Birth Day: 1917-12-22
Place of birth: 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 .
Credits
-
As Lester the Drunk -
As Self (archive footage) -
As Studio Guard -
As Delivery Man (uncredited) -
As Self (archive footage) -
As Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley -
As Slave (uncredited) -
As Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited) -
As Ben -
As Bellboy Captain (uncredited) -
As Jim Bascom -
As Clint Slocum -
As Caddy (uncredited) -
As Steve Loomis -
As Cadet (uncredited) -
As Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited) -
As Newsboy (uncredited) -
As Jockey Williams -
As Rufe -
As Gig Jackson -
As Johnny Higgins -
As Bananas Stewart -
As Roy Donne -
As Ben Feathers -
As Jimmy Easter -
As Cousin Jimmy -
As Jockey -
As Roy Donne -
As Roy Donne -
As Roy Donne -
As Roy Donne -
As Roy Donne -
As Radio Listener -
As Jack -
As Jack
-
As Frankie O'Malley -
As Frankie Monahan -
As Frankie O'Reilly -
As Jack 'Sock' Anderson -
As Frankie Kelly -
As Jimmy O'Brien -
As Frankie 'Doc' Kelly -
As Frankie Baxter -
As Frankie Ryan -
As Lampwick (voice) (uncredited) -
As Tommy Ryan -
As Buzzy O'Brien -
As Stubby -
As Louie Miller -
As Jerry -
As Danny Murphy -
As 'Skipper' Murphy -
As Dan Mallory -
As Freddie Shields -
As "Dink" Reid -
As Lee -
As James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr. -
As Dixie Gordon -
As Mike Sanford -
As Frankie Reynolds -
As 'Tip' Collins, Jockey -
As Spike Salisbury (uncredited) -
As Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly -
As Bob -
As Self -
As 'Babyface' Madison -
As Frankie Baxter -
As Slivers Sanderson -
As Charlie Anderson -
As Blackie -
As Johnny -
As Johnny Morgan -
As Jimmy Moore -
As James 'Jimmy' Rivers -
As Feri Ats -
As Bobbie Riley -
As Dan -
As Norman Frink -
As Knobby -
As Ted Williams -
-
As James 'Jimmie' Smith -
As Alec, as a Child -
As Chango -
As Eddie Smith -
As Frank Courtney -
As Bobby (uncredited) -
As Self -
As Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy -
As Pete Smith -
As Self (uncredited) -
As Orphan McGuire -
As Jimmy Carter -
As Robbie -
As Jimmie Williams -
As Fedor as a Boy -
As Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited) -
As Matt as a Boy (uncredited) -
As Tadpole -
As Buster Brown -
As Billy Ryan -
As Buddy -
As Jean Williams -
As Jerry Wilson
-
As Frankie Sheridan -
As Buddy Roberts -
As Buddy -
As Spuds O'Brien -
As Buddy Martin -
As Tip
-
As Frankie Ross -
As Frankie Butler
-
As Alexis, King of Roxenburg -
As Matt Doe -
As Tad Dennison -
As Spuds -
As Young Harry Shelby (uncredited) -
As Mickey Grogan -
As Jimmy Rand -
As Chip Jr.
-
As Sandy Barry -
As Boy Prince -
As Frankie O'Connor -
As Frankie Blake -
As Frankie Smith -
As Frankie Buckley
-
As Pierre -
As Birdie -
As Tim Marble -
As Boy
-
As Bobby -
As Frankie -
As Urchin -
As Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited) -
As Young Elliot Owen -
As Dan Barclay Jr. -
As Prince Zara -
As Billy Gordon -
As Little Joey -
As 'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
-
As Mickey -
As Barnie Finn -
As Bubsy -
As Young Davey -
As Heath Twin -
As Sonny Tolliver -
As Dirk DeJong (child) -
As Little Bill -
As Half-a-Dollar Bill -
As Jimmy Danton