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