Gilbert M. Anderson
- Directing
- March 20, 1880 · Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
- January 20, 1971
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.
Known for
Filmography
- Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay · Self
- Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs · (archive footage)
- Hollywood · Self
- The Bounty Killer · The Man in the Cantina
- The Legend of Rudolph Valentino · Self
- The Western: A Lost TV Special · Self
- Life with Henry · Business Man (uncredited)
- The Movies March On · Self
- The Film Parade · (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Stars of Yesterday · Self
- The Soilers · Producer
- The Handy Man · Producer
- When Knights Were Cold · Producer
- The Pest · Producer, Director
- Mud and Sand · Producer
- The Weak-End Party · Director, Producer
- The Egg · Producer
- Ashes · Director
- The Greater Duty · Bill Hinchley, Producer
- The Lucky Dog · Producer
- The Son-of-a-Gun · Bill, Director
- Red Blood and Yellow · Jack / Jim, Director
- Shootin' Mad · Broncho Billy, Producer
- Humanity · Broncho Billy Adair, Director
- Vera, the Medium · Director
- The Man in Him · John Stone, Director
- The Book Agent's Romance · The Book Agent, Director
- Her Lesson · The Capitalist, Director
- A Christmas Revenge · Broncho Billy / Santa Claus, Director
- Broncho Billy's Love Affair · Broncho Billy, Director
- The Indian's Narrow Escape · The Indian, Director
- The Escape of Broncho Billy · Broncho Billy, Director
- Wine, Women and Song · The Young Man, Director
- Too Much Turkey · Frank Potter, Director
- Broncho Billy's Cowardly Brother · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy Evens Matters · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy's Parents · Broncho Billy, Director
- Suppressed Evidence · The Husband, Director
- Broncho Billy, Sheepman · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy Misled · Broncho Billy, Director
- The Convict's Threat · The Convict, Director
- An Unexpected Romance · The Landowner, Director
- Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy and the Lumber King · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy Begins Life Anew · Broncho Billy, Director
- Her Return · The Husband, Director
- Broncho Billy's Marriage · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy Steps In · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy's Protégé · Broncho Billy, Director
- The Bachelor's Baby · The Bachelor, Director
- Broncho Billy Well Repaid · Broncho Billy, Director
- The Little Prospector · Broncho Billy, Director
- Her Realization · The Sweetheart, Director
- Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber · Broncho Billy, Director
- The Wealth of the Poor · The Husband, Director
- Broncho Billy's Word of Honor · Broncho Billy, Director
- The Bachelor's Burglar · The Bachelor, Director
- The Revenue Agent · Tom, Director
- The Other Girl · The Artist, Director
- Broncho Billy's Teachings · Broncho Billy, Director
- His Regeneration · The Regenerate, Director
- The Tie That Binds · The Husband, Director
- His Wife's Secret · The Burglar, Director
- The Face at the Curtain · The Burglar, Director
- Graustark · Second Unit Director
- Andy of the Royal Mounted · Andy of the Royal Mounted, Director
- Ingomar of the Hills · Ingomar, Director
- The Outlaw's Awakening · The Outlaw, Director
- The Western Way · The Outlaw, Director
- The Champion · Enthusiastic Fan (uncredited)
- Broncho Billy's Vengeance · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy's Brother · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy and the Vigilante · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy's Sentence · Broncho Billy, Writer
- Broncho Billy's Greaser Deputy · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy and the False Note · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy and the Baby · Broncho Billy, Writer
- When Love and Honor Called · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy and the Sisters · Broncho Billy, Director
- Broncho Billy and the Claim Jumpers · Broncho Billy, Director