Gilbert M. Anderson

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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

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2017
Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay
Movie Self (archive footage)
2000
Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs
Movie (archive footage)
1965
The Bounty Killer
Movie The Man in the Cantina
1961
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Movie Self (archive footage)
1958
The Western: A Lost TV Special
Movie Self
1941
Life with Henry
Movie Business Man (uncredited)
1939
The Movies March On
Movie Self - from 'The Great Train Robbery' (archive footage)
1933
The Film Parade
Movie (archive footage) (uncredited)
1931
Stars of Yesterday
Movie Self
1923
The Soilers
Movie Producer
1923
The Handy Man
Movie Producer
1923
When Knights Were Cold
Movie Producer
1922
The Pest
Movie Director
1922
Mud and Sand
Movie Producer
1922
The Weak-End Party
Movie Director
1922
The Egg
Movie Producer