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Frankie Darro

Frankie Darro

Known For Acting
Birthday Dec 22, 1917
Died Dec 25, 1976 (59)
Birthplace Chicago, Illinois, USA
Popularity 0.2 (history)
Updated Aug 10, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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 pe ... rformer, 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

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Profile
Filmography

Fugitive Lovers

Fugitive Lovers

1975

as Lester the Drunk

The Girl on the Late, Late Show

The Girl on the Late, Late Show

1974

as Studio Guard

Hook, Line and Sinker

Hook, Line and Sinker

1969

as Delivery Man (uncredited)

Operation Petticoat

Operation Petticoat

1959

as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley

Forbidden Planet

Forbidden Planet

1956

as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)

The Lawless Rider

The Lawless Rider

1954

as Jim Bascom

Two Gun Marshal

Two Gun Marshal

1953

as Clint Slocum

Pat and Mike

Pat and Mike

1952

as Caddy (uncredited)

Pride of Maryland

Pride of Maryland

1951

as Steve Loomis

Westward the Women

Westward the Women

1951

as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)

Across the Wide Missouri

Across the Wide Missouri

1951

as Cadet (uncredited)

Wyoming Mail

Wyoming Mail

1950

as Rufe

Riding High

Riding High

1950

as Jockey Williams

Fighting Fools

Fighting Fools

1949

as Johnny Higgins

Hold That Baby!

Hold That Baby!

1949

as Bananas Stewart

Sons of New Mexico

Sons of New Mexico

1949

as Gig Jackson

Smart Politics

Smart Politics

1948

as Roy Donne

Heart of Virginia

Heart of Virginia

1948

as Jimmy Easter

Angels' Alley

Angels' Alley

1948

as Cousin Jimmy

Trouble Makers

Trouble Makers

1948

as Ben Feathers

Vacation Days

Vacation Days

1947

as Roy Donne

Sarge Goes to College

Sarge Goes to College

1947

as Roy Donne

That's My Man

That's My Man

1947

as Jockey

Freddie Steps Out

Freddie Steps Out

1946

as Roy Donne

Junior Prom

Junior Prom

1946

as Roy Donne

High School Hero

High School Hero

1946

as Roy Donne

Take It or Leave It

Take It or Leave It

1944

as Radio Listener

You're Out of Luck

You're Out of Luck

1941

as Frankie O'Reilly

The Gang's All Here

The Gang's All Here

1941

as Frankie O'Malley

Let's Go Collegiate

Let's Go Collegiate

1941

as Frankie Monahan

Tuxedo Junction

Tuxedo Junction

1941

as Jack 'Sock' Anderson

On the Spot

On the Spot

1940

as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly

Chasing Trouble

Chasing Trouble

1940

as Jimmy O'Brien

Laughing at Danger

Laughing at Danger

1940

as Frankie Kelly

Up in the Air

Up in the Air

1940

as Frankie Ryan

Men with Steel Faces

Men with Steel Faces

1940

as Frankie Baxter

Pinocchio

Pinocchio

1940

as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)

Irish Luck

Irish Luck

1939

as Buzzy O'Brien

Boys' Reformatory

Boys' Reformatory

1939

as Tommy Ryan

Tough Kid

Tough Kid

1938

as 'Skipper' Murphy

Wanted by the Police

Wanted by the Police

1938

as Danny Murphy

Juvenile Court

Juvenile Court

1938

as Stubby

Reformatory

Reformatory

1938

as Louie Miller

The Devil Diamond

The Devil Diamond

1937

as Lee

Anything for a Thrill

Anything for a Thrill

1937

as Dan Mallory

Headline Crasher

Headline Crasher

1937

as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.

Tough to Handle

Tough to Handle

1937

as Mike Sanford

Young Dynamite

Young Dynamite

1937

as Freddie Shields

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry

1937

as "Dink" Reid

Saratoga

Saratoga

1937

as Dixie Gordon

Born to Fight

Born to Fight

1936

as 'Babyface' Madison

Racing Blood

Racing Blood

1936

as Frankie Reynolds

Black Gold

Black Gold

1936

as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly

Charlie Chan at the Race Track

Charlie Chan at the Race Track

1936

as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford

1936

as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)

Valley of Wanted Men

Valley of Wanted Men

1935

as Slivers Sanderson

Men of Action

Men of Action

1935

as Johnny Morgan

The Phantom Empire

The Phantom Empire

1935

as Frankie Baxter

3 Kids and a Queen

3 Kids and a Queen

1935

as Blackie

Red Hot Tires

Red Hot Tires

1935

as Johnny

The Payoff

The Payoff

1935

as Jimmy Moore

Unwelcome Stranger

Unwelcome Stranger

1935

as Charlie Anderson

Stranded

Stranded

1935

as James 'Jimmy' Rivers

Burn 'Em Up Barnes

Burn 'Em Up Barnes

1934

as Bobbie Riley

No Greater Glory

No Greater Glory

1934

as Feri Ats

The Big Race

The Big Race

1934

as Knobby

Little Men

Little Men

1934

as Dan

The Merry Frinks

The Merry Frinks

1934

as Norman Frink

Broadway Bill

Broadway Bill

1934

as Ted Williams

Wild Boys of the Road

Wild Boys of the Road

1933

as Eddie Smith

The Wolf Dog

The Wolf Dog

1933

as Frank Courtney

The Mayor of Hell

The Mayor of Hell

1933

as James 'Jimmie' Smith

Tugboat Annie

Tugboat Annie

1933

as Alec, as a Child

Laughing at Life

Laughing at Life

1933

as Chango

The Devil Horse

The Devil Horse

1932

as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy

Amateur Daddy

Amateur Daddy

1932

as Pete Smith

Three on a Match

Three on a Match

1932

as Bobby (uncredited)

The Lightning Warrior

The Lightning Warrior

1931

as Jimmy Carter

The Vanishing Legion

The Vanishing Legion

1931

as Jimmie Williams

Way Back Home

Way Back Home

1931

as Robbie

The Mad Genius

The Mad Genius

1931

as Fedor as a Boy

The Public Enemy

The Public Enemy

1931

as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)

The Sin of Madelon Claudet

The Sin of Madelon Claudet

1931

as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)

Blaze o' Glory

Blaze o' Glory

1929

as Jean Williams

Rainbow Man

Rainbow Man

1929

as Billy Ryan

The Circus Kid

The Circus Kid

1928

as Buddy

The Phantom of the Range

The Phantom of the Range

1928

as Spuds O'Brien

Little Mickey Grogan

Little Mickey Grogan

1927

as Mickey Grogan

Judgement Of The Hills

Judgement Of The Hills

1927

as Tad Dennison

Moulders of Men

Moulders of Men

1927

as Sandy Barry

Tom's Gang

Tom's Gang

1927

as Spuds

Born to Battle

Born to Battle

1926

as Birdie

Hearts and Spangles

Hearts and Spangles

1926

as Bobby

Memory Lane

Memory Lane

1926

as Urchin

Mike

Mike

1926

as Boy

Kiki

Kiki

1926

as Pierre

Flesh and the Devil

Flesh and the Devil

1926

as Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)

The Cowboy Musketeer

The Cowboy Musketeer

1925

as Billy Gordon

Confessions of a Queen

Confessions of a Queen

1925

as Prince Zara

The Midnight Flyer

The Midnight Flyer

1925

as Young Davey

The Wyoming Wildcat

The Wyoming Wildcat

1925

as Barnie Finn

Roaring Rails

Roaring Rails

1924

as Little Bill

The Signal Tower

The Signal Tower

1924

as Sonny Tolliver

Racing for Life

Racing for Life

1924

as Jimmy Danton

So Big

So Big

1924

as Dirk DeJong (child)

No data available

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Batman

as Newsman

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 12, 1966

Perry Mason

as Elevator Operator

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Little Dandy Dorf

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1955

Bat Masterson

as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 08, 1958

The Addams Family

as Delivery Boy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 18, 1964

Hey, Jeannie!

as Caddy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1956

Perry Mason

as Messenger

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Boots

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1955

Checkmate

as Sonny

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1960

Public Defender

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Mar 11, 1954

Mister Ed

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 05, 1961

Mr. Lucky

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 24, 1959

Going My Way

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 1962

Have Gun, Will Travel

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 14, 1957

Peter Gunn

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1958

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 15, 1951

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 8 12 4
2024 7 12 20 3
2024 8 9 22 4
2024 9 9 18 2
2024 10 3 10 1
2024 11 3 5 1
2024 12 4 10 1
2025 1 6 15 2
2025 2 4 9 1
2025 3 3 6 1
2025 5 1 2 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 1 5 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 0 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
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