Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthdate
1917-12-22
Day of Death
1976-12-25
Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Frankie Darro
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 .
Filmography (149)
Fugitive Lovers
1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
The Girl on the Late, Late Show
1974
Hook, Line and Sinker
1969
The Movie Orgy
1968
Operation Petticoat
1959
Forbidden Planet
1956
Living It Up
1954
The Lawless Rider
1954
Racing Blood
1954
Two Gun Marshal
1953
Pat and Mike
1952
Westward the Women
1951
Across the Wide Missouri
1951
