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Gilbert M. Anderson

Gilbert M. Anderson

Directing1880Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

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.

Acting History

2017
2000
Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs
as (archive footage)
1965
The Bounty Killer
as The Man in the Cantina
1961
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
as Self (archive footage)
1958
1941
Life with Henry
as Business Man (uncredited)
1939
The Movies March On
as Self - from 'The Great Train Robbery' (archive footage)
1933
The Film Parade
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
1931
1923
The Soilers
Producer
1922
The Greater Duty
as Bill Hinchley
Ashes
Director
Mud and Sand
Producer
The Egg
Producer
The Pest
Director
The Pest
Producer
1921
1919
1918
Shootin' Mad
as Broncho Billy
Shootin' Mad
Producer
1917
Humanity
as Broncho Billy Adair
Humanity
Director
Humanity
Writer
Humanity
Producer
1916
The Book Agent's Romance
as The Book Agent
Her Lesson
as The Capitalist
The Man in Him
as John Stone
Her Lesson
Director
1915
The Tie That Binds
as The Husband
Broncho Billy's Sentence
as Broncho Billy
The Champion
as Enthusiastic Fan (uncredited)
His Regeneration
as The Regenerate
Broncho Billy Steps In
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Brother
as Broncho Billy
Suppressed Evidence
as The Husband
The Western Way
as The Outlaw
Andy of the Royal Mounted
as Andy of the Royal Mounted
His Wife's Secret
as The Burglar
The Bachelor's Burglar
as The Bachelor
The Other Girl
as The Artist
Her Realization
as The Sweetheart
The Convict's Threat
as The Convict
Her Return
as The Husband
The Bachelor's Baby
as The Bachelor
An Unexpected Romance
as The Landowner
Broncho Billy's Marriage
as Broncho Billy
The Little Prospector
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Misled
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Parents
as Broncho Billy
Wine, Women and Song
as The Young Man
Broncho Billy, Sheepman
as Broncho Billy
Too Much Turkey
as Frank Potter
A Christmas Revenge
as Broncho Billy / Santa Claus
Graustark
Second Unit Director
Her Return
Director
1914
The Good-for-Nothing
as Gilbert Sterling
Broncho Billy's Dad
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy-Guardian
as Broncho Billy
Snakeville's New Doctor
as Broncho Billy
The Squatter's Gal
as Broncho Billy
A Night on the Road
as Rough Neck
Broncho Billy's Duty
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sermon
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy -- Gun-Man
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Jealousy
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Leap
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Cunning
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, Outlaw
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Decision
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Wins Out
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Butts In
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mother
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Rewarded
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mission
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Trapped
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Scheme
as Broocho Billy
The Tell-Tale Hand
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Judgment
as Broncho Billy
1913
The Man in the Cabin
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Secret
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Capture
as Broncho Billy
The Doctor's Duty
as Dr. Roland White
Broncho Billy's Strategy
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mistake
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Reforms
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Ward
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Brother
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Gun Play
as Broncho Billy
The Crazy Prospector
as Broncho Billy
The Tenderfoot Sheriff
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Way
as Broncho Billy
The Three Gamblers
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sister
as Broncho Billy
The Struggle
as Dr. Sharp
The Ranch Feud
as Broncho Billy
The Redeemed Claim
as Mr. Orr, a Government Assayist
Broncho Billy's Grit
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Oath
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Reason
as Broncho Billy
The Struggle
Director
1912
The Sheriff and His Man
as The Arizona Kid
A Wife of the Hills
as Bart McGrew
Broncho Billy's Bible
as Broncho Billy
The Bandit's Child
as Tom Fleming
The Ranch Girl's Mistake
as Broncho Billy
On El Monte Ranch
as Jim Andrews - Foreman of the Ranch
A Moonshiner's Heart
as Tom Jackson
A Western Legacy
as Walter Johnson
Western Hearts
as Sam Hardy
On the Cactus Trail
as Jim Andrews
A Story of Montana
as Triggerless Jim Burrows
The Ranchman's Trust
as Bill Dunham - Ranch Foreman
Broncho Billy's Pal
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Escapade
as Broncho Billy
An Indian Sunbeam
as An Indian
Broncho Billy Outwitted
as Broncho Billy
An Indian's Friendship
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Heart
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Promise
as Broncho Billy
1911
The Romance on 'Bar O'
as Sherwin Wells
Across the Plains
as The Cowboy
The Bad Man's Downfall
as Harry Perkins
The Cattleman's Daughter
as Frank Carpenter
At the Break of Dawn
as Gilbert Randall
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
as Revered Warren Addington
The Infant at Snakeville
as Broncho Billy
The Sheriff's Chum
as Sheriff Will Phelps
The Forester's Plea
as Rev. Small
The Faithful Indian
as Will Talbot
The Puncher's Law
as Tom Patterson
The Sheriff's Decision
as Steve Jameson
A Pal's Oath
as Jack Manley
The Border Ranger
as The Border Ranger
The Outlaw and the Child
as Dan Warrington
The Lucky Card
as George Maxwell
The Puncher's New Love
as Harvey Barton
What a Woman Can Do
as Frank Mills
The Backwoodsman's Suspicion
as Walker - the Backwoodsman
The Bad Man's First Prayer
as Bad Man Dan Quigley
The Girl Back East
as Jack King
The Two Fugitives
as Jack Harvey
The Power of Good
as Jim Reed - an Outlaw
Town Hall, Tonight
as Broncho Bill
Hubby's Scheme
as One of Hubby's Friends
Outwitting Papa
as Tom Phelps
Outlaw Deputy
as Buck Stevens
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
Executive Producer
A Pal's Oath
Director
A Pal's Oath
Producer
1910
A Vein of Gold
as Walt Rooney, Convict No. 999
The Cowboy and the Squaw
as Tom Ripley, a Cowboy
A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
as Pete the Coyote
Method in His Madness
as Pedestrian with Seltzer Bottle
The Silent Message
as Cal Evans
Won by a Hold-Up
as Old Rancher
The Forest Ranger
as Deputy Marshal Charles Wentworth
The Ranchman's Feud
as The Doctor
The Desperado
as The New Sheriff
The Tout's Remembrance
as Bullets Brown
The Flower of the Ranch
as Frank Wendell
The Ranger's Bride
as A Texas Ranger / The 'Bride'
The Mistaken Bandit
as Innocent Cowboy
He Met the Champion
as The Referee
Away Out West
as A Dying Miner
The Bearded Bandit
as Curt, the Sheriff
Trailed to the Hills
as Harry Forsyth
The Girl on Triple X
as Jack Hartley
An Indian Girl's Love
as Jack Sherwood
Pals of the Range
as Jack Smythe
The Marked Trail
as The Doctor
A Westerner's Way
as Big Bill Hastings
A Cowboy's Vindication
as Frank Morrison
The Mexican's Faith
as The Mexican
1909
The Heart of a Cowboy
as Honest Steve
A Mexican's Gratitude
as The Sheriff
His Reformation
as Tom Carlton
The Spanish Girl
as Tom 'Bud' Wilson
Mr. Flip
Director
Shanghaied
Director
Tag Day
Director
Judgment
Director
Judgment
Writer
1908
1907
Western Justice
as Bronco Billy
1906
1905
The Train Wreckers
as Last Train Wrecker
1904
1903
The Great Train Robbery
as Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer (uncredited)
The Great Train Robbery
Assistant Director

Social Media

IMDb

Personal Info

Known For
Directing
Gender
Male
Birthday
3/20/1880
Day of Death
1/20/1971
Place of Birth
Little Rock, Arkansas, USA