Acting
Frankie Darro
EN, XX cinema · 151 credits
Born
22 December 1917
Died
25 December 1976 (aged 59)
Birthplace
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Also known as Frank Johnson · Frank Darro · Frankie Darrow · Frank Darrow · Frank Johnson, Jr.
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 .
Known for
Filmography
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
Fugitive Lovers
as Lester the Drunk
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
as Studio Guard
Hook, Line and Sinker
as Delivery Man (uncredited)
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
Operation Petticoat
as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
Forbidden Planet
as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
The Ten Commandments
as Slave (uncredited)
The Lawless Rider
as Jim Bascom
Living It Up
as Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
Two Gun Marshal
as Clint Slocum
Pat and Mike
as Caddy (uncredited)
Westward the Women
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Across the Wide Missouri
as Cadet (uncredited)
Pride of Maryland
as Steve Loomis
Wyoming Mail
as Rufe
Riding High
as Jockey Williams
The Next Voice You Hear...
as Newsboy (uncredited)
Sons of New Mexico
as Gig Jackson
Hold That Baby!
as Bananas Stewart
Fighting Fools
as Johnny Higgins
Angels' Alley
as Cousin Jimmy
Trouble Makers
as Ben Feathers
Heart of Virginia
as Jimmy Easter
Smart Politics
as Roy Donne
That's My Man
as Jockey
Sarge Goes to College
as Roy Donne
Vacation Days
as Roy Donne
Junior Prom
as Roy Donne
High School Hero
as Roy Donne
Freddie Steps Out
as Roy Donne
Take It or Leave It
as Radio Listener
Tuxedo Junction
as Jack 'Sock' Anderson
The Gang's All Here
as Frankie O'Malley
You're Out of Luck
as Frankie O'Reilly
Let's Go Collegiate
as Frankie Monahan
Pinocchio
as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Up in the Air
as Frankie Ryan
On the Spot
as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Radio Ranch
as Frankie Baxter
Chasing Trouble
as Jimmy O'Brien
Laughing at Danger
as Frankie Kelly
Boys' Reformatory
as Tommy Ryan
Irish Luck
as Buzzy O'Brien
Reformatory
as Louie Miller
Juvenile Court
as Stubby
Wanted by the Police
as Danny Murphy
Tough Kid
as 'Skipper' Murphy
Saratoga
as Dixie Gordon
Headline Crasher
as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
Tough to Handle
as Mike Sanford
Young Dynamite
as Freddie Shields
Anything for a Thrill
as Dan Mallory
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
as "Dink" Reid
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Black Gold
as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Born to Fight
as 'Babyface' Madison
Racing Blood
as Frankie Reynolds
Unwelcome Stranger
as Charlie Anderson
Valley of Wanted Men
as Slivers Sanderson
The Phantom Empire
as Frankie Baxter
The Payoff
as Jimmy Moore
Red Hot Tires
as Johnny
Men of Action
as Johnny Morgan
Stranded
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
3 Kids and a Queen
as Blackie
Little Men
as Dan
Broadway Bill
as Ted Williams
No Greater Glory
as Feri Ats
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
as Bobbie Riley
The Merry Frinks
as Norman Frink
The Big Race
as Knobby
Wild Boys of the Road
as Eddie Smith
The Mayor of Hell
as James 'Jimmie' Smith
The Wolf Dog
as Frank Courtney
Laughing at Life
as Chango
Tugboat Annie
as Alec, as a Child
Three on a Match
as Bobby (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
as Self (uncredited)
The Devil Horse
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Amateur Daddy
as Pete Smith
The Lightning Warrior
as Jimmy Carter
The Public Enemy
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
The Vanishing Legion
as Jimmie Williams
The Mad Genius
as Fedor as a Boy
Way Back Home
as Robbie
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Cheyenne Cyclone
as Orphan McGuire
Blaze o' Glory
as Jean Williams
Rainbow Man
as Billy Ryan
Idaho Red
as Tadpole
Gun Law
as Buster Brown
The Pride of Pawnee
1929
The Pride of Pawnee
as Jerry Wilson
The Circus Kid
as Buddy
Texas Tornado
as Buddy Martin
The Phantom of the Range
as Spuds O'Brien
The Avenging Rider
as Frankie Sheridan
Terror Mountain
as Buddy Roberts
When the Law Rides
as Frankie Ross
Judgement Of The Hills
as Tad Dennison
Little Mickey Grogan
as Mickey Grogan
Moulders of Men
as Sandy Barry
Tom's Gang
as Spuds
Lightning Lariats
as Alexis, King of Roxenburg
Her Father Said No
as Matt Doe
Long Pants
as Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
Cyclone of the Range
1927
Cyclone of the Range
as Frankie Butler
The Desert Pirate
as Jimmy Rand
Born to Battle
as Birdie
Hearts and Spangles
as Bobby
Kiki
as Pierre
Flesh and the Devil
as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
Memory Lane
as Urchin
The Cowboy Cop
as Frankie
The Masquerade Bandit
as Tim Marble
Tom and His Pals
as Frankie Smith
Out of the West
as Frankie O'Connor
The Thrill Hunter
as Boy Prince
Wild to Go
as Frankie Blake
Red Hot Hoofs
1926
Red Hot Hoofs
as Frankie Buckley
The Midnight Flyer
as Young Davey
The Cowboy Musketeer
as Billy Gordon
Confessions of a Queen
as Prince Zara
The Wyoming Wildcat
as Barnie Finn
Let's Go, Gallagher
as Little Joey
Her Husband's Secret
as Young Elliot Owen
Women and Gold
as Dan Barclay Jr.
The Phantom Express
1925
The Phantom Express
as 'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
Racing for Life
as Jimmy Danton
Judgment of the Storm
as Heath Twin
The Signal Tower
as Sonny Tolliver
Roaring Rails
as Little Bill
So Big
as Dirk DeJong (child)
Half-a-Dollar Bill
as Half-a-Dollar Bill