Gilbert M. Anderson
Directing
Born March 20, 1880 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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.
Filmography
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 Soilers
The Handy Man
When Knights Were Cold
The Pest
Mud and Sand
The Weak-End Party
The Egg
Ashes
The Lucky Dog
The Son-of-a-Gun
Bill
Shootin' Mad
Broncho Billy
Humanity
Broncho Billy Adair
Vera, the Medium
A Christmas Revenge
Broncho Billy / Santa Claus
The Convict's Threat
The Convict
Broncho Billy Well Repaid
Broncho Billy
The Bachelor's Burglar
The Bachelor
Broncho Billy's Teachings
Broncho Billy
His Regeneration
The Regenerate
His Wife's Secret
The Burglar
The Face at the Curtain
The Burglar
Graustark
Andy of the Royal Mounted
Andy of the Royal Mounted
Ingomar of the Hills
Ingomar
The Outlaw's Awakening
The Outlaw
The Western Way
The Outlaw
The Champion
Enthusiastic Fan (uncredited)
Broncho Billy's Vengeance
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Brother
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sentence
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Greaser Deputy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the False Note
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Baby
Broncho Billy
When Love and Honor Called
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sisters
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Claim Jumpers
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Escaped Bandit
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Christmas Spirit
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Dad
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Judgment
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Double Escape
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Scheme
Broocho Billy
The Tell-Tale Hand
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Decision
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mission
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mother
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy -- Favorite
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Rewarded
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Greaser
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Trapped
Broncho Billy
The Strategy of Broncho Billy's Sweetheart
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Fatal Joke
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Puts One Over
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Punishment
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Jealousy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, Outlaw
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark
Broncho Billy
The Good-for-Nothing
Gilbert Sterling
Broncho Billy's Duty
Broncho Billy
Red Riding Hood of the Hills
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Leap
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy -- Gun-Man
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Rattler
Broncho Billy
The Treachery of Broncho Billy's Pal
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Cunning
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's True Love
Broncho Billy
The Inference of Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Settler's Daughter
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Red Man
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Bad Man
Broncho Billy
A Night on the Road
Rough Neck
Broncho Billy-Guardian
Broncho Billy
Snakeville's New Doctor
Broncho Billy
The Redemption of Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
A Snakeville Courtship
Broncho Billy's Christmas Deed
Broncho Billy
Sophie's New Foreman
The Three Gamblers
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Squareness
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's First Arrest
Broncho Billy
The New Schoolmarm of Green River
The Sheriff
Broncho Billy's Secret
Broncho Billy
The Doctor's Duty
Dr. Roland White
Broncho Billy's Elopement
Broncho Billy
Alkali Ike and the Wildman
Broncho Billy Gets Square
Broncho Billy
Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Reforms
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Conscience
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mistake
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Navajo Maid
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmam's Sweetheart
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Strategy
Broncho Billy
Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist
Broncho Billy's Capture
Broncho Billy
Alkali Ike's Misfortunes
Alkali Ike's Mother-in-Law
Broncho Billy and the Rustler's Child
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Gratefulness
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Last Deed
Broncho Billy
The Making of Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Outlaw's Mother
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Maid
Broncho Billy
The Reward for Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Promise
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Heart
Broncho Billy
An Indian's Friendship
Broncho Billy
The Tomboy on Bar Z
Alkali Ike Stung!
Alkali Ike's Pants
Broncho Billy Outwitted
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy for Sheriff
Broncho Billy
Alkali Ike Plays the Devil
Broncho Billy's Last Hold-Up
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Pal
Broncho Billy
A Wife of the Hills
Bart McGrew
The Smuggler's Daughter
Brant Graham
A Story of Montana
Triggerless Jim Burrows
Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Indian Maid
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Gratitude
Broncho Billy
Western Hearts
Sam Hardy
Broncho Billy's Bible
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Bandits
Broncho Billy
The Indian and the Child
The Indian
Alkali Ike's Boarding House
A Road Agent's Love
Bob Farco
Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
The Bandit's Child
Tom Fleming
A Western Kimona
The Deputy and the Girl
The Deputy
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress
Broncho Billy
A Child of the West
Broncho Billy's Adventure
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
Broncho Billy
The Cowboy Coward
Steve
Hubby's Scheme
One of Hubby's Friends
Outwitting Papa
Tom Phelps
A Western Redemption
Tom
The Stage Driver's Daughter
Tom Percival
Town Hall, Tonight
Broncho Bill
The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine
Jim Logan
Broncho Bill's Last Spree
Broncho Bill
Spike Shannon's Last Fight
Spike Shannon
A Pal's Oath
Jack Manley
The Corporation and the Ranch Girl
Gerald Todds
Alkali Ike's Auto
Across the Plains
The Cowboy
The Outlaw and the Child
Dan Warrington
A Gambler of the West
Halsted
A Westerner's Way
Big Bill Hastings
The Mexican's Faith
The Mexican
The Outlaw's Sacrifice
Mr. Flip
Tag Day
The Haunted Lounge
The Neighbors' Kids
A Disastrous Flirtation
His First Ride
The Train Wreckers
Last Train Wrecker
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
The Great Train Robbery
Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer (uncredited)
What Happened in the Tunnel
The Messenger Boy's Mistake
Cholly