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
Checkmate
1960
as Sonny
Public Defender
1954
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
The Public Enemy
1931
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Kiki
1926
as Pierre
Racing Blood
1936
as Frankie Reynolds
Smart Politics
1948
as Roy Donne
Wyoming Mail
1950
as Rufe
So Big
1924
as Dirk DeJong (child)
Tugboat Annie
1933
as Alec, as a Child
Irish Luck
1939
as Buzzy O'Brien
Reformatory
1938
as Louie Miller
Mike
1926
as Boy
Young Dynamite
1937
as Freddie Shields
Chasing Trouble
1940
as Jimmy O'Brien
Westward the Women
1951
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Boys' Reformatory
1939
as Tommy Ryan
The Movie Orgy
1968
as Self (archive footage)
Across the Wide Missouri
1951
as Cadet (uncredited)
Tough Kid
1938
as 'Skipper' Murphy
Hook, Line and Sinker
1969
as Delivery Man (uncredited)
Pat and Mike
1952
as Caddy (uncredited)
Stranded
1935
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Saratoga
1937
as Dixie Gordon
The Wolf Dog
1933
as Frank Courtney
The Gang's All Here
1941
as Frankie O'Malley
Juvenile Court
1938
as Stubby
Riding High
1950
as Jockey Williams
The Payoff
1935
as Jimmy Moore
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
No Greater Glory
1934
as Feri Ats
The Mad Genius
1931
as Fedor as a Boy
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
1936
as Self
Living It Up
1954
as Bellboy Captain (uncredited)
Flesh and the Devil
1926
as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
1931
as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Phantom Empire
1935
as Frankie Baxter
Little Men
1934
as Dan
The Vanishing Legion
1931
as Jimmie Williams
Headline Crasher
1937
as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
The Mayor of Hell
1933
as James 'Jimmie' Smith
The Next Voice You Hear...
1950
as Newsboy (uncredited)
Vacation Days
1947
as Roy Donne
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934
Broadway Bill
1934
as Ted Williams
That's My Man
1947
as Jockey
The Signal Tower
1924
as Sonny Tolliver
Angels' Alley
1948
as Cousin Jimmy
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
1936
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey
Half-a-Dollar Bill
1924
as Half-a-Dollar Bill
High School Hero
1946
as Roy Donne
Freddie Steps Out
1946
as Roy Donne
Pride of Maryland
1951
as Steve Loomis
Three on a Match
1932
as Bobby (uncredited)
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
1936
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Way Back Home
1931
as Robbie
Dead End Kids Go To War
1942
as Jack
Wild Boys of the Road
1933
as Eddie Smith
Up in the Air
1940
as Frankie Ryan
Sons of New Mexico
1949
as Gig Jackson
The Cheyenne Cyclone
1931
as Orphan McGuire
Black Gold
1936
as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Long Pants
1927
as Young Harry Shelby (uncredited)
Men of Action
1935
as Johnny Morgan
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
1937
as "Dink" Reid
Fighting Fools
1949
as Johnny Higgins
3 Kids and a Queen
1935
as Blackie
The Big Race
1934
as Knobby
On the Spot
1940
as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Tuxedo Junction
1941
as Jack 'Sock' Anderson
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
1974
as Studio Guard
Take It or Leave It
1944
as Radio Listener
Born to Fight
1936
as 'Babyface' Madison
Radio Ranch
1940
as Frankie Baxter
The Lightning Warrior
1931
as Jimmy Carter
Mind Your Own Business
1936
as Bob
Roaring Rails
1924
as Little Bill
The Phantom of the Range
1928
as Spuds O'Brien
Unwelcome Stranger
1935
as Charlie Anderson
Laughing at Life
1933
as Chango
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1938
as Jerry
Fugitive Lovers
1975
as Lester the Drunk
Little Mickey Grogan
1927
as Mickey Grogan
Texas Tornado
1928
as Buddy Martin
Confessions of a Queen
1925
as Prince Zara
Let's Go Collegiate
1941
as Frankie Monahan
Born to Battle
1926
as Birdie
Trail of the Horse Thieves
1929
as Buddy
The Cowboy Cop
1926
as Frankie
The Devil Horse
1932
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Heart of Virginia
1948
as Jimmy Easter
Red Hot Tires
1935
as Johnny
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
1934
as Bobbie Riley
The Devil Diamond
1937
as Lee
Junior Prom
1946
as Roy Donne
Gun Law
1929
as Buster Brown
The Merry Frinks
1934
as Norman Frink
Moulders of Men
1927
as Sandy Barry
Fighting the Flames
1925
as Mickey
Lightning Lariats
1927
as Alexis, King of Roxenburg
The Phantom Express
1925
as 'Daddles' Lane - Nora's Brother
Memory Lane
1926
as Urchin
The Midnight Flyer
1925
as Young Davey
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932
as Self (uncredited)
Terror Mountain
1928
as Buddy Roberts
Wanted by the Police
1938
as Danny Murphy
Tough to Handle
1937
as Mike Sanford
Her Husband's Secret
1925
as Young Elliot Owen
Hold That Baby!
1949
as Bananas Stewart
Let's Go, Gallagher
1925
as Little Joey
Tom and His Pals
1926
as Frankie Smith
Tom's Gang
1927
as Spuds
Cyclone of the Range
1927
as Frankie Butler
Hollywood on Parade
1932
as Self
Wild to Go
1926
as Frankie Blake
Laughing at Danger
1940
as Frankie Kelly
Her Father Said No
1927
as Matt Doe
Trouble Makers
1948
as Ben Feathers
Junior G-Men of the Air
1942
as Jack
When the Law Rides
1928
as Frankie Ross
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 HinFlix, 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
- The Public Enemy (1931) — as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
- Kiki (1926) — as Pierre
Where to Watch Frankie Darro Films
Most Frankie Darro movies and series are available to stream on HinFlix 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.