
Frankie Darro
Actor · Died December 25, 1976, aged 59 · Chicago, Illinois, USA
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 .
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Biography from TMDB.
- December 22, 1917
- December 25, 1976 (aged 59)
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Actor
- 46 on MovieCove · 162 credits in all
What are Frankie Darro's films like?
Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 2 · Earnest 19
Light 15 · Serious 3 · Dark 3
A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3
Gentle 8 · Charged 9 · Intense 4
Steady 8 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 2
Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 2
Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 3
Casual 16 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1
Easy watch 15 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 1
Resolved 20 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
Usually the Hero: 8 of 12 analyzed roles.
Show the 12 rolesHide the roles
- Allyas Buddy Martin in The Texas Tornado (1928)
- Heroas Eddie in Wild Boys of the Road (1933)
- Allyas Jimmy in The Mayor of Hell (1933)
- Allyas Blackie in 3 Kids and a Queen (1935)
- Heroas Frankie Reynolds in Racing Blood (1936)
- Allyas 'Babyface' Madison in Born to Fight (1936)
- Heroas Freddie Shields in Young Dynamite (1937)
- Heroas James 'Jimmy' Forbush Tallant, Jr. in Headline Crasher (1937)
- Heroas Skipper Murphy in Tough Kid (1938)
- Heroas Buzzy O'Brien in Irish Luck (1939)
- Heroas Frankie in Up in the Air (1940)
- Heroas Frankie O'Malley in The Gang's All Here (1941)
Moods and endings
- Happy15
- Bittersweet5
- Tragic1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Frankie Darro's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) · actor · free
- Forbidden Planet (1956) · actor · free
- Flesh and the Devil (1926) · actor · free
- The Addams Family (1964) · actor · free
- The Red Skelton Hour (1951) · actor · free
- Peter Gunn (1958) · actor · free
- Mr. Lucky (1959) · actor · free
- Broadway Bill (1934) · actor · free
- Bat Masterson (1958) · actor · free
- The Phantom Empire (1935) · actor · free
- Sons of New Mexico (1949) · actor · free
- Junior G-Men of the Air (1942) · actor · free
- +6 more
Subscription and free streaming for Frankie Darro's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
162 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

Fugitive Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

The Girl on the Late, Late Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

Hook, Line and Sinker(1969)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

Batman(1966)
Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows
The Addams Family(1964)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
Going My Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

The Notorious Landlady(1962)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Mister Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

Checkmate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

Operation Petticoat(1959)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Mr. Lucky(1959)
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows
Bat Masterson(1958)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows
Peter Gunn(1958)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
Perry Mason(1957)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

The Ten Commandments(1956)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Hey, Jeannie! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

Forbidden Planet(1956)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
Living It Up(1954)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
The Lawless Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

Public Defender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

Racing Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

Two Gun Marshal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

Pat and Mike(1952)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Westward the Women(1951)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Across the Wide Missouri(1951)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
The Red Skelton Hour(1951)
Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

Pride of Maryland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

Wyoming Mail(1950)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Riding High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

Sons of New Mexico(1949)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Hold That Baby! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

Fighting Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

Trouble Makers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

Heart of Virginia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

Angels' Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

Smart Politics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

That's My Man(1947)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Sarge Goes to College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

Vacation Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

High School Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

Freddie Steps Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

Junior Prom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

Take It or Leave It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)
Dead End Kids Go To War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

Junior G-Men of the Air(1942)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Tuxedo Junction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Let's Go Collegiate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

The Gang's All Here(1941)
Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
You're Out of Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Up in the Air(1940)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
Laughing at Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

On the Spot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Radio Ranch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Pinocchio(1940)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Chasing Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Irish Luck(1939)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Boys' Reformatory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

Tough Kid(1938)
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Wanted by the Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Juvenile Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Reformatory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Young Dynamite(1937)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Headline Crasher(1937)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Saratoga(1937)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Anything for a Thrill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Tough to Handle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

The Devil Diamond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Mind Your Own Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

Racing Blood(1936)
Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Born to Fight(1936)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford(1936)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Black Gold(1936)
Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
3 Kids and a Queen(1935)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Valley of Wanted Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

Men of Action (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

Stranded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

Unwelcome Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

The Phantom Empire(1935)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Red Hot Tires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

The Payoff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

Broadway Bill(1934)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
Burn 'Em Up Barnes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

The Merry Frinks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

No Greater Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Hollywood on Parade No. B-1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

The Big Race (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Little Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Wild Boys of the Road(1933)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
The Wolf Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Tugboat Annie(1933)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Laughing at Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

The Mayor of Hell(1933)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
The Devil Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Three on a Match(1932)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Amateur Daddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

The Cheyenne Cyclone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Way Back Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

The Lightning Warrior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
The Mad Genius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

The Vanishing Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

The Public Enemy(1931)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Blaze o' Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
The Pride of Pawnee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Rainbow Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Idaho Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Gun Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

Trail of the Horse Thieves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Tyrant of Red Gulch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

The Avenging Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

The Circus Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

Terror Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

The Texas Tornado(1928)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Phantom of the Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

When the Law Rides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

Little Mickey Grogan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

The Desert Pirate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
The Flying U Ranch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Judgement Of The Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Tom's Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Cyclone of the Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Long Pants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Moulders of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Lightning Lariats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Her Father Said No (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

Flesh and the Devil(1926)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all filmsRed Hot Hoofs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Out of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Tom and His Pals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

The Cowboy Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Hearts and Spangles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

The Masquerade Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Mike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Wild to Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Kiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Memory Lane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

The Thrill Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Born to Battle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

The Cowboy Musketeer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

The Midnight Flyer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

The People vs. Nancy Preston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
The Phantom Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Let's Go, Gallagher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Fighting the Flames (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Confessions of a Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Her Husband's Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Women and Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

The Wyoming Wildcat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

So Big (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

Roaring Rails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

Racing for Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

The Signal Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

Half-a-Dollar Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

Judgment of the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
Career shape
Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 162 titles from 1924 to 1975.

Biggest box office
Pinocchio (1940)

Highest rated
Flesh and the Devil (1926)

Most popular right now
Pinocchio (1940)
Film career
Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles.
- 1926Screen debut· Flesh and the Devil
- 1933First top-billed film· Wild Boys of the Road
- 1933Career best· Wild Boys of the Road
Billing
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.
How do Frankie Darro's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up19
- 50th to 74th11
- 25th to 49th9
- Below 25th7
Shape of the crowd
22 of their 46 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved7
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser22
- Broadly Agreed2
- Mixed14
Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Frankie Darro work with?
People who share at least 2 of Frankie Darro's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Peter B. Kyne shares the most, 5.
Directors
- Howard BrethertonShared titles: Up in the Air (1940), Irish Luck (1939), Tough Kid (1938)See all 3 shared titles with Howard Bretherton

- Leslie GoodwinsShared titles: Headline Crasher (1937), Young Dynamite (1937)See all 2 shared titles with Leslie Goodwins

Writers
- Peter B. KyneShared titles: Headline Crasher (1937), Young Dynamite (1937), Black Gold (1936), Born to Fight (1936), Racing Blood (1936)See all 5 shared titles with Peter B. Kyne
- Joseph O'DonnellShared titles: Young Dynamite (1937), Born to Fight (1936), Racing Blood (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Joseph O'Donnell
- Brenda WeisbergShared titles: Junior G-Men of the Air (1942), Tough Kid (1938)See all 2 shared titles with Brenda Weisberg
- Edmond KelsoShared titles: The Gang's All Here (1941), Up in the Air (1940)See all 2 shared titles with Edmond Kelso
Actors
- Kane RichmondShared titles: Headline Crasher (1937), Young Dynamite (1937), Born to Fight (1936), Racing Blood (1936)See all 4 shared titles with Kane Richmond

- Mantan MorelandShared titles: The Gang's All Here (1941), Up in the Air (1940), Irish Luck (1939)See all 3 shared titles with Mantan Moreland

- Pat GleasonShared titles: The Gang's All Here (1941), Irish Luck (1939), Young Dynamite (1937)See all 3 shared titles with Pat Gleason

- Fred 'Snowflake' ToonesShared titles: Black Gold (1936), Born to Fight (1936), Racing Blood (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Composers and editors
- Martin G. CohnShared titles: Headline Crasher (1937), Young Dynamite (1937), Racing Blood (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Martin G. Cohn
- Richard G. WrayShared titles: Young Dynamite (1937), Black Gold (1936), Born to Fight (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Richard G. Wray
- Jack OgilvieShared titles: The Gang's All Here (1941), Up in the Air (1940)See all 2 shared titles with Jack Ogilvie
- Edward J. KayShared titles: Irish Luck (1939), Tough Kid (1938)See all 2 shared titles with Edward J. Kay
Producers
- Maurice ConnShared titles: Headline Crasher (1937), Young Dynamite (1937), Black Gold (1936), Born to Fight (1936), Racing Blood (1936)See all 5 shared titles with Maurice Conn

- Lindsley ParsonsShared titles: The Gang's All Here (1941), Up in the Air (1940), Tough Kid (1938)See all 3 shared titles with Lindsley Parsons
- Scott R. DunlapShared titles: Irish Luck (1939), Tough Kid (1938)See all 2 shared titles with Scott R. Dunlap

- Irving ThalbergShared titles: Tugboat Annie (1933), Flesh and the Devil (1926)See all 2 shared titles with Irving Thalberg

Mixed roles
- Armand SchaeferShared titles: Sons of New Mexico (1949), The Phantom Empire (1935)See all 2 shared titles with Armand Schaefer


