1. Frankie Darro 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.
18 Facts About Frankie Darro
1. 2.
Frankie Darro 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.
3.
Frankie Darro was born on Saturday, December 22,1917, in Chicago, Illinois, as Frank Johnson, Jr.
4.
The young Johnson, renamed "Frankie Darro", appeared in his first film at the age of six.
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In 1931, Darro was featured in director William A Wellman's major success The Public Enemy.
6.
Frankie Darro was arguably the best juvenile actor in Hollywood, as reflected by his constant employment in the 1930s.
7.
Frankie Darro was reunited with western star Harry Carey in two of the serials; Carey and Frankie Darro had worked together in silent features.
8.
Frankie Darro signed instead with producer Maurice Conn of Ambassador Pictures, where he starred in a series of modestly budgeted action features through 1937.
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Frankie Darro's standing in the industry increased, but his height did not.
10.
Frankie Darro played a crooked rider in Charlie Chan at the Race Track and A Day at the Races.
11.
In 1938, Frankie Darro joined Monogram Pictures to star in a series of action melodramas.
12.
The Frankie Darro series was so successful that Monogram used it as a haven for performers whose own series had been discontinued: Jackie Moran, Marcia Mae Jones, and Keye Luke joined Darro and Moreland in 1940, and Gale Storm was added in 1941.
13.
Frankie Darro served in the US Navy Hospital Corps during World War II.
14.
When that series ended, the studio gave Frankie Darro four featured roles in its popular Bowery Boys comedies, including a co-starring role in Fighting Fools.
15.
Frankie Darro's recurring malaria symptoms caused him to increase his alcohol intake for pain management, and this affected his career.
16.
Frankie Darro is probably best known to modern audiences for two films in which he isn't even seen: Walt Disney's Pinocchio, and Forbidden Planet.
17.
Frankie Darro was fired shortly after an early scene because of his having consumed a five-martini lunch prior to the scene being shot; he nearly fell over while attempting to walk while inside the expensive prop.
18.
Frankie Darro's last featured appearance in a motion picture was in Operation Petticoat.