Frankie Darro
Acting
🎂 1917-12-22
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 .
Cast credits(138)
1961
1957
Elevator Operator
1957
Messenger
1957
Delivery Boy
1964
1951
1954
1958
Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
1958
Newsman
1966
1962
Caddy
1956
1959
Little Dandy Dorf
1955
Boots
1955
Sonny
1960
Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
1940
Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
1956
Self (archive footage)
1975
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
1926
Caddy (uncredited)
1952
Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
1959
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
1931
Self (archive footage)
1968
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
1951
Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
1954
Cadet (uncredited)
1951
Dixie Gordon
1937
Jockey Williams
1950
Frankie Baxter
1935
Little Bill
1924
Johnny Higgins
1949
Ted Williams
1934
Feri Ats
1934
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
1935
Bobby (uncredited)
1932
Delivery Man (uncredited)
1969
Bobbie Riley
1934
Chango
1933
Eddie Smith
1933
Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
1931
Rufe
1950
'Tip' Collins, Jockey
1936
Buzzy O'Brien
1939
Frankie Monahan
1941
James 'Jimmie' Smith
1933
Radio Listener
1944
Roy Donne
1947
Jockey
1947
Roy Donne
1948
Roy Donne
1946
Blackie
1935
"Dink" Reid
1937
Slivers Sanderson
1935
Frankie O'Malley
1941
Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
1936
Prince Zara
1925
Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
1936
Bananas Stewart
1949
Studio Guard
1974
Pete Smith
1932
Dirk DeJong (child)
1924
Jimmy Carter
1931
Stubby
1938
Bob
1936
Alec, as a Child
1933
Lee
1937
Ben Feathers
1948
Fedor as a Boy
1931
James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
1937
Pierre
1926
Dan
1934
Dan Mallory
1937
Jerry
1938
Boy
1926
Johnny
1935
Roy Donne
1946
Charlie Anderson
1935
Frankie Baxter
1940
'Babyface' Madison
1936
Jack 'Sock' Anderson
1941
Knobby
1934
Jack
1942
Clint Slocum
1953
Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
1932
Robbie
1931
Jimmy O'Brien
1940
Frankie Reynolds
1936
Steve Loomis
1951
Frankie Ryan
1940
Jimmy Moore
1935
Birdie
1926
Freddie Shields
1937
Danny Murphy
1938
Self
1932
Spuds
1927
Self
1936
Billy Ryan
1929
Alexis, King of Roxenburg
1927
Frank Courtney
1933
Frankie Kelly
1940
Jack
1942
Lester the Drunk
1975
Tommy Ryan
1939
Louie Miller
1938
Spuds O'Brien
1928
Bobby
1926
Jimmie Williams
1931
Roy Donne
1947
Sandy Barry
1927
Roy Donne
1946
Heath Twin
1924
1934
Frankie O'Reilly
1941
Buddy Martin
1928
Johnny Morgan
1935
'Skipper' Murphy
1938
Cousin Jimmy
1948
Norman Frink
1934
Gig Jackson
1949
Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
1940
Self (uncredited)
1932
Young Davey
1925
Jimmy Easter
1948
Barnie Finn
1925
Frankie
1926
Mike Sanford
1937
Buddy
1928
Sonny Tolliver
1924
Urchin
1926
Buddy
1929
Tad Dennison
1927
Jimmy Danton
1924
Tim Marble
1926
Jean Williams
1929
Billy Gordon
1925
Jim Bascom
1954
Mickey Grogan
1927
