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Frankie Darro

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
166

Gender
Male

Birthday
December 22, 1917 (108 years old)

Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Frankie Darro

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 .

Known For

Acting

1975Fugitive Loversas Lester the Drunk
1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?as Self (archive footage)
1974The Girl on the Late, Late Showas Studio Guard
1969Hook, Line and Sinkeras Delivery Man (uncredited)
1968The Movie Orgyas Self (archive footage)
1966Batmanas Newsman
1964The Addams Familyas Delivery Boy
1962Going My Wayas
1961Mister Edas
1960Checkmateas Sonny
1959Operation Petticoatas Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
1959Mr. Luckyas
1958Bat Mastersonas Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
1958Peter Gunnas
1957Perry Masonas Elevator Operator
1957Perry Masonas Messenger
1957Have Gun, Will Travelas
1956Hey, Jeannie!as Caddy
1956Forbidden Planetas Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
1955Alfred Hitchcock Presentsas Boots
1955Alfred Hitchcock Presentsas Little Dandy Dorf
1954Living It Upas Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
1954The Lawless Rideras Jim Bascom
1954Public Defenderas
1954Racing Bloodas Ben
1953Two Gun Marshalas Clint Slocum
1952Pat and Mikeas Caddy (uncredited)
1951Westward the Womenas Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
1951Across the Wide Missourias Cadet (uncredited)
1951The Red Skelton Showas Maw Kadiddlehopper
1951The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickokas
1951Pride of Marylandas Steve Loomis
1950Wyoming Mailas Rufe
1950The Next Voice You Hear...as Newsboy (uncredited)
1950Riding Highas Jockey Williams
1949Sons of New Mexicoas Gig Jackson
1949Hold That Baby!as Bananas Stewart
1949Fighting Foolsas Johnny Higgins
1948Trouble Makersas Ben Feathers
1948Heart of Virginiaas Jimmy Easter
1948Angels' Alleyas Cousin Jimmy
1948Smart Politicsas Roy Donne
1947That's My Manas Jockey
1947Sarge Goes to Collegeas Roy Donne
1947Vacation Daysas Roy Donne
1946High School Heroas Roy Donne
1946Freddie Steps Outas Roy Donne
1946Junior Promas Roy Donne
1944Take It or Leave Itas Radio Listener
1942Dead End Kids Go To Waras Jack
1942Junior G-Men of the Airas Jack
1941Tuxedo Junctionas Jack 'Sock' Anderson
1941Let's Go Collegiateas Frankie Monahan
1941The Gang's All Hereas Frankie O'Malley
1941You're Out of Luckas Frankie O'Reilly
1940Up in the Airas Frankie Ryan
1940Laughing at Dangeras Frankie Kelly
1940On the Spotas Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
1940Radio Ranchas Frankie Baxter
1940Pinocchioas Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
1940Chasing Troubleas Jimmy O'Brien
1939Irish Luckas Buzzy O'Brien
1939Boys' Reformatoryas Tommy Ryan
1938Tough Kidas 'Skipper' Murphy
1938Wanted by the Policeas Danny Murphy
1938Juvenile Courtas Stubby
1938The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickokas Jerry
1938Reformatoryas Louie Miller
1937Young Dynamiteas Freddie Shields
1937Thoroughbreds Don't Cryas "Dink" Reid
1937Headline Crasheras James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
1937Saratogaas Dixie Gordon
1937Anything for a Thrillas Dan Mallory
1937Tough to Handleas Mike Sanford
1937The Devil Diamondas Lee
1936Mind Your Own Businessas Bob
1936Racing Bloodas Frankie Reynolds
1936Born to Fightas 'Babyface' Madison
1936Charlie Chan at the Race Trackas 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
1936The Ex-Mrs. Bradfordas Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
1936Black Goldas Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
1936Sunkist Stars at Palm Springsas Self
19353 Kids and a Queenas Blackie
1935Valley of Wanted Menas Slivers Sanderson
1935Men of Actionas Johnny Morgan
1935Strandedas James 'Jimmy' Rivers
1935Unwelcome Strangeras Charlie Anderson
1935The Phantom Empireas Frankie Baxter
1935Red Hot Tiresas Johnny
1935The Payoffas Jimmy Moore
1934Broadway Billas Ted Williams
1934Burn 'Em Up Barnesas Bobbie Riley
1934The Merry Frinksas Norman Frink
1934No Greater Gloryas Feri Ats
1934Hollywood on Parade No. B-1as
1934The Big Raceas Knobby
1934Little Menas Dan
1933Wild Boys of the Roadas Eddie Smith
1933The Wolf Dogas Frank Courtney
1933Tugboat Annieas Alec, as a Child
1933Laughing at Lifeas Chango
1933The Mayor of Hellas James 'Jimmie' Smith
1932The Devil Horseas Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
1932Three on a Matchas Bobby (uncredited)
1932Hollywood on Parade No. A-3as Self (uncredited)
1932Hollywood on Paradeas Self
1932Amateur Daddyas Pete Smith
1931The Cheyenne Cycloneas Orphan McGuire
1931Way Back Homeas Robbie
1931The Lightning Warrioras Jimmy Carter
1931The Sin of Madelon Claudetas Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
1931The Mad Geniusas Fedor as a Boy
1931The Vanishing Legionas Jimmie Williams
1931The Public Enemyas Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
1929Blaze o' Gloryas Jean Williams
1929The Pride of Pawneeas Jerry Wilson
1929Rainbow Manas Billy Ryan
1929Idaho Redas Tadpole
1929Gun Lawas Buster Brown
1929Trail of the Horse Thievesas Buddy
1928Tyrant of Red Gulchas Tip
1928The Avenging Rideras Frankie Sheridan
1928The Circus Kidas Buddy
1928Terror Mountainas Buddy Roberts
1928Texas Tornadoas Buddy Martin
1928The Phantom of the Rangeas Spuds O'Brien
1928When the Law Ridesas Frankie Ross
1927Little Mickey Groganas Mickey Grogan
1927The Desert Pirateas Jimmy Rand
1927The Flying U Ranchas Chip Jr.
1927Judgement Of The Hillsas Tad Dennison
1927Tom's Gangas Spuds
1927Cyclone of the Rangeas Frankie Butler
1927Long Pantsas Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
1927Moulders of Menas Sandy Barry
1927Lightning Lariatsas Alexis, King of Roxenburg
1927Her Father Said Noas Matt Doe
1926Flesh and the Devilas Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
1926Red Hot Hoofsas Frankie Buckley
1926Out of the Westas Frankie O'Connor
1926Tom and His Palsas Frankie Smith
1926The Cowboy Copas Frankie
1926Hearts and Spanglesas Bobby
1926The Masquerade Banditas Tim Marble
1926Mikeas Boy
1926Wild to Goas Frankie Blake
1926Kikias Pierre
1926The Thrill Hunteras Boy Prince
1926Memory Laneas Urchin
1926Born to Battleas Birdie
1925The Cowboy Musketeeras Billy Gordon
1925The Midnight Flyeras Young Davey
1925The People vs. Nancy Prestonas Bubsy
1925The Phantom Expressas 'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
1925Let's Go, Gallagheras Little Joey
1925Fighting the Flamesas Mickey
1925Confessions of a Queenas Prince Zara
1925Her Husband's Secretas Young Elliot Owen
1925Women and Goldas Dan Barclay Jr.
1925The Wyoming Wildcatas Barnie Finn
1924So Bigas Dirk DeJong (child)
1924Roaring Railsas Little Bill
1924Racing for Lifeas Jimmy Danton
1924The Signal Toweras Sonny Tolliver
1924Half-a-Dollar Billas Half-a-Dollar Bill
1924Judgment of the Stormas Heath Twin

Production

1962The Notorious Landlady...Stunts