Frankie Darro
Age: N/A | From: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Person Details
Birthday:
Aliases: Frank Johnson , Frank Darro , Frankie Darrow , Frank Darrow , Frank Johnson, Jr.
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 78
TV Involvements: 6
Most Famous Work
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 .
Most Famous Work
Perry Mason
(1957) Messenger
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
(1955) Boots
Bat Masterson
(1958) Edward 'Snapper' Garrison
Checkmate
(1960) Sonny
Pinocchio
(1940) Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Forbidden Planet
(1956) Robby the Robot (interior)
The Public Enemy
(1931) Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Westward the Women
(1951) Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)Acting
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Lester the Drunk | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 1974 | Studio Guard | |
| 1969 | Delivery Man (uncredited) | |
| 1968 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 1966 | Newsman | |
| 1964 | Delivery Boy | |
| 1962 | N/A | |
| 1961 | N/A | |
| 1960 | Sonny | |
| 1959 | Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley | |
| N/A | ||
| 1958 | Edward 'Snapper' Garrison | |
| N/A | ||
| 1957 | Elevator Operator | |
| Messenger | ||
| N/A | ||
| 1956 | Caddy | |
| Robby the Robot (interior) | ||
| 1955 | Little Dandy Dorf | |
| Boots | ||
| 1954 | Jim Bascom | |
| N/A | ||
| 1953 | Clint Slocum | |
| 1952 | Caddy (uncredited) | |
| 1951 | Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited) | |
| Cadet (uncredited) | ||
| N/A | ||
| Steve Loomis | ||
| 1950 | Rufe | |
| Jockey Williams | ||
| 1949 | Gig Jackson | |
| Bananas Stewart | ||
| Johnny Higgins | ||
| 1948 | Ben Feathers | |
| Jimmy Easter | ||
| Cousin Jimmy | ||
| Roy Donne | ||
| 1947 | Jockey | |
| Roy Donne | ||
| Roy Donne | ||
| 1946 | Roy Donne | |
| Roy Donne | ||
| Roy Donne | ||
| 1944 | Radio Listener | |
| 1942 | Jack | |
| Jack | ||
| 1941 | Jack 'Sock' Anderson | |
| Frankie Monahan | ||
| Frankie O'Malley | ||
| Frankie O'Reilly | ||
| 1940 | Frankie Ryan | |
| Frankie Kelly | ||
| Frankie 'Doc' Kelly | ||
| Frankie Baxter | ||
| Lampwick (voice) (uncredited) | ||
| Jimmy O'Brien | ||
| 1939 | Buzzy O'Brien | |
| Tommy Ryan | ||
| 1938 | 'Skipper' Murphy | |
| Danny Murphy | ||
| Stubby | ||
| Jerry | ||
| Louie Miller | ||
| 1937 | Freddie Shields | |
| "Dink" Reid | ||
| James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr. | ||
| Dixie Gordon | ||
| Dan Mallory | ||
| Mike Sanford | ||
| Lee | ||
| 1936 | Bob | |
| Frankie Reynolds | ||
| 'Babyface' Madison | ||
| 'Tip' Collins, Jockey | ||
| Himself | ||
| Spike Salisbury (uncredited) | ||
| Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly | ||
| 1935 | Blackie | |
| Slivers Sanderson | ||
| Johnny Morgan | ||
| James 'Jimmy' Rivers | ||
| Charlie Anderson | ||
| Frankie Baxter | ||
| Johnny | ||
| Jimmy Moore | ||
| 1934 | Ted Williams | |
| Bobbie Riley | ||
| Norman Frink | ||
| Feri Ats | ||
| N/A | ||
| Knobby | ||
| Dan | ||
| 1933 | Eddie Smith | |
| Frank Courtney | ||
| Alec, as a Child | ||
| Chango | ||
| James 'Jimmie' Smith | ||
| 1932 | Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy | |
| Bobby (uncredited) | ||
| Self (uncredited) | ||
| Self | ||
| Pete Smith | ||
| 1931 | Robbie | |
| Jimmy Carter | ||
| Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited) | ||
| Fedor as a Boy | ||
| Jimmie Williams | ||
| Matt as a Boy (uncredited) | ||
| 1929 | Jean Williams | |
| Billy Ryan | ||
| 1928 | Buddy | |
| Buddy Martin | ||
| Spuds O'Brien | ||
| 1927 | Mickey Grogan | |
| Tad Dennison | ||
| Spuds | ||
| Sandy Barry | ||
| 1926 | Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited) | |
| Frankie | ||
| Bobby | ||
| Boy | ||
| Pierre | ||
| Urchin | ||
| Birdie | ||
| 1925 | Billy Gordon | |
| Young Davey | ||
| Prince Zara | ||
| Barnie Finn | ||
| 1924 | Dirk DeJong (child) | |
| Little Bill | ||
| Jimmy Danton | ||
| Sonny Tolliver | ||
| Heath Twin | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
Crew
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Stunts | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
