Frankie Darro
Born into a show-business family - his parents were circus aerialists - Frankie 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 .
Acted in
Fugitive Lovers
1975
as Lester the Drunk
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
1974
as Studio Guard
Hook, Line and Sinker
1969
as Delivery Man (uncredited)
The Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
Batman
1966
as Newsman
The Addams Family
1964
as Delivery Boy
Going My Way
1962
Mister Ed
1961
Checkmate
1960
as Sonny
Operation Petticoat
1959
as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
Mr. Lucky
1959
Bat Masterson
1958
as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
Peter Gunn
1958
Perry Mason
1957
as Elevator Operator
Perry Mason
1957
as Messenger
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
Hey, Jeannie!
1956
as Caddy
Forbidden Planet
1956
as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Little Dandy Dorf
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Boots
The Lawless Rider
1954
as Jim Bascom
Public Defender
1954
Two Gun Marshal
1953
as Clint Slocum
Pat and Mike
1952
as Caddy (uncredited)
Westward the Women
1951
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Across the Wide Missouri
1951
as Cadet (uncredited)
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
Pride of Maryland
1951
as Steve Loomis
Wyoming Mail
1950
as Rufe
Riding High
1950
as Jockey Williams
Sons of New Mexico
1949
as Gig Jackson
Hold That Baby!
1949
as Bananas Stewart
Fighting Fools
1949
as Johnny Higgins
Trouble Makers
1948
as Ben Feathers
Heart of Virginia
1948
as Jimmy Easter
Angels' Alley
1948
as Cousin Jimmy
Smart Politics
1948
as Roy Donne
That's My Man
1947
as Jockey
Sarge Goes to College
1947
as Roy Donne
Vacation Days
1947
as Roy Donne
High School Hero
1946
as Roy Donne
Junior Prom
1946
as Roy Donne
Freddie Steps Out
1946
as Roy Donne
Take It or Leave It
1944
as Radio Listener
Dead End Kids Go To War
1942
as Jack
Junior G-Men of the Air
1942
as Jack
Tuxedo Junction
1941
as Jack 'Sock' Anderson
Let's Go Collegiate
1941
as Frankie Monahan
The Gang's All Here
1941
as Frankie O'Malley
You're Out of Luck
1941
as Frankie O'Reilly
Up in the Air
1940
as Frankie Ryan
Laughing at Danger
1940
as Frankie Kelly
On the Spot
1940
as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Men with Steel Faces
1940
as Frankie Baxter
Pinocchio
1940
as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Chasing Trouble
1940
as Jimmy O'Brien
Irish Luck
1939
as Buzzy O'Brien
Boys' Reformatory
1939
as Tommy Ryan
Tough Kid
1938
as 'Skipper' Murphy
Wanted by the Police
1938
as Danny Murphy
Juvenile Court
1938
as Stubby
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1938
as Jerry
Reformatory
1938
as Louie Miller
Young Dynamite
1937
as Freddie Shields
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
1937
as "Dink" Reid
Headline Crasher
1937
as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
Saratoga
1937
as Dixie Gordon
Anything for a Thrill
1937
as Dan Mallory
Tough to Handle
1937
as Mike Sanford
The Devil Diamond
1937
as Lee
Mind Your Own Business
1936
as Bob
Racing Blood
1936
as Frankie Reynolds
Born to Fight
1936
as 'Babyface' Madison
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
1936
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
1936
as Himself
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Black Gold
1936
as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
3 Kids and a Queen
1935
as Blackie
Valley of Wanted Men
1935
as Slivers Sanderson
Men of Action
1935
as Johnny Morgan
Stranded
1935
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Unwelcome Stranger
1935
as Charlie Anderson
The Phantom Empire
1935
as Frankie Baxter
Red Hot Tires
1935
as Johnny
The Payoff
1935
as Jimmy Moore
Broadway Bill
1934
as Ted Williams
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
1934
as Bobbie Riley
The Merry Frinks
1934
as Norman Frink
No Greater Glory
1934
as Feri Ats
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
The Big Race
1934
as Knobby
Little Men
1934
as Dan
Wild Boys of the Road
1933
as Eddie Smith
The Wolf Dog
1933
as Frank Courtney
Tugboat Annie
1933
as Alec, as a Child
Laughing at Life
1933
as Chango
The Mayor of Hell
1933
as James 'Jimmie' Smith
The Devil Horse
1932
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Three on a Match
1932
as Bobby (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932
as Self (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade
1932
as Self
Amateur Daddy
1932
as Pete Smith
Way Back Home
1931
as Robbie
The Lightning Warrior
1931
as Jimmy Carter
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
1931
as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Mad Genius
1931
as Fedor as a Boy
The Vanishing Legion
1931
as Jimmie Williams
The Public Enemy
1931
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Blaze o' Glory
1929
as Jean Williams
Rainbow Man
1929
as Billy Ryan
The Circus Kid
1928
as Buddy
Texas Tornado
1928
as Buddy Martin
The Phantom of the Range
1928
as Spuds O'Brien
Little Mickey Grogan
1927
as Mickey Grogan
Judgement Of The Hills
1927
as Tad Dennison
Tom's Gang
1927
as Spuds
Moulders of Men
1927
as Sandy Barry
Flesh and the Devil
1926
as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
The Cowboy Cop
1926
as Frankie
Hearts and Spangles
1926
as Bobby
Mike
1926
as Boy
Kiki
1926
as Pierre
Memory Lane
1926
as Urchin
Born to Battle
1926
as Birdie
The Cowboy Musketeer
1925
as Billy Gordon
The Midnight Flyer
1925
as Young Davey
Confessions of a Queen
1925
as Prince Zara
The Wyoming Wildcat
1925
as Barnie Finn
So Big
1924
as Dirk DeJong (child)
Roaring Rails
1924
as Little Bill
Racing for Life
1924
as Jimmy Danton
The Signal Tower
1924
as Sonny Tolliver
Judgment of the Storm
1924
as Heath Twin