Biography
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 .
Filmography
all 141
Movies 127
TV Shows 14
self 6
Voice 1
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Fugitive Lovers (1975)
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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975)
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The Girl on the Late, Late Show (1974)
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Hook, Line and Sinker (1969)
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The Movie Orgy (1968)
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Batman (1966)
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The Addams Family (1964)
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Checkmate (1960)
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Operation Petticoat (1959)
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Bat Masterson (1958)
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Perry Mason (1957)
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Forbidden Planet (1956)
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Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)
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The Lawless Rider (1954)
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Racing Blood (1954)
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Two Gun Marshal (1953)
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Pat and Mike (1952)
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Westward the Women (1951)
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Across the Wide Missouri (1951)
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Pride of Maryland (1951)
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Riding High (1950)
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Sons of New Mexico (1949)
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Hold That Baby! (1949)
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Fighting Fools (1949)
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Trouble Makers (1948)
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Heart of Virginia (1948)
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Smart Politics (1948)
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Sarge Goes to College (1947)
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Vacation Days (1947)
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High School Hero (1946)
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Junior Prom (1946)
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Freddie Steps Out (1946)
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Take It or Leave It (1944)
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Tuxedo Junction (1941)
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Let's Go Collegiate (1941)
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The Gang's All Here (1941)
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You're Out of Luck (1941)
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Up in the Air (1940)
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Laughing at Danger (1940)
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On the Spot (1940)
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Men with Steel Faces (1940)
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Pinocchio (1940)
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Chasing Trouble (1940)
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Irish Luck (1939)
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Boys' Reformatory (1939)
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Tough Kid (1938)
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Wanted by the Police (1938)
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The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1938)
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Reformatory (1938)
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Young Dynamite (1937)
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Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (1937)
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Headline Crasher (1937)
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Saratoga (1937)
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Anything for a Thrill (1937)
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Tough to Handle (1937)
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Racing Blood (1936)
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Born to Fight (1936)
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Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)
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The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)
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Black Gold (1936)
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Valley of Wanted Men (1935)
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Men of Action (1935)
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Stranded (1935)
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Unwelcome Stranger (1935)
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The Phantom Empire (1935)
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Broadway Bill (1934)
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Burn 'Em Up Barnes (1934)
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The Merry Frinks (1934)
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No Greater Glory (1934)
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The Big Race (1934)
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The Wolf Dog (1933)
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Tugboat Annie (1933)
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The Devil Horse (1932)
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Three on a Match (1932)
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Amateur Daddy (1932)
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The Lightning Warrior (1931)
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The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)
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The Mad Genius (1931)
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The Vanishing Legion (1931)
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The Public Enemy (1931)
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Blaze o' Glory (1929)
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Rainbow Man (1929)
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Texas Tornado (1928)
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The Phantom of the Range (1928)
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Little Mickey Grogan (1927)
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Judgement Of The Hills (1927)
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Cyclone of the Range (1927)
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Moulders of Men (1927)
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Flesh and the Devil (1926)
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The Cowboy Cop (1926)
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The Masquerade Bandit (1926)
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Kiki (1926)
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The Thrill Hunter (1926)
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Memory Lane (1926)
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The Cowboy Musketeer (1925)
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The Midnight Flyer (1925)
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Confessions of a Queen (1925)
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Women and Gold (1925)
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The Wyoming Wildcat (1925)
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So Big (1924)
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Roaring Rails (1924)
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Racing for Life (1924)
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The Signal Tower (1924)
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Judgment of the Storm (1924)
Gallery
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Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1917-12-22
Deathday1976-12-25 (59 years old)
Birth PlaceChicago, United States
CitizenshipsUnited States
Also Known AsFrank Johnson, Frank Darro, Frankie Darrow, Frank Darrow, Frank Johnson, Jr.
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