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