Gilbert M. Anderson
Directing
Born 1880-03-20 · Little Rock, Arkansas, USA · Died 1971-01-20
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.
Acting
Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay
Self (archive footage)
Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs
(archive footage)
The Bounty Killer
The Man in the Cantina
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Self (archive footage)
The Western: A Lost TV Special
Self
Life with Henry
Business Man (uncredited)
The Movies March On
Self - from 'The Great Train Robbery' (archive footage)
The Film Parade
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Stars of Yesterday
Self
The Greater Duty
Bill Hinchley
The Son-of-a-Gun
Bill
Red Blood and Yellow
Jack / Jim
Shootin' Mad
Broncho Billy
Humanity
Broncho Billy Adair
The Man in Him
John Stone
The Book Agent's Romance
The Book Agent
Her Lesson
The Capitalist
A Christmas Revenge
Broncho Billy / Santa Claus
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
Broncho Billy
The Indian's Narrow Escape
The Indian
The Escape of Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Wine, Women and Song
The Young Man
Too Much Turkey
Frank Potter
Broncho Billy's Cowardly Brother
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Evens Matters
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Parents
Broncho Billy
Suppressed Evidence
The Husband
Broncho Billy, Sheepman
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Misled
Broncho Billy
The Convict's Threat
The Convict
Crew
The Soilers
Producer
The Handy Man
Producer
When Knights Were Cold
Producer
The Pest
Producer
The Pest
Director
Mud and Sand
Producer
The Weak-End Party
Director
The Weak-End Party
Producer
The Egg
Producer
Ashes
Director
The Greater Duty
Producer
The Lucky Dog
Producer
The Son-of-a-Gun
Director
The Son-of-a-Gun
Story
The Son-of-a-Gun
Producer
Red Blood and Yellow
Director
Red Blood and Yellow
Writer
Shootin' Mad
Producer
Shootin' Mad
Writer
Humanity
Director