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Frankie Darro

Actor | * 12/22/1917 († 59, 12/25/1976) | Chicago, Illinois (United States of America (USA))
Frankie Darro (born Frank Johnson, Jr.; December 22, 1917 – December 25, 1976) was an American actor and later in his career a stuntman. He began his career as a child actor in silent films, progressed to lead roles and co-starring roles in adventure, western, dramatic, and comedy films, and later became a character actor and voice-over artist. He is perhaps best known for his role as Lampwick, the unlucky boy who turns into a donkey in Walt Disney's second animated feature, Pinocchio (1940). In early credits, his last name was spelled Darrow. ()
Photo of Frankie Darro

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 .

Most frequent genres for this person: Drama | Comedies | Crime

Known for these Movies & Shows

A young reporter's grandfather wins a sweepstakes, but it turns out that his ticket is phony. The reporter finds out that the police are looking for the criminal ring responsible for the phony-sweepst ...

Tough to Handle

NR

1937 | 1h
Crime
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Two friends take jobs as truck drivers, unaware that the trucking company is being targeted by a gang of saboteurs who will stop at nothing, including murder, to stop them. ...

The Gang's All Here

NR

1941 | 2.6/5 | 1h 1min
Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
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At the height of the Great Depression, Tommy's mother has been out of work for months when Eddie's father loses his job. Eager not to burden their parents, the two high school Sophomores decide to hop ...

Wild Boys of the Road

Certification unknown

1933 | 3.5/5 | 1h 8min
Drama
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Frankie Kelly is the soda jerk and embryo scientist in Midvales only drugstore. Two murders and an attempted killing suddenly swing Midvale into national prominence. Frankie and his pal, Jefferson, be ...

On the Spot

Certification unknown

1940 | 3.0/5 | 1h 2min
Mystery, Comedy
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Movies with Frankie Darro as Actor(115)

as Self (archive footage)1975 Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Lester the Drunk1975 Fugitive Lovers
as Studio Guard1974 The Girl on the Late, Late Show
as Self (archival footage)1968 The Movie Orgy
as Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class Dooley1959 Operation Petticoat
as Robby the Robot (interior) (uncredited)1956 Forbidden Planet
as Jim Bascom1954 The Lawless Rider
as Clint Slocum1953 Two Gun Marshal
as Cadet (uncredited)1951 Across the Wide Missouri
as Steve Loomis1951 Pride of Maryland
as Jean's Awaiting Groom (uncredited)1951 Westward the Women
as Jockey Williams1950 Riding High
as Rufe1950 Wyoming Mail
as Johnny Higgins1949 Fighting Fools
as Bananas Stewart1949 Hold That Baby!
as Gig Jackson1949 Sons of New Mexico
as Cousin Jimmy1948 Angels' Alley
as Ben Feathers1948 Trouble Makers
as Roy Donne1948 Smart Politics
as Jimmy Easter1948 Heart of Virginia
as Roy Donne1947 Vacation Days
as Roy Donne1947 Sarge Goes to College
as Jockey1947 That's My Man
as Roy Donne1946 Freddie Steps Out
as Roy Donne1946 High School Hero
as Roy Donne1946 Junior Prom
as Radio Listener1944 Take It or Leave It
as Jack1942 Junior G-Men of the Air
as Jack 'Sock' Anderson1941 Tuxedo Junction
as Frankie O'Malley1941 The Gang's All Here
as Frankie Monahan1941 Let's Go Collegiate
as Frankie O'Reilly1941 You're Out of Luck
as Lampwick (voice) (uncredited)1940 Pinocchio
as Frankie Baxter1940 Men with Steel Faces
as Jimmy O'Brien1940 Chasing Trouble
as Frankie Ryan1940 Up in the Air
as Frankie 'Doc' Kelly1940 On the Spot
as Frankie Kelly1940 Laughing at Danger
as Tommy Ryan1939 Boys' Reformatory
as Buzzy O'Brien1939 Irish Luck
as Stubby1938 Juvenile Court
as Louie Miller1938 Reformatory
as Danny Murphy1938 Wanted by the Police
as Jerry1938 The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
as 'Skipper' Murphy1938 Tough Kid
as Freddie Shields1937 Young Dynamite
as Mike Sanford1937 Tough to Handle
as Lee1937 The Devil Diamond
as "Dink" Reid1937 Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
as Dixie Gordon1937 Saratoga
as James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr.1937 Headline Crasher
as Dan Mallory1937 Anything for a Thrill
as Clifford 'Fishtail' O'Reilly1936 Black Gold
as himself1936 Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
as Bob1936 Mind Your Own Business
as 'Babyface' Madison1936 Born to Fight
as Frankie Reynolds1936 Racing Blood
as 'Tip' Collins, Jockey1936 Charlie Chan at the Race Track
as Spike Salisbury (uncredited)1936 The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
as Jimmy Moore1935 The Payoff
as James 'Jimmy' Rivers1935 Stranded
as Blackie1935 3 Kids and a Queen
as Frankie Baxter1935 The Phantom Empire
as Johnny Morgan1935 Men of Action
as Johnny1935 Red Hot Tires
as Charlie Anderson1935 Unwelcome Stranger
as Slivers Sanderson1935 Valley of Wanted Men
as Bobbie Riley1934 Burn 'Em Up Barnes
as Knobby1934 The Big Race
as Feri Ats1934 No Greater Glory
1934 Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
as Ted Williams1934 Broadway Bill
as Dan1934 Little Men
as Norman Frink1934 The Merry Frinks
as Chango1933 Laughing at Life
as Eddie Smith1933 Wild Boys of the Road
as Alec, as a Child1933 Tugboat Annie
as Frank Courtney1933 The Wolf Dog
as James 'Jimmie' Smith1933 The Mayor of Hell
as Self (uncredited)1932 Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
as himself1932 Hollywood on Parade
as Frankie Graham - The Wild Boy1932 The Devil Horse
as Bobby (uncredited)1932 Three on a Match
as Pete Smith1932 Amateur Daddy
as Matt as a Boy (uncredited)1931 The Public Enemy
as Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)1931 The Sin of Madelon Claudet
as Jimmy Carter1931 The Lightning Warrior
as Fedor as a Boy1931 The Mad Genius
as Jimmie Williams1931 The Vanishing Legion
as Robbie1931 Way Back Home
as Jean Williams1929 Blaze o' Glory
as Billy Ryan1929 Rainbow Man
as Spuds O'Brien1928 The Phantom of the Range
as Buddy Martin1928 Texas Tornado
as Buddy1928 The Circus Kid
as Tad Dennison1927 Judgement Of The Hills
as Sandy Barry1927 Moulders of Men
as Spuds1927 Tom's Gang
as Mickey Grogan1927 Little Mickey Grogan
as Pierre1926 Kiki
as Urchin1926 Memory Lane
as Boy1926 Mike
as Bobby1926 Hearts and Spangles
as Frankie1926 The Cowboy Cop
as Birdie1926 Born to Battle
as Boy Who Dances with Hertha (uncredited)1926 Flesh and the Devil
as Young Davey1925 The Midnight Flyer
as Barnie Finn1925 The Wyoming Wildcat
as Prince Zara1925 Confessions of a Queen
as Billy Gordon1925 The Cowboy Musketeer
as Sonny Tolliver1924 The Signal Tower
as Heath Twin1924 Judgment of the Storm
as Little Bill1924 Roaring Rails
as Jimmy Danton1924 Racing for Life
as Dirk DeJong (child)1924 So Big

TV Shows/Series with Frankie Darro as Actor(15)

as Newsman1966 Batman
1964 The Addams Family
1962 Going My Way
1961 Mister Ed
1959 Mr. Lucky
as Edward 'Snapper' Garrison1958 Bat Masterson
1958 Peter Gunn
1957 Have Gun, Will Travel
as Elevator Operator1957 Perry Mason
as Messenger1957 Perry Mason
as Caddy1956 Hey, Jeannie!
as Little Dandy Dorf1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Boots1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1954 Public Defender
1951 The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

Full Name: Frankie Darro
Born: Saturday, 12/22 1917 (December) in Chicago, Illinois (United States of America (USA))
Died: Saturday, 12/25 1976 (December) in Huntington Beach (aged: 59)
Zodiac sign: Capricorn (Chinese zodiac sign: Snake)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Other names for Frankie Darro (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Frank Johnson"
"Frank Darro"
"Frankie Darrow"
"Frank Darrow"
Frankie Darro frequently works together with these people:
Robert H. Harris (18x, Actor)
Raymond Bailey (17x, Actor)
Harry Tyler (15x, Actor)
William Boyett (15x, Actor)
Jeanette Nolan (14x, Actress)
Bartlett Robinson (14x, Actor)
H.M. Wynant (13x, Actor)
Percy Helton (13x, Actor)
Russell Collins (13x, Actor)
Tyler McVey (13x, Actor)
Peter Leeds (13x, Actor)
Peter B. Kyne (10x, Crew)
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WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:3825, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 03/25/2024