Frankie Darro
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Perry Mason
Elevator Operator
1957
Series
Perry Mason
Messenger
1957
Series
The Red Skelton Show
Maw Kadiddlehopper
1951
Series
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
Series
Batman
Newsman
1966
Series
Peter Gunn
1958
Series
The Addams Family
Delivery Boy
1964
Series
Bat Masterson
Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
1958
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Little Dandy Dorf
1955
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Boots
1955
Series
Mister Ed
1961
Film
Pinocchio
Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
1940
Series
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
Film
The Ten Commandments
Slave (uncredited)
1956
Series
The Guns of Will Sonnett
Bartender (uncredited)
1967
Series
Checkmate
Sonny
1960
Film
Forbidden Planet
Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
1956
Series
Public Defender
1954
Series
Mr. Lucky
1959
Series
Going My Way
Elevator Operator
1962
Series
Hey, Jeannie!
Caddy
1956
Film
Operation Petticoat
Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
1959
Film
Texas Tornado
Buddy Martin
1928
Film
The Public Enemy
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
1931
Film
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
Film
Living It Up
Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
1954
Film
Westward the Women
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
1951
Film
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
Film
Pat and Mike
Caddy (uncredited)
1952
Film
Flesh and the Devil
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
1926
Film
Across the Wide Missouri
Cadet (uncredited)
1951
Film
Terror Mountain
Buddy Roberts
1928
Film
Idaho Red
Tadpole
1929
Film
Broadway Bill
Ted Williams
1934
Film
Saratoga
Dixie Gordon
1937
Film
Wyoming Mail
Rufe
1950
Film
Riding High
Jockey Williams
1950
Film
Hook, Line and Sinker
Delivery Man (uncredited)
1969
Film
Reformatory
Louie Miller
1938
Film
Three on a Match
Bobby (uncredited)
1932
Film
Tough Kid
'Skipper' Murphy
1938
Film
Unwelcome Stranger
Charlie Anderson
1935
Film
Way Back Home
Robbie
1931
Film
Gun Law
Buster Brown
1929
Film
Radio Ranch
Frankie Baxter
1940
Film
Kiki
Pierre
1926
Film
Wild Boys of the Road
Eddie Smith
1933
Film
No Greater Glory
Feri Ats
1934
Film
Memory Lane
Urchin
1926
Film
Laughing at Life
Chango
1933
Film
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
'Tip' Collins, Jockey
1936
Film
Junior G-Men of the Air
Jack
1942
Film
Out of the West
Frankie O'Connor
1926
Film
Heart of Virginia
Jimmy Easter
1948
Film
That's My Man
Jockey
1947
Film
Boys' Reformatory
Tommy Ryan
1939
Film
The Payoff
Jimmy Moore
1935
Film
Roaring Rails
Little Bill
1924
Film
Half-a-Dollar Bill
Half-a-Dollar Bill
1924
Film
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
1936
Film
The Merry Frinks
Norman Frink
1934
Film
Stranded
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
1935
Film
Amateur Daddy
Pete Smith
1932
Film
Red Hot Tires
Johnny
1935
Film
Sarge Goes to College
Roy Donne
1947
Film
Valley of Wanted Men
Slivers Sanderson
1935
Film
Little Men
Dan
1934
Film
The Devil Horse
Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
1932
Film
The Phantom of the Range
Spuds O'Brien
1928
Film
The Mayor of Hell
James 'Jimmie' Smith
1933
Film
Tugboat Annie
Alec, as a Child
1933
Film
3 Kids and a Queen
Blackie
1935
Film
Racing Blood
Ben
1954
Film
The Phantom Empire
Frankie Baxter
1935
Film
Pride of Maryland
Steve Loomis
1951
The Flying U Ranch
Chip Jr.
1927
Film
The People vs. Nancy Preston
Bubsy
1925
Film
Angels' Alley
Cousin Jimmy
1948
Film
Men of Action
Johnny Morgan
1935
Film
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
Film
Take It or Leave It
Radio Listener
1944
Film
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
Self
1936
Film
Wild to Go
Frankie Blake
1926
Film
Born to Fight
'Babyface' Madison
1936
Film
Long Pants
Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
1927
Film
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
Self (uncredited)
1932
Film
Racing Blood
Frankie Reynolds
1936
Film
Let's Go, Gallagher
Little Joey
1925
Film
The Devil Diamond
Lee
1937
Film
The Mad Genius
Fedor as a Boy
1931
Film
The Next Voice You Hear...
Newsboy (uncredited)
1950
Film
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
"Dink" Reid
1937
Film
Hold That Baby!
Bananas Stewart
1949
Film
Fighting Fools
Johnny Higgins
1949
Red Hot Hoofs
Frankie Buckley
1926
Film
High School Hero
Roy Donne
1946
Film
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
1931
Film
Black Gold
Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
1936
Film
Blaze o' Glory
Jean Williams
1929
Film
Hollywood on Parade
Self
1932
Film
Tom and His Pals
Frankie Smith
1926
Film
Headline Crasher
James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
1937
Film
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
Studio Guard
1974
Film
Vacation Days
Roy Donne
1947
Film
The Big Race
Knobby
1934
Film
The Circus Kid
Buddy
1928
Film
The Cheyenne Cyclone
Orphan McGuire
1931
Film
The Desert Pirate
Jimmy Rand
1927
Tyrant of Red Gulch
Tip
1928
Film
The Gang's All Here
Frankie O'Malley
1941
Film
Juvenile Court
Stubby
1938
Dead End Kids Go To War
Jack
1942
Film
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
Bobbie Riley
1934
Film
Trouble Makers
Ben Feathers
1948
Film
Anything for a Thrill
Dan Mallory
1937
The Phantom Express
'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
1925
Film
Moulders of Men
Sandy Barry
1927
Film
Irish Luck
Buzzy O'Brien
1939
Film
Rainbow Man
Billy Ryan
1929
Film
Junior Prom
Roy Donne
1946
Film
The Wolf Dog
Frank Courtney
1933
Film
Judgment of the Storm
Heath Twin
1924
Film
The Cowboy Cop
Frankie
1926
Film
Let's Go Collegiate
Frankie Monahan
1941
Film
Two Gun Marshal
Clint Slocum
1953
Film
Her Husband's Secret
Young Elliot Owen
1925
Cyclone of the Range
Frankie Butler
1927
Film
The Midnight Flyer
Young Davey
1925
Film
Freddie Steps Out
Roy Donne
1946
Film
The Avenging Rider
Frankie Sheridan
1928
Film
On the Spot
Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
1940
Film
Her Father Said No
Matt Doe
1927
Film
Hearts and Spangles
Bobby
1926
Film
The Lightning Warrior
Jimmy Carter
1931
Film
Confessions of a Queen
Prince Zara
1925
Film
Tuxedo Junction
Jack 'Sock' Anderson
1941
Film
When the Law Rides
Frankie Ross
1928
Film
The Masquerade Bandit
Tim Marble
1926
Film
Mind Your Own Business
Bob
1936
Film
Chasing Trouble
Jimmy O'Brien
1940
Film
Up in the Air
Frankie Ryan
1940
Film
Smart Politics
Roy Donne
1948
Film
Little Mickey Grogan
Mickey Grogan
1927
Film
Fugitive Lovers
Lester the Drunk
1975
The Pride of Pawnee
Jerry Wilson
1929
Film
Born to Battle
Birdie
1926
Film
Tom's Gang
Spuds
1927
Film
So Big
Dirk DeJong (child)
1924
Film
Tough to Handle
Mike Sanford
1937
Film
The Thrill Hunter
Boy Prince
1926
Film
The Vanishing Legion
Jimmie Williams
1931
Film
The Lawless Rider
Jim Bascom
1954
Film
Trail of the Horse Thieves
Buddy
1929
Film
Young Dynamite
Freddie Shields
1937
Film
Wanted by the Police
Danny Murphy
1938
Film
The Signal Tower
Sonny Tolliver
1924
Film
Racing for Life
Jimmy Danton
1924
Film
Judgement Of The Hills
Tad Dennison
1927
Film
You're Out of Luck
Frankie O'Reilly
1941
Film
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Jerry
1938
Film
The Cowboy Musketeer
Billy Gordon
1925
Film
Lightning Lariats
Alexis, King of Roxenburg
1927
Film
Women and Gold
Dan Barclay Jr.
1925
Film
Fighting the Flames
Mickey
1925
Film
Laughing at Danger
Frankie Kelly
1940
Film
The Wyoming Wildcat
Barnie Finn
1925
Mike
Boy
1926
Film
Sons of New Mexico
Gig Jackson
1949