Gilbert M. Anderson
Known For
Directing
Born
1880-03-20 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Died
1971-01-20
Biography
Born in 1880, ‘Broncho Billy’ Anderson is considered the first western film star. He played three film roles in “The Great Train Robbery” and then began to write, direct and act in his own films. After co-founding the Essanay Studios in 1907 with George Kirk Spoor, Anderson appeared in some 300 short films. But it was his 148 western shorts playing cowboy Bronco Billy that made him a star. He retired for the first time in 1916 but made a few comebacks, including producing movies into the 1950s for his company, Progressive Pictures. He received an honorary Oscar in 1958 as a “motion picture pioneer.” Anderson came out of retirement one more time for a cameo in 1965’s “The Bounty Hunter.” He died at age of 90 1971.
Most Known For
Shanghaied
Her Lesson
as The Capitalist
The Champion
as Enthusiastic Fan (uncredited)
Outwitting Papa
as Tom Phelps
His Regeneration
as The Regenerate
Her Realization
as The Sweetheart
Tag Day
Western Girls
The Great Train Robbery
as Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer (uncredited)
The Other Girl
as The Artist
An Indian Girl's Love
as Jack Sherwood
An Indian's Friendship
as Broncho Billy
The Bounty Killer
as The Man in the Cantina
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
as Self (archive footage)
Town Hall, Tonight
as Broncho Bill
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
as Broncho Billy
The Bandit King
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Squareness
as Broncho Billy
An Indian Sunbeam
as An Indian