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)
The Mad Genius
(1931)
Fedor as a Boy
Forbidden Planet
(1956)
Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)
Operation Petticoat
(1959)
Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley
The Public Enemy
(1931)
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
Flesh and the Devil
(1926)
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
Westward the Women
(1951)
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Three on a Match
(1932)
Bobby (uncredited)
Pat and Mike
(1952)
Caddy (uncredited)
Stranded
(1935)
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Full Filmography
Acting
Roaring Rails
(1924)
Little Bill
The Signal Tower
(1924)
Sonny Tolliver
So Big
(1924)
Dirk DeJong (child)
Judgment of the Storm
(1924)
Heath Twin
Racing for Life
(1924)
Jimmy Danton
The Wyoming Wildcat
(1925)
Barnie Finn
The Midnight Flyer
(1925)
Young Davey
The Cowboy Musketeer
(1925)
Billy Gordon
Confessions of a Queen
(1925)
Prince Zara
Flesh and the Devil
(1926)
Boy who dances with Hertha (uncredited)
The Cowboy Cop
(1926)
Frankie
Born to Battle
(1926)
Birdie
Memory Lane
(1926)
Urchin
Mike
(1926)
Boy
Kiki
(1926)
Pierre
Hearts and Spangles
(1926)
Bobby
Little Mickey Grogan
(1927)
Mickey Grogan
Judgement Of The Hills
(1927)
Tad Dennison
Moulders of Men
(1927)
Sandy Barry
Tom's Gang
(1927)
Spuds
The Phantom of the Range
(1928)
Spuds O'Brien
The Circus Kid
(1928)
Buddy
Texas Tornado
(1928)
Buddy Martin
Blaze o' Glory
(1929)
Jean Williams
Rainbow Man
(1929)
Billy Ryan
The Vanishing Legion
(1931)
Jimmie Williams
The Mad Genius
(1931)
Fedor as a Boy
Way Back Home
(1931)
Robbie
The Public Enemy
(1931)
Matt as a Boy (uncredited)
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
(1931)
Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
The Lightning Warrior
(1931)
Jimmy Carter
Hollywood on Parade
(1932)
Self
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
(1932)
Self (uncredited)
Amateur Daddy
(1932)
Pete Smith
Three on a Match
(1932)
Bobby (uncredited)
The Devil Horse
(1932)
Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy
The Wolf Dog
(1933)
Frank Courtney
The Mayor of Hell
(1933)
James 'Jimmie' Smith
Wild Boys of the Road
(1933)
Eddie Smith
Tugboat Annie
(1933)
Alec, as a Child
Laughing at Life
(1933)
Chango
No Greater Glory
(1934)
Feri Ats
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
(1934)
Burn 'Em Up Barnes
(1934)
Bobbie Riley
The Big Race
(1934)
Knobby
Broadway Bill
(1934)
Ted Williams
Little Men
(1934)
Dan
The Merry Frinks
(1934)
Norman Frink
Unwelcome Stranger
(1935)
Charlie Anderson
Red Hot Tires
(1935)
Johnny
The Payoff
(1935)
Jimmy Moore
Valley of Wanted Men
(1935)
Slivers Sanderson
The Phantom Empire
(1935)
Frankie Baxter
3 Kids and a Queen
(1935)
Blackie
Stranded
(1935)
James 'Jimmy' Rivers
Men of Action
(1935)
Johnny Morgan
Mind Your Own Business
(1936)
Bob
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
(1936)
Himself
Black Gold
(1936)
Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly
Born to Fight
(1936)
'Babyface' Madison
Racing Blood
(1936)
Frankie Reynolds
Charlie Chan at the Race Track
(1936)
'Tip' Collins, Jockey
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
(1936)
Spike Salisbury (uncredited)
Young Dynamite
(1937)
Freddie Shields
Tough to Handle
(1937)
Mike Sanford
Anything for a Thrill
(1937)
Dan Mallory
The Devil Diamond
(1937)
Lee
Headline Crasher
(1937)
James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.
Saratoga
(1937)
Dixie Gordon
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
(1937)
"Dink" Reid
Reformatory
(1938)
Louie Miller
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
(1938)
Jerry
Wanted by the Police
(1938)
Danny Murphy
Juvenile Court
(1938)
Stubby
Tough Kid
(1938)
'Skipper' Murphy
Irish Luck
(1939)
Buzzy O'Brien
Boys' Reformatory
(1939)
Tommy Ryan
Chasing Trouble
(1940)
Jimmy O'Brien
Men with Steel Faces
(1940)
Frankie Baxter
On the Spot
(1940)
Frankie 'Doc' Kelly
Up in the Air
(1940)
Frankie Ryan
Pinocchio
(1940)
Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)
Laughing at Danger
(1940)
Frankie Kelly
You're Out of Luck
(1941)
Frankie O'Reilly
The Gang's All Here
(1941)
Frankie O'Malley
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
Freddie Steps Out
(1946)
Roy Donne
High School Hero
(1946)
Roy Donne
That's My Man
(1947)
Jockey
Vacation Days
(1947)
Roy Donne
Sarge Goes to College
(1947)
Roy Donne
Trouble Makers
(1948)
Ben Feathers
Angels' Alley
(1948)
Cousin Jimmy
Smart Politics
(1948)
Roy Donne
Heart of Virginia
(1948)
Jimmy Easter
Sons of New Mexico
(1949)
Gig Jackson
Hold That Baby!
(1949)
Bananas Stewart
Fighting Fools
(1949)
Johnny Higgins
Riding High
(1950)
Jockey Williams
Wyoming Mail
(1950)
Rufe
Across the Wide Missouri
(1951)
Cadet (uncredited)
Westward the Women
(1951)
Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)
Pride of Maryland
(1951)
Steve Loomis
Pat and Mike
(1952)
Caddy (uncredited)
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
Fugitive Lovers
(1975)
Lester the Drunk
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
(1975)
Self (archive footage)
Crew