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Frankie Darro

Frankie Darro
Frankie Darro
Born: Dec 22, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois
Died: Dec 25, 1976 in Huntington Beach, California
Occupation: Actor
Active: '20s-'50s
Major Genres: Western, Drama
Career Highlights: Pinocchio, Phantom of the Range, Wild Boys of the Road
First Major Screen Credit: Roaring Rails (1924)
7 Videos for Frankie Darro
Operation Petticoat (1959) Pat and Mike (1952) A Day at the Races (1937)
Forbidden Planet (1956) Junior G-Men of the Air [Serial] (1942) The Phantom Empire [Serial] (1935)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
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Biography:

The son of circus performers, the diminutive Frankie Darro began appearing in films as a juvenile player in 1924; he co-starred with western star Tom Tyler in several silent oaters at FBO in the mid-1920s, and was cast in leading roles in Little Mickey Grogan (1927) and The Circus Kid (1928).

During the 1930s, Darro showed up in innumerable bit and supporting roles, often playing juvenile delinquents; he carried over this particular characterization into his voiceover stint as Lampwick in the 1940 animated Disney feature Pinocchio. He was given star billing at such minor-league studios as Ambassador and Monogram, co-starring with black comedian Mantan Moreland at the latter studio in an enjoyable series of action programmers, often cast as a jockey because of his stature.

In the late 1940s, Darro was a frequent stunt double for such pint-sized actors as Leo Gorcey. Frankie Darro was compelled to accept bit roles into the 1960s; he was also featured in several Red Skelton Shows of the period, often dressed as an old woman for a peculiar comic effect. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide.