Frankie Darro
Born
December 22, 1917
Died
December 25, 1976 (59 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
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 .
Fugitive Lovers
Lester the Drunk
1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
Studio Guard
1974
Hook, Line and Sinker
Delivery Man (uncredited)
1969
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
Batman
Newsman · (2 episodes)
1966
The Addams Family
Delivery Boy · (1 episode)
1964
Going My Way
(1 episode)
1962
Mister Ed
(1 episode)
1961
Checkmate
Sonny · (1 episode)
1960
Operation Petticoat
Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
1959
Mr. Lucky
(1 episode)
1959
Bat Masterson
Edward 'Snapper' Garrison · (1 episode)
1958
Peter Gunn
(1 episode)
1958
Perry Mason
Elevator Operator · (1 episode)
1957
Perry Mason
Messenger · (1 episode)
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
(1 episode)
1957
Hey, Jeannie!
Caddy · (1 episode)
1956
Forbidden Planet
Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
1956
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Little Dandy Dorf · (1 episode)
1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Boots · (1 episode)
1955
The Lawless Rider
Jim Bascom
1954
Public Defender
(2 episodes)
1954
Two Gun Marshal
Clint Slocum
1953
Pat and Mike
Caddy (uncredited)
1952
Westward the Women
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
1951
Across the Wide Missouri
Cadet (uncredited)
1951
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
(1 episode)
1951
Pride of Maryland
Steve Loomis
1951
Wyoming Mail
Rufe
1950
Riding High
Jockey Williams
1950
Sons of New Mexico
Gig Jackson
1949
Hold That Baby!
Bananas Stewart
1949
Fighting Fools
Johnny Higgins
1949
Trouble Makers
Ben Feathers
1948
Heart of Virginia
Jimmy Easter
1948
Angels' Alley
Cousin Jimmy
1948
Smart Politics
Roy Donne
1948
That's My Man
Jockey
1947
Sarge Goes to College
Roy Donne
1947
Vacation Days
Roy Donne
1947
High School Hero
Roy Donne
1946
Junior Prom
Roy Donne
1946
Freddie Steps Out
Roy Donne
1946
Take It or Leave It
Radio Listener
1944
Dead End Kids Go To War
Jack
1942
Junior G-Men of the Air
Jack
1942
Tuxedo Junction
Jack 'Sock' Anderson
1941
Let's Go Collegiate
Frankie Monahan
1941
The Gang's All Here
Frankie O'Malley
1941
You're Out of Luck
Frankie O'Reilly
1941
Up in the Air
Frankie Ryan
1940
Laughing at Danger
Frankie Kelly
1940
On the Spot
Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
1940
Men with Steel Faces
Frankie Baxter
1940
Pinocchio
Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
1940
Chasing Trouble
Jimmy O'Brien
1940
Irish Luck
Buzzy O'Brien
1939
Boys' Reformatory
Tommy Ryan
1939
Tough Kid
'Skipper' Murphy
1938
Wanted by the Police
Danny Murphy
1938
Juvenile Court
Stubby
1938
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Jerry
1938
Reformatory
Louie Miller
1938
Young Dynamite
Freddie Shields
1937
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
"Dink" Reid
1937
Headline Crasher
James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
1937
Saratoga
Dixie Gordon
1937
Anything for a Thrill
Dan Mallory
1937
Tough to Handle
Mike Sanford
1937
The Devil Diamond
Lee
1937
Mind Your Own Business
Bob
1936
Racing Blood
Frankie Reynolds
1936
Born to Fight
'Babyface' Madison
1936
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
'Tip' Collins, Jockey
1936
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
Self
1936
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
1936
Black Gold
Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
1936
3 Kids and a Queen
Blackie
1935
Valley of Wanted Men
Slivers Sanderson
1935
Men of Action
Johnny Morgan
1935
Stranded
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
1935
Unwelcome Stranger
Charlie Anderson
1935
The Phantom Empire
Frankie Baxter
1935
Red Hot Tires
Johnny
1935
The Payoff
Jimmy Moore
1935
Broadway Bill
Ted Williams
1934
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
Bobbie Riley
1934
The Merry Frinks
Norman Frink
1934
No Greater Glory
Feri Ats
1934
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
The Big Race
Knobby
1934
Little Men
Dan
1934
Wild Boys of the Road
Eddie Smith
1933
The Wolf Dog
Frank Courtney
1933
Tugboat Annie
Alec, as a Child
1933
Laughing at Life
Chango
1933
The Mayor of Hell
James 'Jimmie' Smith
1933
The Devil Horse
Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
1932
Three on a Match
Bobby (uncredited)
1932
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
Self (uncredited)
1932
Hollywood on Parade
Self
1932
Amateur Daddy
Pete Smith
1932
Way Back Home
Robbie
1931
The Lightning Warrior
Jimmy Carter
1931
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
1931
The Mad Genius
Fedor as a Boy
1931
The Vanishing Legion
Jimmie Williams
1931
The Public Enemy
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
1931
Blaze o' Glory
Jean Williams
1929
Rainbow Man
Billy Ryan
1929
Trail of the Horse Thieves
Buddy
1929
The Circus Kid
Buddy
1928
Texas Tornado
Buddy Martin
1928
The Phantom of the Range
Spuds O'Brien
1928
Little Mickey Grogan
Mickey Grogan
1927
Judgement Of The Hills
Tad Dennison
1927
Tom's Gang
Spuds
1927
Moulders of Men
Sandy Barry
1927
Lightning Lariats
Alexis, King of Roxenburg
1927
Flesh and the Devil
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
1926
The Cowboy Cop
Frankie
1926
Hearts and Spangles
Bobby
1926
The Masquerade Bandit
Tim Marble
1926
Mike
Boy
1926
Kiki
Pierre
1926
Memory Lane
Urchin
1926
Born to Battle
Birdie
1926
The Cowboy Musketeer
Billy Gordon
1925
The Midnight Flyer
Young Davey
1925
Confessions of a Queen
Prince Zara
1925
The Wyoming Wildcat
Barnie Finn
1925
So Big
Dirk DeJong (child)
1924
Roaring Rails
Little Bill
1924
Racing for Life
Jimmy Danton
1924
The Signal Tower
Sonny Tolliver
1924
Judgment of the Storm
Heath Twin
1924