Frankie Darro
Born
December 22, 1917 (age 59)
Died
December 25, 1976
Birthplace
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Frankie Darro

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 .

Movies

Fugitive Lovers
Fugitive Lovers
1975 ★ 3.3
Lester the Drunk
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
1974 ★ 5.2
Studio Guard
Hook, Line and Sinker
Hook, Line and Sinker
1969 ★ 4.1
Delivery Man (uncredited)
Operation Petticoat
Operation Petticoat
1959 ★ 7.2
Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet
1956 ★ 7.3
Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Living It Up
Living It Up
1954 ★ 6.4
Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
The Lawless Rider
The Lawless Rider
1954 ★ 4.0
Jim Bascom
Two Gun Marshal
Two Gun Marshal
1953
Clint Slocum
Pat and Mike
Pat and Mike
1952 ★ 6.3
Caddy (uncredited)
Westward the Women
Westward the Women
1951 ★ 7.0
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Across the Wide Missouri
Across the Wide Missouri
1951 ★ 5.9
Cadet (uncredited)
Pride of Maryland
Pride of Maryland
1951
Steve Loomis
Wyoming Mail
Wyoming Mail
1950 ★ 4.4
Rufe
The Next Voice You Hear...
The Next Voice You Hear...
1950 ★ 5.2
Newsboy (uncredited)
Riding High
Riding High
1950 ★ 5.8
Jockey Williams
Sons of New Mexico
Sons of New Mexico
1949 ★ 5.0
Gig Jackson
Hold That Baby!
Hold That Baby!
1949 ★ 5.0
Bananas Stewart
Fighting Fools
Fighting Fools
1949 ★ 5.0
Johnny Higgins
Trouble Makers
Trouble Makers
1948 ★ 5.7
Ben Feathers
Heart of Virginia
Heart of Virginia
1948
Jimmy Easter
Angels' Alley
Angels' Alley
1948 ★ 4.0
Cousin Jimmy
Smart Politics
Smart Politics
1948 ★ 6.0
Roy Donne
That's My Man
That's My Man
1947 ★ 6.0
Jockey
Sarge Goes to College
Sarge Goes to College
1947 ★ 3.3
Roy Donne
Vacation Days
Vacation Days
1947 ★ 4.0
Roy Donne
High School Hero
High School Hero
1946 ★ 5.0
Roy Donne
Freddie Steps Out
Freddie Steps Out
1946 ★ 4.0
Roy Donne
Junior Prom
Junior Prom
1946 ★ 4.0
Roy Donne
Take It or Leave It
Take It or Leave It
1944 ★ 4.0
Radio Listener
Dead End Kids Go To War
Dead End Kids Go To War
1942
Jack
Junior G-Men of the Air
Junior G-Men of the Air
1942 ★ 6.0
Jack
Tuxedo Junction
Tuxedo Junction
1941
Jack 'Sock' Anderson
Let's Go Collegiate
Let's Go Collegiate
1941 ★ 5.0
Frankie Monahan
The Gang's All Here
The Gang's All Here
1941 ★ 5.0
Frankie O'Malley
You're Out of Luck
You're Out of Luck
1941 ★ 6.0
Frankie O'Reilly
Up in the Air
Up in the Air
1940 ★ 5.0
Frankie Ryan
Laughing at Danger
Laughing at Danger
1940
Frankie Kelly
On the Spot
On the Spot
1940 ★ 5.5
Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Men with Steel Faces
Men with Steel Faces
1940 ★ 5.0
Frankie Baxter
Pinocchio
Pinocchio
1940 ★ 7.1
Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Chasing Trouble
Chasing Trouble
1940 ★ 5.0
Jimmy O'Brien
Irish Luck
Irish Luck
1939 ★ 5.8
Buzzy O'Brien
Boys' Reformatory
Boys' Reformatory
1939 ★ 4.0
Tommy Ryan
Tough Kid
Tough Kid
1938 ★ 6.0
'Skipper' Murphy
Wanted by the Police
Wanted by the Police
1938 ★ 6.0
Danny Murphy
Juvenile Court
Juvenile Court
1938 ★ 5.0
Stubby
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1938
Jerry
Reformatory
Reformatory
1938 ★ 6.0
Louie Miller
Young Dynamite
Young Dynamite
1937 ★ 1.0
Freddie Shields
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
1937 ★ 5.7
"Dink" Reid
Headline Crasher
Headline Crasher
1937
James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
Saratoga
Saratoga
1937 ★ 6.2
Dixie Gordon
Anything for a Thrill
Anything for a Thrill
1937 ★ 2.0
Dan Mallory
Tough to Handle
Tough to Handle
1937 ★ 5.0
Mike Sanford
The Devil Diamond
The Devil Diamond
1937 ★ 4.0
Lee
Mind Your Own Business
Mind Your Own Business
1936
Bob
Racing Blood
Racing Blood
1936 ★ 4.0
Frankie Reynolds
Born to Fight
Born to Fight
1936
'Babyface' Madison
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
1936 ★ 7.1
'Tip' Collins, Jockey
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936 ★ 6.2
Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Black Gold
Black Gold
1936 ★ 5.0
Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
3 Kids and a Queen
3 Kids and a Queen
1935 ★ 6.0
Blackie
Valley of Wanted Men
Valley of Wanted Men
1935 ★ 4.5
Slivers Sanderson
Men of Action
Men of Action
1935 ★ 5.0
Johnny Morgan
Stranded
Stranded
1935 ★ 5.8
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Unwelcome Stranger
Unwelcome Stranger
1935
Charlie Anderson
The Phantom Empire
The Phantom Empire
1935 ★ 5.5
Frankie Baxter
Red Hot Tires
Red Hot Tires
1935 ★ 5.8
Johnny
The Payoff
The Payoff
1935 ★ 4.9
Jimmy Moore
Broadway Bill
Broadway Bill
1934 ★ 6.0
Ted Williams
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
1934 ★ 5.2
Bobbie Riley
The Merry Frinks
The Merry Frinks
1934 ★ 3.7
Norman Frink
No Greater Glory
No Greater Glory
1934 ★ 6.6
Feri Ats
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934 ★ 6.0
The Big Race
The Big Race
1934
Knobby
Little Men
Little Men
1934 ★ 5.0
Dan
Wild Boys of the Road
Wild Boys of the Road
1933 ★ 6.8
Eddie Smith
The Wolf Dog
The Wolf Dog
1933 ★ 7.8
Frank Courtney
Tugboat Annie
Tugboat Annie
1933 ★ 7.0
Alec, as a Child
Laughing at Life
Laughing at Life
1933 ★ 6.0
Chango
The Mayor of Hell
The Mayor of Hell
1933 ★ 7.1
James 'Jimmie' Smith
The Devil Horse
The Devil Horse
1932 ★ 4.0
Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Three on a Match
Three on a Match
1932 ★ 6.2
Bobby (uncredited)
Amateur Daddy
Amateur Daddy
1932
Pete Smith
Way Back Home
Way Back Home
1931 ★ 6.2
Robbie
The Lightning Warrior
The Lightning Warrior
1931 ★ 5.0
Jimmy Carter
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
1931 ★ 5.7
Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Mad Genius
The Mad Genius
1931 ★ 6.3
Fedor as a Boy
The Vanishing Legion
The Vanishing Legion
1931 ★ 9.0
Jimmie Williams
The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy
1931 ★ 7.2
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Blaze o' Glory
Blaze o' Glory
1929
Jean Williams
Rainbow Man
Rainbow Man
1929
Billy Ryan
Trail of the Horse Thieves
Trail of the Horse Thieves
1929
Buddy
The Circus Kid
The Circus Kid
1928
Buddy
Texas Tornado
Texas Tornado
1928
Buddy Martin
The Phantom of the Range
The Phantom of the Range
1928
Spuds O'Brien
Little Mickey Grogan
Little Mickey Grogan
1927
Mickey Grogan
Judgement Of The Hills
Judgement Of The Hills
1927
Tad Dennison
Tom's Gang
Tom's Gang
1927
Spuds
Cyclone of the Range
Cyclone of the Range
1927
Frankie Butler
Long Pants
Long Pants
1927 ★ 5.5
Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
Moulders of Men
Moulders of Men
1927
Sandy Barry
Lightning Lariats
Lightning Lariats
1927
Alexis, King of Roxenburg
Her Father Said No
Her Father Said No
1927
Matt Doe
Flesh and the Devil
Flesh and the Devil
1926 ★ 7.1
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
The Cowboy Cop
The Cowboy Cop
1926
Frankie
Hearts and Spangles
Hearts and Spangles
1926
Bobby
The Masquerade Bandit
The Masquerade Bandit
1926
Tim Marble
Mike
Mike
1926
Boy
Kiki
Kiki
1926 ★ 7.3
Pierre
Memory Lane
Memory Lane
1926
Urchin
Born to Battle
Born to Battle
1926
Birdie
The Cowboy Musketeer
The Cowboy Musketeer
1925
Billy Gordon
The Midnight Flyer
The Midnight Flyer
1925
Young Davey
The People vs. Nancy Preston
The People vs. Nancy Preston
1925
Bubsy
Let's Go, Gallagher
Let's Go, Gallagher
1925
Little Joey
Confessions of a Queen
Confessions of a Queen
1925 ★ 7.0
Prince Zara
Her Husband's Secret
Her Husband's Secret
1925
Young Elliot Owen
The Wyoming Wildcat
The Wyoming Wildcat
1925
Barnie Finn
So Big
So Big
1924
Dirk DeJong (child)
Roaring Rails
Roaring Rails
1924 ★ 6.8
Little Bill
Racing for Life
Racing for Life
1924
Jimmy Danton
The Signal Tower
The Signal Tower
1924 ★ 5.2
Sonny Tolliver
Judgment of the Storm
Judgment of the Storm
1924
Heath Twin

TV Series