Frankie Darro
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 .
Filmography
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
The Ten Commandments
as Slave (uncredited)
The Ten Commandments
as Slave (uncredited)
Forbidden Planet
as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Forbidden Planet
as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Westward the Women
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Westward the Women
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Wyoming Mail
as Rufe
Wyoming Mail
as Rufe
The Next Voice You Hear...
as Newsboy (uncredited)
The Next Voice You Hear...
as Newsboy (uncredited)
Heart of Virginia
as Jimmy Easter
Heart of Virginia
as Jimmy Easter
The Gang's All Here
as Frankie O'Malley
The Gang's All Here
as Frankie O'Malley
You're Out of Luck
as Frankie O'Reilly
You're Out of Luck
as Frankie O'Reilly
Up in the Air
as Frankie Ryan
Up in the Air
as Frankie Ryan
Pinocchio
as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Pinocchio
as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Irish Luck
as Buzzy O'Brien
Irish Luck
as Buzzy O'Brien
Young Dynamite
as Freddie Shields
Young Dynamite
as Freddie Shields
Saratoga
as Dixie Gordon
Saratoga
as Dixie Gordon
The Devil Diamond
as Lee
The Devil Diamond
as Lee
Mind Your Own Business
as Bob
Mind Your Own Business
as Bob
Racing Blood
as Frankie Reynolds
Racing Blood
as Frankie Reynolds
Born to Fight
as 'Babyface' Madison
Born to Fight
as 'Babyface' Madison
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Black Gold
as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Black Gold
as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
as Self
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
as Self
3 Kids and a Queen
as Blackie
3 Kids and a Queen
as Blackie
Valley of Wanted Men
as Slivers Sanderson
Valley of Wanted Men
as Slivers Sanderson
Stranded
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Stranded
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Unwelcome Stranger
as Charlie Anderson
Unwelcome Stranger
as Charlie Anderson
The Phantom Empire
as Frankie Baxter
The Phantom Empire
as Frankie Baxter
Red Hot Tires
as Johnny
Red Hot Tires
as Johnny
The Payoff
as Jimmy Moore
The Payoff
as Jimmy Moore
Broadway Bill
as Ted Williams
Broadway Bill
as Ted Williams
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
as Bobbie Riley
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
as Bobbie Riley
The Merry Frinks
as Norman Frink
The Merry Frinks
as Norman Frink
No Greater Glory
as Feri Ats
No Greater Glory
as Feri Ats
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
The Big Race
as Knobby
The Big Race
as Knobby
Little Men
as Dan
Little Men
as Dan
The Wolf Dog
as Frank Courtney
The Wolf Dog
as Frank Courtney
Tugboat Annie
as Alec, as a Child
Tugboat Annie
as Alec, as a Child
Laughing at Life
as Chango
Laughing at Life
as Chango
The Mayor of Hell
as James 'Jimmie' Smith
The Mayor of Hell
as James 'Jimmie' Smith
The Devil Horse
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
The Devil Horse
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Three on a Match
as Bobby (uncredited)
Three on a Match
as Bobby (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
as Self (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
as Self (uncredited)
Amateur Daddy
as Pete Smith
Amateur Daddy
as Pete Smith
The Cheyenne Cyclone
as Orphan McGuire
The Cheyenne Cyclone
as Orphan McGuire
Way Back Home
as Robbie
Way Back Home
as Robbie
The Public Enemy
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
The Public Enemy
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Rainbow Man
as Billy Ryan
Rainbow Man
as Billy Ryan
Gun Law
as Buster Brown
Gun Law
as Buster Brown
Tyrant of Red Gulch
as Tip
Tyrant of Red Gulch
as Tip
The Avenging Rider
as Frankie Sheridan
The Avenging Rider
as Frankie Sheridan
Terror Mountain
as Buddy Roberts
Terror Mountain
as Buddy Roberts
The Phantom of the Range
as Spuds O'Brien
The Phantom of the Range
as Spuds O'Brien
Little Mickey Grogan
as Mickey Grogan
Little Mickey Grogan
as Mickey Grogan
The Desert Pirate
as Jimmy Rand
The Desert Pirate
as Jimmy Rand
Cyclone of the Range
as Frankie Butler
Cyclone of the Range
as Frankie Butler
The People vs. Nancy Preston
as Bubsy
The People vs. Nancy Preston
as Bubsy
Let's Go, Gallagher
as Little Joey
Let's Go, Gallagher
as Little Joey
The Signal Tower
as Sonny Tolliver
The Signal Tower
as Sonny Tolliver