Gilbert M. Anderson
Directing
Born: 1880-03-20 in Little 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.
Known For
The Champion
Enthusiastic Fan (uncredited)
His Regeneration
The Regenerate
Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
The Great Train Robbery
Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer (uncredited)
The Bounty Killer
The Man in the Cantina
Outwitting Papa
Tom Phelps
Broncho Billy's Squareness
Broncho Billy
Tag Day
Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs
(archive footage)
A Story of Montana
Triggerless Jim Burrows
Western Girls
Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
Broncho Billy
The Bachelor's Burglar
The Bachelor
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Promise
Broncho Billy
The Brother, Sister and the Cowpuncher
The Making of Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Reforms
Broncho Billy
An Indian's Friendship
Broncho Billy
A Wife of the Hills
Bart McGrew
Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
Broncho Billy
The Film Parade
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Trapped
Broncho Billy
A Gambler of the West
Halsted
Broncho Billy's Mission
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Indian Maid
Broncho Billy
The Three Gamblers
Broncho Billy