949
Sons of New Mexico
Gig Jackson
Hold That Baby!
Bananas Stewart
Fighting Fools
Johnny Higgins
- 1948
Trouble Makers
Ben Feathers
Heart of Virginia
Jimmy Easter
Angels' Alley
Cousin Jimmy
Smart Politics
Roy Donne
- 1947
That's My Man
Jockey
Sarge Goes to College
Roy Donne
Vacation Days
Roy Donne
- 1946
High School Hero
Roy Donne
Freddie Steps Out
Roy Donne
- 1944
Take It or Leave It
Radio Listener
- 1942
Junior G-Men of the Air
Jack
- 1941
Tuxedo Junction
Jack 'Sock' Anderson
Let's Go Collegiate
Frankie Monahan
You're Out of Luck
Frankie O'Reilly
- 1940
Laughing at Danger
Frankie Kelly
On the Spot
Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Chasing Trouble
Jimmy O'Brien
1930s
- 1939
Irish Luck
Buzzy O'Brien
- 1938
Tough Kid
'Skipper' Murphy
Wanted by the Police
Danny Murphy
Juvenile Court
Stubby
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Jerry
- 1937
Young Dynamite
Freddie Shields
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
"Dink" Reid
Headline Crasher
James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
Saratoga
Dixie Gordon
Anything for a Thrill
Dan Mallory
Tough to Handle
Mike Sanford
The Devil Diamond
Lee
- 1936
Mind Your Own Business
Bob
Racing Blood
Frankie Reynolds
Born to Fight
'Babyface' Madison
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
'Tip' Collins, Jockey
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Black Gold
Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
- 1935
3 Kids and a Queen
Blackie
Men of Action
Johnny Morgan
Stranded
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Red Hot Tires
Johnny
The Payoff
Jimmy Moore
- 1934
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
Bobbie Riley
The Merry Frinks
Norman Frink
No Greater Glory
Feri Ats
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
Movie
The Big Race
Knobby
Little Men
Dan
- 1933
The Wolf Dog
Frank Courtney
Tugboat Annie
Alec, as a Child
Laughing at Life
Chango
- 1932
The Devil Horse
Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Three on a Match
Bobby (uncredited)
Amateur Daddy
Pete Smith
- 1931
The Cheyenne Cyclone
Orphan McGuire
Way Back Home
Robbie
The Lightning Warrior
Jimmy Carter
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Mad Genius
Fedor as a Boy
The Vanishing Legion
Jimmie Williams
1920s
- 1929
Blaze o' Glory
Jean Williams
Rainbow Man
Billy Ryan
Idaho Red
Tadpole
Gun Law
Buster Brown
Trail of the Horse Thieves
Buddy
- 1928
The Circus Kid
Buddy
The Avenging Rider
Frankie Sheridan
Terror Mountain
Buddy Roberts
The Phantom of the Range
Spuds O'Brien
When the Law Rides
Frankie Ross
- 1927
Little Mickey Grogan
Mickey Grogan
The Desert Pirate
Jimmy Rand
Judgement Of The Hills
Tad Dennison
Tom's Gang
Spuds
Long Pants
Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
Moulders of Men
Sandy Barry
Lightning Lariats
Alexis, King of Roxenburg
Her Father Said No
Matt Doe
- 1926
Out of the West
Frankie O'Connor
Tom and His Pals
Frankie Smith
The Cowboy Cop
Frankie
Hearts and Spangles
Bobby
The Masquerade Bandit
Tim Marble
Wild to Go
Frankie Blake
Kiki
Pierre
The Thrill Hunter
Boy Prince
Born to Battle
Birdie
- 1925
The Cowboy Musketeer
Billy Gordon
The Midnight Flyer
Young Davey
The People vs. Nancy Preston
Bubsy
Let's Go, Gallagher
Little Joey
Fighting the Flames
Mickey
Confessions of a Queen
Prince Zara
Her Husband's Secret
Young Elliot Owen
Women and Gold
Dan Barclay Jr.
The Wyoming Wildcat
Barnie Finn
- 1924
So Big
Dirk DeJong (child)
Roaring Rails
Little Bill
Racing for Life
Jimmy Danton
The Signal Tower
Sonny Tolliver
Half-a-Dollar Bill
Half-a-Dollar Bill
Judgment of the Storm
Heath Twin
Other crew 1
1960s
- 1962
The Notorious Landlady
Stunts
Appearances5
1970s
- 1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1960s
- 1968
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1930s
- 1936
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
Self
- 1932
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
Self (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade
Self