Born into a show-business family - his parents were circus aerialists - Frankie 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
Pinocchio
(1940)
Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Forbidden Planet
(1956)
Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Operation Petticoat
(1959)
Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
The Mad Genius
(1931)
Fedor as a Boy
The Public Enemy
(1931)
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Westward the Women
(1951)
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Broadway Bill
(1934)
Ted Williams
Saratoga
(1937)
Dixie Gordon
Stranded
(1935)
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Flesh and the Devil
(1926)
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
Juvenile Court
(1938)
Stubby
Across the Wide Missouri
(1951)
Cadet (uncredited)
The Movie Orgy
(1968)
Self (archive footage)
Three on a Match
(1932)
Bobby (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
The Signal Tower
(1924)
Sonny Tolliver
Roaring Rails
(1924)
Little Bill
So Big
(1924)
Dirk DeJong (child)
Racing for Life
(1924)
Jimmy Danton
Judgment of the Storm
(1924)
Heath Twin
The Cowboy Musketeer
(1925)
Billy Gordon
Confessions of a Queen
(1925)
Prince Zara
The Wyoming Wildcat
(1925)
Barnie Finn
The Midnight Flyer
(1925)
Young Davey
Kiki
(1926)
Pierre
Flesh and the Devil
(1926)
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
Memory Lane
(1926)
Urchin
The Cowboy Cop
(1926)
Frankie
Born to Battle
(1926)
Birdie
Hearts and Spangles
(1926)
Bobby
Mike
(1926)
Boy
Judgement Of The Hills
(1927)
Tad Dennison
Moulders of Men
(1927)
Sandy Barry
Little Mickey Grogan
(1927)
Mickey Grogan
Tom's Gang
(1927)
Spuds
Texas Tornado
(1928)
Buddy Martin
The Circus Kid
(1928)
Buddy
The Phantom of the Range
(1928)
Spuds O'Brien
Blaze o' Glory
(1929)
Jean Williams
Rainbow Man
(1929)
Billy Ryan
The Public Enemy
(1931)
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
The Mad Genius
(1931)
Fedor as a Boy
The Vanishing Legion
(1931)
Jimmie Williams
Way Back Home
(1931)
Robbie
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
(1931)
Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Lightning Warrior
(1931)
Jimmy Carter
Three on a Match
(1932)
Bobby (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade
(1932)
Self
The Devil Horse
(1932)
Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
Amateur Daddy
(1932)
Pete Smith
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
(1932)
Self (uncredited)
Wild Boys of the Road
(1933)
Eddie Smith
The Mayor of Hell
(1933)
James 'Jimmie' Smith
The Wolf Dog
(1933)
Frank Courtney
Tugboat Annie
(1933)
Alec, as a Child
Laughing at Life
(1933)
Chango
Little Men
(1934)
Dan
Broadway Bill
(1934)
Ted Williams
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
(1934)
No Greater Glory
(1934)
Feri Ats
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
(1934)
Bobbie Riley
The Merry Frinks
(1934)
Norman Frink
The Big Race
(1934)
Knobby
Valley of Wanted Men
(1935)
Slivers Sanderson
The Phantom Empire
(1935)
Frankie Baxter
The Payoff
(1935)
Jimmy Moore
Red Hot Tires
(1935)
Johnny
Men of Action
(1935)
Johnny Morgan
Stranded
(1935)
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
3 Kids and a Queen
(1935)
Blackie
Unwelcome Stranger
(1935)
Charlie Anderson
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
(1936)
'Tip' Collins, Jockey
Black Gold
(1936)
Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Born to Fight
(1936)
'Babyface' Madison
Racing Blood
(1936)
Frankie Reynolds
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
(1936)
Himself
Mind Your Own Business
(1936)
Bob
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
(1936)
Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Saratoga
(1937)
Dixie Gordon
Headline Crasher
(1937)
James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
The Devil Diamond
(1937)
Lee
Tough to Handle
(1937)
Mike Sanford
Young Dynamite
(1937)
Freddie Shields
Anything for a Thrill
(1937)
Dan Mallory
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
(1937)
"Dink" Reid
Juvenile Court
(1938)
Stubby
Wanted by the Police
(1938)
Danny Murphy
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
(1938)
Jerry
Tough Kid
(1938)
'Skipper' Murphy
Reformatory
(1938)
Louie Miller
Boys' Reformatory
(1939)
Tommy Ryan
Irish Luck
(1939)
Buzzy O'Brien
Pinocchio
(1940)
Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Up in the Air
(1940)
Frankie Ryan
On the Spot
(1940)
Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Men with Steel Faces
(1940)
Frankie Baxter
Chasing Trouble
(1940)
Jimmy O'Brien
Laughing at Danger
(1940)
Frankie Kelly
The Gang's All Here
(1941)
Frankie O'Malley
You're Out of Luck
(1941)
Frankie O'Reilly
Let's Go Collegiate
(1941)
Frankie Monahan
Tuxedo Junction
(1941)
Jack 'Sock' Anderson
Junior G-Men of the Air
(1942)
Jack
Dead End Kids Go To War
(1942)
Jack
Take It or Leave It
(1944)
Radio Listener
Junior Prom
(1946)
Roy Donne
High School Hero
(1946)
Roy Donne
Freddie Steps Out
(1946)
Roy Donne
That's My Man
(1947)
Jockey
Sarge Goes to College
(1947)
Roy Donne
Vacation Days
(1947)
Roy Donne
Angels' Alley
(1948)
Cousin Jimmy
Trouble Makers
(1948)
Ben Feathers
Heart of Virginia
(1948)
Jimmy Easter
Smart Politics
(1948)
Roy Donne
Sons of New Mexico
(1949)
Gig Jackson
Hold That Baby!
(1949)
Bananas Stewart
Fighting Fools
(1949)
Johnny Higgins
Wyoming Mail
(1950)
Rufe
Riding High
(1950)
Jockey Williams
Westward the Women
(1951)
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Across the Wide Missouri
(1951)
Cadet (uncredited)
Pride of Maryland
(1951)
Steve Loomis
Two Gun Marshal
(1953)
Clint Slocum
The Lawless Rider
(1954)
Jim Bascom
Forbidden Planet
(1956)
Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Operation Petticoat
(1959)
Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
The Movie Orgy
(1968)
Self (archive footage)
Hook, Line and Sinker
(1969)
Delivery Man (uncredited)
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
(1974)
Studio Guard
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
(1975)
Self (archive footage)
Fugitive Lovers
(1975)
Lester the Drunk
Crew