Actor · Acting

Frankie Darro

Born 1917-12-22

Died 1976-12-25

📍 Chicago, Illinois, USA

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 159

Fugitive Lovers

as Lester the Drunk

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

as Self (archive footage)

The Girl on the Late, Late Show

as Studio Guard

Hook, Line and Sinker

as Delivery Man (uncredited)

as Self (archive footage)

The Addams Family

as Delivery Boy

Operation Petticoat

as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley

as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison

as Elevator Operator

Have Gun, Will Travel

Forbidden Planet

as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Little Dandy Dorf

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Bellboy Captain (uncredited)

The Lawless Rider

Public Defender

Two Gun Marshal

as Clint Slocum

as Caddy (uncredited)

Westward the Women

as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)

Across the Wide Missouri

as Cadet (uncredited)

The Red Skelton Show

as Maw Kadiddlehopper (in drag)

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

Pride of Maryland

as Steve Loomis

The Next Voice You Hear...

as Newsboy (uncredited)

as Jockey Williams

Sons of New Mexico

Hold That Baby!

as Bananas Stewart

as Johnny Higgins

as Ben Feathers

Heart of Virginia

as Jimmy Easter

as Cousin Jimmy

Sarge Goes to College

High School Hero

Freddie Steps Out

Take It or Leave It

as Radio Listener

Junior G-Men of the Air

Tuxedo Junction

as Jack 'Sock' Anderson

Let's Go Collegiate

as Frankie Monahan

The Gang's All Here

as Frankie O'Malley

You're Out of Luck

as Frankie O'Reilly

as Frankie Ryan

Laughing at Danger

as Frankie Kelly

as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly

as Frankie Baxter

as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)

Chasing Trouble

as Jimmy O'Brien

as Buzzy O'Brien

Boys' Reformatory

as 'Skipper' Murphy

Wanted by the Police

as Danny Murphy

The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

as Louie Miller

as Freddie Shields

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry

Headline Crasher

as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.

as Dixie Gordon

Anything for a Thrill

Tough to Handle

as Mike Sanford

The Devil Diamond

Mind Your Own Business

as Frankie Reynolds

as 'Babyface' Madison

Charlie Chan at the Race Track

as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford

as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)

as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly

Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs

3 Kids and a Queen

Valley of Wanted Men

as Slivers Sanderson

as Johnny Morgan

as James 'Jimmy' Rivers

Unwelcome Stranger

as Charlie Anderson

The Phantom Empire

as Frankie Baxter

as Ted Williams

Burn 'Em Up Barnes

as Bobbie Riley

The Merry Frinks

as Norman Frink

No Greater Glory

Hollywood on Parade No. B-1

Wild Boys of the Road

as Frank Courtney

as Alec, as a Child

Laughing at Life

The Mayor of Hell

as James 'Jimmie' Smith

The Devil Horse

as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy

Three on a Match

as Bobby (uncredited)

Hollywood on Parade No. A-3

as Self (uncredited)

Hollywood on Parade

The Cheyenne Cyclone

as Orphan McGuire

The Lightning Warrior

as Jimmy Carter

The Sin of Madelon Claudet

as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)

as Fedor as a Boy

The Vanishing Legion

as Jimmie Williams

The Public Enemy

as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)

as Jean Williams

The Pride of Pawnee

as Jerry Wilson

as Buster Brown

Trail of the Horse Thieves

Tyrant of Red Gulch

The Avenging Rider

as Frankie Sheridan

Terror Mountain

as Buddy Roberts

as Buddy Martin

The Phantom of the Range

as Spuds O'Brien

When the Law Rides

as Frankie Ross

Little Mickey Grogan

as Mickey Grogan

The Desert Pirate

Judgement Of The Hills

as Tad Dennison

as Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)

Moulders of Men

Lightning Lariats

as Alexis, King of Roxenburg

Her Father Said No

Flesh and the Devil

as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)

Out of the West

as Frankie O'Connor

Tom and His Pals

as Frankie Smith

Hearts and Spangles

The Masquerade Bandit

as Frankie Blake

The Thrill Hunter

The Cowboy Musketeer

as Billy Gordon

The Midnight Flyer

The People vs. Nancy Preston

Let's Go, Gallagher

Fighting the Flames

Confessions of a Queen

Her Husband's Secret

as Young Elliot Owen

as Dan Barclay Jr.

The Wyoming Wildcat

as Dirk DeJong (child)

Racing for Life

as Jimmy Danton

The Signal Tower

as Sonny Tolliver

Half-a-Dollar Bill

as Half-a-Dollar Bill

Judgment of the Storm