Acting · Chicago, Illinois, USA · Born December 22, 1917
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 .
MovieFugitive Lovers
1975
as Lester the Drunk
MovieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Girl on the Late, Late Show
1974
as Studio Guard
MovieHook, Line and Sinker
1969
as Delivery Man (uncredited)
MovieThe Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
TVBatman
1966
as Newsman
TVThe Addams Family
1964
as Delivery Boy
TVGoing My Way
1962
TVMister Ed
1961
TVCheckmate
1960
as Sonny
MovieOperation Petticoat
1959
as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
TVMr. Lucky
1959
TVBat Masterson
1958
as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
TVPeter Gunn
1958
TVPerry Mason
1957
as Elevator Operator
TVHave Gun, Will Travel
1957
MovieThe Ten Commandments
1956
as Slave (uncredited)
TVHey, Jeannie!
1956
as Caddy
MovieForbidden Planet
1956
as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
TVAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Little Dandy Dorf
MovieLiving It Up
1954
as Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
MovieThe Lawless Rider
1954
as Jim Bascom
TVPublic Defender
1954
MovieRacing Blood
1954
as Ben
MovieTwo Gun Marshal
1953
as Clint Slocum
MoviePat and Mike
1952
as Caddy (uncredited)
MovieWestward the Women
1951
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
MovieAcross the Wide Missouri
1951
as Cadet (uncredited)
TVThe Red Skelton Show
1951
as Maw Kadiddlehopper
TVThe Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
MoviePride of Maryland
1951
as Steve Loomis
MovieWyoming Mail
1950
as Rufe
MovieThe Next Voice You Hear...
1950
as Newsboy (uncredited)
MovieRiding High
1950
as Jockey Williams
MovieSons of New Mexico
1949
as Gig Jackson
MovieHold That Baby!
1949
as Bananas Stewart
MovieFighting Fools
1949
as Johnny Higgins
MovieTrouble Makers
1948
as Ben Feathers
MovieHeart of Virginia
1948
as Jimmy Easter
MovieAngels' Alley
1948
as Cousin Jimmy
MovieSmart Politics
1948
as Roy Donne
MovieThat's My Man
1947
as Jockey
MovieSarge Goes to College
1947
as Roy Donne
MovieVacation Days
1947
as Roy Donne
MovieHigh School Hero
1946
as Roy Donne
MovieFreddie Steps Out
1946
as Roy Donne
MovieJunior Prom
1946
as Roy Donne
MovieTake It or Leave It
1944
as Radio Listener
Dead End Kids Go To War
1942
as Jack
MovieJunior G-Men of the Air
1942
as Jack
MovieTuxedo Junction
1941
as Jack 'Sock' Anderson
MovieLet's Go Collegiate
1941
as Frankie Monahan
MovieThe Gang's All Here
1941
as Frankie O'Malley
MovieYou're Out of Luck
1941
as Frankie O'Reilly
MovieUp in the Air
1940
as Frankie Ryan
MovieLaughing at Danger
1940
as Frankie Kelly
MovieOn the Spot
1940
as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
MovieRadio Ranch
1940
as Frankie Baxter
MoviePinocchio
1940
as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
MovieChasing Trouble
1940
as Jimmy O'Brien
MovieIrish Luck
1939
as Buzzy O'Brien
MovieBoys' Reformatory
1939
as Tommy Ryan
MovieTough Kid
1938
as 'Skipper' Murphy
MovieWanted by the Police
1938
as Danny Murphy
MovieJuvenile Court
1938
as Stubby
MovieThe Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1938
as Jerry
MovieReformatory
1938
as Louie Miller
MovieYoung Dynamite
1937
as Freddie Shields
MovieThoroughbreds Don't Cry
1937
as "Dink" Reid
MovieHeadline Crasher
1937
as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
MovieSaratoga
1937
as Dixie Gordon
MovieAnything for a Thrill
1937
as Dan Mallory
MovieTough to Handle
1937
as Mike Sanford
MovieThe Devil Diamond
1937
as Lee
MovieMind Your Own Business
1936
as Bob
MovieRacing Blood
1936
as Frankie Reynolds
MovieBorn to Fight
1936
as 'Babyface' Madison
MovieCharlie Chan at the Race Track
1936
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
MovieThe Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
MovieBlack Gold
1936
as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
MovieSunkist Stars at Palm Springs
1936
as Self
Movie3 Kids and a Queen
1935
as Blackie
MovieValley of Wanted Men
1935
as Slivers Sanderson
MovieMen of Action
1935
as Johnny Morgan
MovieStranded
1935
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
MovieUnwelcome Stranger
1935
as Charlie Anderson
MovieThe Phantom Empire
1935
as Frankie Baxter
MovieRed Hot Tires
1935
as Johnny
MovieThe Payoff
1935
as Jimmy Moore
MovieBroadway Bill
1934
as Ted Williams
MovieBurn 'Em Up Barnes
1934
as Bobbie Riley
MovieThe Merry Frinks
1934
as Norman Frink
MovieNo Greater Glory
1934
as Feri Ats
MovieHollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
MovieThe Big Race
1934
as Knobby
MovieLittle Men
1934
as Dan
MovieWild Boys of the Road
1933
as Eddie Smith
MovieThe Wolf Dog
1933
as Frank Courtney
MovieTugboat Annie
1933
as Alec, as a Child
MovieLaughing at Life
1933
as Chango
MovieThe Mayor of Hell
1933
as James 'Jimmie' Smith
MovieThe Devil Horse
1932
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
MovieThree on a Match
1932
as Bobby (uncredited)
MovieHollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932
as Self (uncredited)
MovieHollywood on Parade
1932
as Self
MovieAmateur Daddy
1932
as Pete Smith
MovieThe Cheyenne Cyclone
1931
as Orphan McGuire
MovieWay Back Home
1931
as Robbie
MovieThe Lightning Warrior
1931
as Jimmy Carter
MovieThe Sin of Madelon Claudet
1931
as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
MovieThe Mad Genius
1931
as Fedor as a Boy
MovieThe Vanishing Legion
1931
as Jimmie Williams
MovieThe Public Enemy
1931
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
MovieBlaze o' Glory
1929
as Jean Williams
The Pride of Pawnee
1929
as Jerry Wilson
MovieRainbow Man
1929
as Billy Ryan
MovieIdaho Red
1929
as Tadpole
MovieGun Law
1929
as Buster Brown
MovieTrail of the Horse Thieves
1929
as Buddy
Tyrant of Red Gulch
1928
as Tip
MovieThe Circus Kid
1928
as Buddy
MovieThe Avenging Rider
1928
as Frankie Sheridan
MovieTerror Mountain
1928
as Buddy Roberts
MovieTexas Tornado
1928
as Buddy Martin
MovieThe Phantom of the Range
1928
as Spuds O'Brien
MovieWhen the Law Rides
1928
as Frankie Ross
MovieLittle Mickey Grogan
1927
as Mickey Grogan
MovieThe Desert Pirate
1927
as Jimmy Rand
The Flying U Ranch
1927
as Chip Jr.
MovieJudgement Of The Hills
1927
as Tad Dennison
MovieTom's Gang
1927
as Spuds
Cyclone of the Range
1927
as Frankie Butler
MovieLong Pants
1927
as Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
MovieMoulders of Men
1927
as Sandy Barry
MovieLightning Lariats
1927
as Alexis, King of Roxenburg
MovieHer Father Said No
1927
as Matt Doe
MovieFlesh and the Devil
1926
as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
Red Hot Hoofs
1926
as Frankie Buckley
MovieOut of the West
1926
as Frankie O'Connor
MovieTom and His Pals
1926
as Frankie Smith
MovieThe Cowboy Cop
1926
as Frankie
MovieHearts and Spangles
1926
as Bobby
MovieThe Masquerade Bandit
1926
as Tim Marble
Mike
1926
as Boy
MovieWild to Go
1926
as Frankie Blake
MovieKiki
1926
as Pierre
MovieMemory Lane
1926
as Urchin
MovieThe Thrill Hunter
1926
as Boy Prince
MovieBorn to Battle
1926
as Birdie
MovieThe Cowboy Musketeer
1925
as Billy Gordon
MovieThe Midnight Flyer
1925
as Young Davey
MovieThe People vs. Nancy Preston
1925
as Bubsy
The Phantom Express
1925
as 'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
MovieLet's Go, Gallagher
1925
as Little Joey
MovieFighting the Flames
1925
as Mickey
MovieConfessions of a Queen
1925
as Prince Zara
MovieHer Husband's Secret
1925
as Young Elliot Owen
MovieWomen and Gold
1925
as Dan Barclay Jr.
MovieThe Wyoming Wildcat
1925
as Barnie Finn
MovieSo Big
1924
as Dirk DeJong (child)
MovieRoaring Rails
1924
as Little Bill
MovieRacing for Life
1924
as Jimmy Danton
MovieThe Signal Tower
1924
as Sonny Tolliver
MovieHalf-a-Dollar Bill
1924
as Half-a-Dollar Bill
MovieJudgment of the Storm
1924
as Heath Twin
