Frankie Darro
Known for Acting · 164 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
Batman
1966
as Newsman
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
The Red Skelton Show
1951
as Maw Kadiddlehopper (in drag)
Peter Gunn
1958
Bat Masterson
1958
as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
The Addams Family
1964
as Delivery Boy
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Little Dandy Dorf / Boots
Mister Ed
1961
Public Defender
1954
Checkmate
1960
as Sonny
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
Mr. Lucky
1959
Hey, Jeannie!
1956
as Caddy
Going My Way
1962
Movies (149)
Pinocchio
1940
as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Forbidden Planet
1956
as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Operation Petticoat
1959
as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
Stranded
1935
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Kiki
1926
as Pierre
The Public Enemy
1931
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
So Big
1924
as Dirk DeJong (child)
Westward the Women
1951
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Tough Kid
1938
as 'Skipper' Murphy
Racing Blood
1936
as Frankie Reynolds
Boys' Reformatory
1939
as Tommy Ryan
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
Across the Wide Missouri
1951
as Cadet (uncredited)
The Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
Reformatory
1938
as Louie Miller
Chasing Trouble
1940
as Jimmy O'Brien
Wyoming Mail
1950
as Rufe
Riding High
1950
as Jockey Williams
Saratoga
1937
as Dixie Gordon
Hook, Line and Sinker
1969
as Delivery Man (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
The Gang's All Here
1941
as Frankie O'Malley
No Greater Glory
1934
as Feri Ats
Smart Politics
1948
as Roy Donne
Three on a Match
1932
as Bobby (uncredited)
Pat and Mike
1952
as Caddy (uncredited)
Flesh and the Devil
1926
as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
Living It Up
1954
as Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
Tugboat Annie
1933
as Alec, as a Child
Way Back Home
1931
as Robbie
Irish Luck
1939
as Buzzy O'Brien
The Cheyenne Cyclone
1931
as Orphan McGuire
The Mad Genius
1931
as Fedor as a Boy
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Broadway Bill
1934
as Ted Williams
Wild Boys of the Road
1933
as Eddie Smith
The Phantom Empire
1935
as Frankie Baxter
3 Kids and a Queen
1935
as Blackie
That's My Man
1947
as Jockey
Half-a-Dollar Bill
1924
as Half-a-Dollar Bill
The Next Voice You Hear...
1950
as Newsboy (uncredited)
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
1936
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
1931
as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Mayor of Hell
1933
as James 'Jimmie' Smith
Young Dynamite
1937
as Freddie Shields
Mike
1926
as Boy
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
1974
as Studio Guard
Pride of Maryland
1951
as Steve Loomis
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
1937
as "Dink" Reid
The Lightning Warrior
1931
as Jimmy Carter
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1938
as Jerry
The Phantom of the Range
1928
as Spuds O'Brien
The Payoff
1935
as Jimmy Moore
The Cowboy Cop
1926
as Frankie
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
1936
as Self
Laughing at Life
1933
as Chango
Men of Action
1935
as Johnny Morgan
Take It or Leave It
1944
as Radio Listener
Dead End Kids Go To War
1942
as Jack
Red Hot Tires
1935
as Johnny
Juvenile Court
1938
as Stubby
Vacation Days
1947
as Roy Donne
The Devil Horse
1932
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Unwelcome Stranger
1935
as Charlie Anderson
Long Pants
1927
as Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
Let's Go Collegiate
1941
as Frankie Monahan
The Vanishing Legion
1931
as Jimmie Williams
Angels' Alley
1948
as Cousin Jimmy
Black Gold
1936
as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Memory Lane
1926
as Urchin
Up in the Air
1940
as Frankie Ryan
The Phantom Express
1925
as 'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
Heart of Virginia
1948
as Jimmy Easter
Lightning Lariats
1927
as Alexis, King of Roxenburg
Fugitive Lovers
1975
as Lester the Drunk
The Wolf Dog
1933
as Frank Courtney
Radio Ranch
1940
as Frankie Baxter
Sons of New Mexico
1949
as Gig Jackson
The Cowboy Musketeer
1925
as Billy Gordon
Mind Your Own Business
1936
as Bob
Little Men
1934
as Dan
Gun Law
1929
as Buster Brown
When the Law Rides
1928
as Frankie Ross
Texas Tornado
1928
as Buddy Martin
Fighting the Flames
1925
as Mickey
Terror Mountain
1928
as Buddy Roberts
Fighting Fools
1949
as Johnny Higgins
Laughing at Danger
1940
as Frankie Kelly
Born to Fight
1936
as 'Babyface' Madison
Hollywood on Parade
1932
as Self
Headline Crasher
1937
as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
The Signal Tower
1924
as Sonny Tolliver
Junior Prom
1946
as Roy Donne
Tom's Gang
1927
as Spuds
Junior G-Men of the Air
1942
as Jack
On the Spot
1940
as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Born to Battle
1926
as Birdie
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
1934
as Bobbie Riley
The Merry Frinks
1934
as Norman Frink
Trail of the Horse Thieves
1929
as Buddy
Moulders of Men
1927
as Sandy Barry
Tough to Handle
1937
as Mike Sanford
Let's Go, Gallagher
1925
as Little Joey
Little Mickey Grogan
1927
as Mickey Grogan
Trouble Makers
1948
as Ben Feathers
The Big Race
1934
as Knobby
Hold That Baby!
1949
as Bananas Stewart
The Lawless Rider
1954
as Jim Bascom
High School Hero
1946
as Roy Donne
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932
as Self (uncredited)
The Midnight Flyer
1925
as Young Davey
Tom and His Pals
1926
as Frankie Smith
The Devil Diamond
1937
as Lee
Freddie Steps Out
1946
as Roy Donne
Wild to Go
1926
as Frankie Blake
Hearts and Spangles
1926
as Bobby
Roaring Rails
1924
as Little Bill
Confessions of a Queen
1925
as Prince Zara
The People vs. Nancy Preston
1925
as Bubsy
Blaze o' Glory
1929
as Jean Williams
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 164 credits spanning from 1924 to 1975, Frankie Darro has appeared in 149 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)
- Forbidden Planet (1956) — as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
- Operation Petticoat (1959) — as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
- Stranded (1935) — as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
- Kiki (1926) — as Pierre
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.