Frankie Darro
Acting • Born 1917-12-22 – Died 1976-12-25
Biography
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 .
Filmography
160 credits
Tuxedo Junction
Movie • 1941
Jack 'Sock' Anderson
The Movie Orgy
Movie • 1968
Self (archive footage)
Pinocchio
Movie • 1940
Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
Movie • 1936
'Tip' Collins, Jockey
Reformatory
Movie • 1938
Louie Miller
Unwelcome Stranger
Movie • 1935
Charlie Anderson
Born to Battle
Movie • 1926
Birdie
Three on a Match
Movie • 1932
Bobby (uncredited)
Little Men
Movie • 1934
Dan
Saratoga
Movie • 1937
Dixie Gordon
Hearts and Spangles
Movie • 1926
Bobby
The Lightning Warrior
Movie • 1931
Jimmy Carter
The Public Enemy
Movie • 1931
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Wild Boys of the Road
Movie • 1933
Eddie Smith
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
Movie • 1974
Studio Guard
Dead End Kids Go To War
Movie • 1942
Jack
Broadway Bill
Movie • 1934
Ted Williams
Up in the Air
Movie • 1940
Frankie Ryan
The Mayor of Hell
Movie • 1933
James 'Jimmie' Smith
Westward the Women
Movie • 1951
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Angels' Alley
Movie • 1948
Cousin Jimmy
Hook, Line and Sinker
Movie • 1969
Delivery Man (uncredited)
Wyoming Mail
Movie • 1950
Rufe
The Midnight Flyer
Movie • 1925
Young Davey
Junior Prom
Movie • 1946
Roy Donne
On the Spot
Movie • 1940
Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Movie • 1936
Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Riding High
Movie • 1950
Jockey Williams
Racing for Life
Movie • 1924
Jimmy Danton
Radio Ranch
Movie • 1940
Frankie Baxter
The Mad Genius
Movie • 1931
Fedor as a Boy
The Vanishing Legion
Movie • 1931
Jimmie Williams
No Greater Glory
Movie • 1934
Feri Ats
Valley of Wanted Men
Movie • 1935
Slivers Sanderson
The Phantom Empire
Movie • 1935
Frankie Baxter
Way Back Home
Movie • 1931
Robbie
Juvenile Court
Movie • 1938
Stubby
Black Gold
Movie • 1936
Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Born to Fight
Movie • 1936
'Babyface' Madison
Racing Blood
Movie • 1936
Frankie Reynolds
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
Movie • 1932
Self (uncredited)
The Gang's All Here
Movie • 1941
Frankie O'Malley
The Payoff
Movie • 1935
Jimmy Moore
Judgment of the Storm
Movie • 1924
Heath Twin
Headline Crasher
Movie • 1937
James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
Movie • 1936
Self
Boys' Reformatory
Movie • 1939
Tommy Ryan
The Devil Diamond
Movie • 1937
Lee
Mind Your Own Business
Movie • 1936
Bob
Tough to Handle
Movie • 1937
Mike Sanford
You're Out of Luck
Movie • 1941
Frankie O'Reilly
Trouble Makers
Movie • 1948
Ben Feathers
Young Dynamite
Movie • 1937
Freddie Shields
The Signal Tower
Movie • 1924
Sonny Tolliver
The Wolf Dog
Movie • 1933
Frank Courtney
Across the Wide Missouri
Movie • 1951
Cadet (uncredited)
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Movie • 1938
Jerry
Laughing at Life
Movie • 1933
Chango
Wanted by the Police
Movie • 1938
Danny Murphy
Irish Luck
Movie • 1939
Buzzy O'Brien
Kiki
Movie • 1926
Pierre
That's My Man
Movie • 1947
Jockey
Let's Go Collegiate
Movie • 1941
Frankie Monahan
Texas Tornado
Movie • 1928
Buddy Martin
The Circus Kid
Movie • 1928
Buddy
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
Movie • 1934
Bobbie Riley
Red Hot Tires
Movie • 1935
Johnny
Anything for a Thrill
Movie • 1937
Dan Mallory
Men of Action
Movie • 1935
Johnny Morgan
The Cowboy Musketeer
Movie • 1925
Billy Gordon
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Movie • 1931
Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade
Movie • 1932
Self
Roaring Rails
Movie • 1924
Little Bill
The Merry Frinks
Movie • 1934
Norman Frink
Operation Petticoat
Movie • 1959
Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
The Lawless Rider
Movie • 1954
Jim Bascom
Mike
Movie • 1926
Boy
Chasing Trouble
Movie • 1940
Jimmy O'Brien
Two Gun Marshal
Movie • 1953
Clint Slocum
Confessions of a Queen
Movie • 1925
Prince Zara
Sons of New Mexico
Movie • 1949
Gig Jackson
Tugboat Annie
Movie • 1933
Alec, as a Child
Pat and Mike
Movie • 1952
Caddy (uncredited)
The Devil Horse
Movie • 1932
Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Tough Kid
Movie • 1938
'Skipper' Murphy
Laughing at Danger
Movie • 1940
Frankie Kelly
Amateur Daddy
Movie • 1932
Pete Smith
So Big
Movie • 1924
Dirk DeJong (child)
Junior G-Men of the Air
Movie • 1942
Jack
Forbidden Planet
Movie • 1956
Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Hold That Baby!
Movie • 1949
Bananas Stewart
Fighting Fools
Movie • 1949
Johnny Higgins
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
Movie • 1937
"Dink" Reid
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
Movie • 1934
Judgement Of The Hills
Movie • 1927
Tad Dennison
Flesh and the Devil
Movie • 1926
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
Sarge Goes to College
Movie • 1947
Roy Donne
The Phantom of the Range
Movie • 1928
Spuds O'Brien
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie • 1975
Self (archive footage)
Heart of Virginia
Movie • 1948
Jimmy Easter
Pride of Maryland
Movie • 1951
Steve Loomis
High School Hero
Movie • 1946
Roy Donne
Stranded
Movie • 1935
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Take It or Leave It
Movie • 1944
Radio Listener
The Big Race
Movie • 1934
Knobby
Memory Lane
Movie • 1926
Urchin
Freddie Steps Out
Movie • 1946
Roy Donne
Smart Politics
Movie • 1948
Roy Donne
Moulders of Men
Movie • 1927
Sandy Barry
Little Mickey Grogan
Movie • 1927
Mickey Grogan
The Cowboy Cop
Movie • 1926
Frankie
3 Kids and a Queen
Movie • 1935
Blackie
Vacation Days
Movie • 1947
Roy Donne
Tom's Gang
Movie • 1927
Spuds
The Wyoming Wildcat
Movie • 1925
Barnie Finn
Blaze o' Glory
Movie • 1929
Jean Williams
Rainbow Man
Movie • 1929
Billy Ryan
Fugitive Lovers
Movie • 1975
Lester the Drunk
Trail of the Horse Thieves
Movie • 1929
Buddy
The Masquerade Bandit
Movie • 1926
Tim Marble
Lightning Lariats
Movie • 1927
Alexis, King of Roxenburg
Living It Up
Movie • 1954
Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
The People vs. Nancy Preston
Movie • 1925
Bubsy
Let's Go, Gallagher
Movie • 1925
Little Joey
Her Father Said No
Movie • 1927
Matt Doe
The Next Voice You Hear...
Movie • 1950
Newsboy (uncredited)
Long Pants
Movie • 1927
Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
Her Husband's Secret
Movie • 1925
Young Elliot Owen
Cyclone of the Range
Movie • 1927
Frankie Butler
Tom and His Pals
Movie • 1926
Frankie Smith
The Avenging Rider
Movie • 1928
Frankie Sheridan
Out of the West
Movie • 1926
Frankie O'Connor
Idaho Red
Movie • 1929
Tadpole
Gun Law
Movie • 1929
Buster Brown
The Thrill Hunter
Movie • 1926
Boy Prince
Fighting the Flames
Movie • 1925
Mickey
Wild to Go
Movie • 1926
Frankie Blake
Half-a-Dollar Bill
Movie • 1924
Half-a-Dollar Bill
Racing Blood
Movie • 1954
Ben
Women and Gold
Movie • 1925
Dan Barclay Jr.
Terror Mountain
Movie • 1928
Buddy Roberts
The Desert Pirate
Movie • 1927
Jimmy Rand
When the Law Rides
Movie • 1928
Frankie Ross
Mister Ed
TV • 1961
Mr. Lucky
TV • 1959
Batman
TV • 1966
Newsman
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Elevator Operator
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Little Dandy Dorf
Going My Way
TV • 1962
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV • 1957
Peter Gunn
TV • 1958
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
TV • 1951
Bat Masterson
TV • 1958
Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
The Addams Family
TV • 1964
Delivery Boy
Public Defender
TV • 1954
Hey, Jeannie!
TV • 1956
Caddy
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Messenger
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Boots
Checkmate
TV • 1960
Sonny
The Red Skelton Show
TV • 1951
Maw Kadiddlehopper (in drag)