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