Frankie Darro
Known for Acting · 165 credits
- Born
- 1917-12-22
- Died
- 1976-12-25
- Place of birth
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Also known as
- Frank Johnson · Frank Darro · Frankie Darrow · Frank Darrow · Frank Johnson, Jr.
Biography
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
TV Shows (15)
Perry Mason
1957
as Elevator Operator / Messenger
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
The Red Skelton Show
1951
as Maw Kadiddlehopper
Batman
1966
as Newsman
Bat Masterson
1958
as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
Peter Gunn
1958
Mister Ed
1961
The Addams Family
1964
as Delivery Boy
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Little Dandy Dorf / Boots
Checkmate
1960
as Sonny
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
Public Defender
1954
Mr. Lucky
1959
Going My Way
1962
Hey, Jeannie!
1956
as Caddy
Movies (150)
Pinocchio
1940
as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
The Ten Commandments
1956
as Slave (uncredited)
Texas Tornado
1928
as Buddy Martin
Forbidden Planet
1956
as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Radio Ranch
1940
as Frankie Baxter
The Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
Memory Lane
1926
as Urchin
Kiki
1926
as Pierre
Reformatory
1938
as Louie Miller
Terror Mountain
1928
as Buddy Roberts
Westward the Women
1951
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Boys' Reformatory
1939
as Tommy Ryan
The Gang's All Here
1941
as Frankie O'Malley
No Greater Glory
1934
as Feri Ats
The Phantom Empire
1935
as Frankie Baxter
The Mayor of Hell
1933
as James 'Jimmie' Smith
Operation Petticoat
1959
as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
Hook, Line and Sinker
1969
as Delivery Man (uncredited)
The Flying U Ranch
1927
as Chip Jr.
Laughing at Life
1933
as Chango
Junior G-Men of the Air
1942
as Jack
Unwelcome Stranger
1935
as Charlie Anderson
Amateur Daddy
1932
as Pete Smith
Flesh and the Devil
1926
as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
The Cheyenne Cyclone
1931
as Orphan McGuire
Wild Boys of the Road
1933
as Eddie Smith
Way Back Home
1931
as Robbie
Racing Blood
1954
as Ben
Riding High
1950
as Jockey Williams
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
1936
as Self
Tough Kid
1938
as 'Skipper' Murphy
The Phantom Express
1925
as 'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
The Vanishing Legion
1931
as Jimmie Williams
The Pride of Pawnee
1929
as Jerry Wilson
Wyoming Mail
1950
as Rufe
Valley of Wanted Men
1935
as Slivers Sanderson
When the Law Rides
1928
as Frankie Ross
Red Hot Hoofs
1926
as Frankie Buckley
Juvenile Court
1938
as Stubby
The Public Enemy
1931
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Little Mickey Grogan
1927
as Mickey Grogan
The Merry Frinks
1934
as Norman Frink
The Payoff
1935
as Jimmy Moore
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
1937
as "Dink" Reid
Broadway Bill
1934
as Ted Williams
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
1931
as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
Fighting the Flames
1925
as Mickey
The Desert Pirate
1927
as Jimmy Rand
The Thrill Hunter
1926
as Boy Prince
The Phantom of the Range
1928
as Spuds O'Brien
Idaho Red
1929
as Tadpole
Trouble Makers
1948
as Ben Feathers
Living It Up
1954
as Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
Let's Go Collegiate
1941
as Frankie Monahan
Gun Law
1929
as Buster Brown
Across the Wide Missouri
1951
as Cadet (uncredited)
Tyrant of Red Gulch
1928
as Tip
That's My Man
1947
as Jockey
The Lightning Warrior
1931
as Jimmy Carter
Men of Action
1935
as Johnny Morgan
Tugboat Annie
1933
as Alec, as a Child
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Junior Prom
1946
as Roy Donne
The Mad Genius
1931
as Fedor as a Boy
Half-a-Dollar Bill
1924
as Half-a-Dollar Bill
Her Father Said No
1927
as Matt Doe
Up in the Air
1940
as Frankie Ryan
Saratoga
1937
as Dixie Gordon
The Next Voice You Hear...
1950
as Newsboy (uncredited)
The People vs. Nancy Preston
1925
as Bubsy
Her Husband's Secret
1925
as Young Elliot Owen
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1938
as Jerry
Let's Go, Gallagher
1925
as Little Joey
Moulders of Men
1927
as Sandy Barry
Fighting Fools
1949
as Johnny Higgins
Tuxedo Junction
1941
as Jack 'Sock' Anderson
Sarge Goes to College
1947
as Roy Donne
The Big Race
1934
as Knobby
Pat and Mike
1952
as Caddy (uncredited)
Wanted by the Police
1938
as Danny Murphy
Irish Luck
1939
as Buzzy O'Brien
Pride of Maryland
1951
as Steve Loomis
Take It or Leave It
1944
as Radio Listener
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
Long Pants
1927
as Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
Born to Battle
1926
as Birdie
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
1974
as Studio Guard
Young Dynamite
1937
as Freddie Shields
Stranded
1935
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
The Signal Tower
1924
as Sonny Tolliver
You're Out of Luck
1941
as Frankie O'Reilly
Angels' Alley
1948
as Cousin Jimmy
The Cowboy Cop
1926
as Frankie
Born to Fight
1936
as 'Babyface' Madison
Cyclone of the Range
1927
as Frankie Butler
Sons of New Mexico
1949
as Gig Jackson
Three on a Match
1932
as Bobby (uncredited)
Mind Your Own Business
1936
as Bob
Roaring Rails
1924
as Little Bill
The Devil Diamond
1937
as Lee
The Wolf Dog
1933
as Frank Courtney
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
1934
as Bobbie Riley
Tough to Handle
1937
as Mike Sanford
Racing Blood
1936
as Frankie Reynolds
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
1936
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
The Wyoming Wildcat
1925
as Barnie Finn
The Masquerade Bandit
1926
as Tim Marble
The Avenging Rider
1928
as Frankie Sheridan
Trail of the Horse Thieves
1929
as Buddy
Blaze o' Glory
1929
as Jean Williams
Hold That Baby!
1949
as Bananas Stewart
Wild to Go
1926
as Frankie Blake
Rainbow Man
1929
as Billy Ryan
Hollywood on Parade
1932
as Self
Lightning Lariats
1927
as Alexis, King of Roxenburg
The Devil Horse
1932
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Fugitive Lovers
1975
as Lester the Drunk
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932
as Self (uncredited)
Out of the West
1926
as Frankie O'Connor
About 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 1… With 165 credits spanning from 1924 to 1975, Frankie Darro has appeared in 150 films and 15 TV shows.
Fans searching for Frankie Darro movies, Frankie Darro filmography, or the latest projects starring Frankie Darro can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Frankie Darro Movies
- Pinocchio (1940) — as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
- The Ten Commandments (1956) — as Slave (uncredited)
- Texas Tornado (1928) — as Buddy Martin
- Forbidden Planet (1956) — as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
- Radio Ranch (1940) — as Frankie Baxter
Where to Watch Frankie Darro Films
Most Frankie Darro movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Frankie Darro, check our movies catalogue and browse page.