Gilbert M. Anderson
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.
Acted in
Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Smash His Camera
2010
as Self (archive footage)
Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs
2000
as (archive footage)
The Bounty Killer
1965
as The Man in the Cantina
Hollywood and the Stars
1964
as Self
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
1961
as Self (archive footage)
Life with Henry
1941
as Business Man (uncredited)
The Movies March On
1939
as Self - from 'The Great Train Robbery' (archive footage)
The Film Parade
1933
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Stars of Yesterday
1931
as Self
The Greater Duty
1922
The Son-of-a-Gun
1919
as Bill
Red Blood and Yellow
1919
as Jack / Jim
Shootin' Mad
1918
as Broncho Billy
Humanity
1917
as Broncho Billy Adair
The Man in Him
1916
as John Stone
The Book Agent's Romance
1916
as The Book Agent
Her Lesson
1916
as The Capitalist
A Christmas Revenge
1915
as Broncho Billy / Santa Claus
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
1915
as Broncho Billy
The Indian's Narrow Escape
1915
as The Indian
The Escape of Broncho Billy
1915
as Broncho Billy
Wine, Women and Song
1915
as The Young Man
Too Much Turkey
1915
as Frank Potter
Broncho Billy's Cowardly Brother
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Evens Matters
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Parents
1915
as Broncho Billy
Suppressed Evidence
1915
as The Husband
Broncho Billy, Sheepman
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Misled
1915
as Broncho Billy
The Convict's Threat
1915
as The Convict
An Unexpected Romance
1915
as The Landowner
Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Lumber King
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Begins Life Anew
1915
as Broncho Billy
Her Return
1915
as The Husband
Broncho Billy's Marriage
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Steps In
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Protégé
1915
as Broncho Billy
The Bachelor's Baby
1915
as The Bachelor
Broncho Billy Well Repaid
1915
as Broncho Billy
The Little Prospector
1915
as Broncho Billy
Her Realization
1915
as The Sweetheart
Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber
1915
as Broncho Billy
The Wealth of the Poor
1915
as The Husband
Broncho Billy's Word of Honor
1915
as Broncho Billy
The Bachelor's Burglar
1915
as The Bachelor
The Revenue Agent
1915
as Tom
The Other Girl
1915
as The Artist
Broncho Billy's Teachings
1915
as Broncho Billy
His Regeneration
1915
as The Regenerate
The Tie That Binds
1915
as The Husband
His Wife's Secret
1915
as The Burglar
The Face at the Curtain
1915
as The Burglar
Andy of the Royal Mounted
1915
as Andy of the Royal Mounted
Ingomar of the Hills
1915
as Ingomar
The Outlaw's Awakening
1915
as The Outlaw
The Western Way
1915
as The Outlaw
Broncho Billy's Vengeance
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Brother
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sentence
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Greaser Deputy
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the False Note
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Baby
1915
as Broncho Billy
When Love and Honor Called
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sisters
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Claim Jumpers
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Escaped Bandit
1915
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Christmas Spirit
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Dad
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Judgment
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Double Escape
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Scheme
1914
as Broocho Billy
The Tell-Tale Hand
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Decision
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mission
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mother
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy -- Favorite
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Rewarded
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Greaser
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Trapped
1914
as Broncho Billy
The Strategy of Broncho Billy's Sweetheart
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Butts In
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, the Vagabond
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Indian Romance
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Wild Ride
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Wins Out
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Fatal Joke
1914
as Broncho Billy
The Squatter's Gal
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Gambler
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Puts One Over
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Punishment
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Jealousy
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, Outlaw
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark
1914
as Broncho Billy
The Good-for-Nothing
1914
as Gilbert Sterling
Broncho Billy's Duty
1914
as Broncho Billy
Red Riding Hood of the Hills
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Leap
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sermon
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Close Call
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy -- Gun-Man
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Rattler
1914
as Broncho Billy
The Treachery of Broncho Billy's Pal
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Cunning
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's True Love
1914
as Broncho Billy
The Inference of Broncho Billy
1914
as Broncho Billy
The Calling of Jim Barton
1914
as Jim Barton
Broncho Billy and the Settler's Daughter
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Red Man
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Bad Man
1914
as Broncho Billy
A Night on the Road
1914
as Rough Neck
Broncho Billy-Guardian
1914
as Broncho Billy
Snakeville's New Doctor
1914
as Broncho Billy
The Redemption of Broncho Billy
1914
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Christmas Deed
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Three Gamblers
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Squareness
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's First Arrest
1913
as Broncho Billy
The New Schoolmarm of Green River
1913
as The Sheriff
The Wheels of Safety
1913
as Dr. Sharp
Broncho Billy's Secret
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Doctor's Duty
1913
as Dr. Roland White
Broncho Billy's Elopement
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Gets Square
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Oath
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Struggle
1913
as Dr. Sharp
Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Redeemed Claim
1913
as Mr. Orr, a Government Assayist
Broncho Billy Reforms
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Conscience
1913
as Broncho Billy
A Western Sister's Devotion
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mistake
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Man in the Cabin
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Navajo Maid
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Tenderfoot Sheriff
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmam's Sweetheart
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Strategy
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Ranch Feud
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Capture
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Express Rider
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Grit
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Crazy Prospector
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Rustler's Child
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Accusation of Broncho Billy
1913
Broncho Billy's Reason
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Way
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Gratefulness
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sister
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Step-Sisters
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Influence on Broncho Billy
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Last Deed
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Ward
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Making of Broncho Billy
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Gun Play
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Brother
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Outlaw's Mother
1913
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Maid
1913
as Broncho Billy
The Reward for Broncho Billy
1912
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Promise
1912
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
1912
as Broncho Billy
Western Girls
1912
Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
1912
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Heart
1912
as Broncho Billy
An Indian's Friendship
1912
as Broncho Billy
The Ranch Girl's Trial
1912
as Dave Price
The Tomboy on Bar Z
1912
An Indian Sunbeam
1912
as An Indian
Broncho Billy Outwitted
1912
as Broncho Billy
The Tenderfoot Foreman
1912
as Jack Reed
The Ranchman's Trust
1912
as Bill Dunham - Ranch Foreman
Broncho Billy for Sheriff
1912
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Escapade
1912
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Last Hold-Up
1912
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Pal
1912
as Broncho Billy
A Wife of the Hills
1912
as Bart McGrew
The Smuggler's Daughter
1912
as Brant Graham
A Story of Montana
1912
as Triggerless Jim Burrows
Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
1912
as Broncho Billy
On the Cactus Trail
1912
as Jim Andrews
Broncho Billy and the Indian Maid
1912
as Broncho Billy
A Moonshiner's Heart
1912
as Tom Jackson
The Foreman's Cousin
1912
as Bob Knight
Broncho Billy's Gratitude
1912
as Broncho Billy
Western Hearts
1912
as Sam Hardy
A Child of the Purple Sage
1912
as Bart Darrow
On El Monte Ranch
1912
as Jim Andrews - Foreman of the Ranch
Broncho Billy's Bible
1912
as Broncho Billy
The Desert Sweetheart
1912
as Jim Morris
A Western Legacy
1912
as Walter Johnson
The Sheriff and His Man
1912
as The Arizona Kid
The Dead Man's Claim
1912
as Jim Durkin
Broncho Billy and the Bandits
1912
as Broncho Billy
The Indian and the Child
1912
as The Indian
The Cattle King's Daughter
1912
as Buck Brady
Under Mexican Skies
1912
as Pasquale
Broncho Billy and the Girl
1912
as Broncho Billy
A Road Agent's Love
1912
as Bob Farco
An Arizona Escapade
1912
as Barnes
Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
1912
as Broncho Billy
The Deputy's Love Affair
1912
as Bill Simpson
The Bandit's Child
1912
as Tom Fleming
The Ranch Girl's Mistake
1912
as Broncho Billy
The Deputy and the Girl
1912
as The Deputy
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress
1912
as Broncho Billy
The Oath of His Office
1912
as Bob Graham
The Sheepman's Escape
1912
as Tom Harper
A Child of the West
1912
Broncho Billy's Adventure
1911
as Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
1911
as Broncho Billy
The Cowboy Coward
1911
as Steve
Hubby's Scheme
1911
as One of Hubby's Friends
The Girl Back East
1911
as Jack King
Outlaw Deputy
1911
as Buck Stevens
Outwitting Papa
1911
as Tom Phelps
The Forester's Plea
1911
as Rev. Small
A Western Redemption
1911
as Tom
The Stage Driver's Daughter
1911
as Tom Percival
Town Hall, Tonight
1911
as Broncho Bill
The Sheriff's Decision
1911
as Steve Jameson
The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine
1911
as Jim Logan
The Power of Good
1911
as Jim Reed - an Outlaw
An Indian's Sacrifice
1911
as Grey Deer
The Millionaire and the Squatter
1911
as Silas Strong
The Puncher's Law
1911
as Tom Patterson
Broncho Bill's Last Spree
1911
as Broncho Bill
A Western Girl's Sacrifice
1911
as Spike Shannon
Spike Shannon's Last Fight
1911
as Spike Shannon
A Pal's Oath
1911
as Jack Manley
The Two Fugitives
1911
as Jack Harvey
The Outlaw Samaritan
1911
as Jack Mason
The Backwoodsman's Suspicion
1911
as Walker - the Backwoodsman
The Corporation and the Ranch Girl
1911
as Gerald Todds
At the Break of Dawn
1911
as Gilbert Randall
The Tribe's Penalty
1911
as Gray Wolf
Forgiven in Death
1911
as Jack
The Infant at Snakeville
1911
as Broncho Billy
The Lucky Card
1911
as George Maxwell
The Puncher's New Love
1911
as Harvey Barton
The Bunco Game at Lizardhead
1911
What a Woman Can Do
1911
as Frank Mills
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
1911
as Revered Warren Addington
The Bad Man's First Prayer
1911
as Bad Man Dan Quigley
Across the Plains
1911
as The Cowboy
The Sheriff's Chum
1911
as Sheriff Will Phelps
The Faithful Indian
1911
as Will Talbot
The Romance on 'Bar O'
1911
as Sherwin Wells
The Cattleman's Daughter
1911
as Frank Carpenter
The Outlaw and the Child
1911
as Dan Warrington
The Bad Man's Downfall
1911
as Harry Perkins
Carmenita the Faithful
1911
The Two Reformations
1911
The Border Ranger
1911
as The Border Ranger
The Count and the Cowboys
1911
A Gambler of the West
1910
as Halsted
The Bad Man's Christmas Gift
1910
as Andy Carson
The Tenderfoot Messenger
1910
A Cowboy's Vindication
1910
as Frank Morrison
Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present
1910
The Little Prospector
1910
as Hal Martin
The Marked Trail
1910
as The Doctor
A Westerner's Way
1910
as Big Bill Hastings
The Silent Message
1910
as Cal Evans
Pals of the Range
1910
as Jack Smythe
A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
1910
as Pete the Coyote
The Bearded Bandit
1910
as Curt, the Sheriff
Patricia of the Plains
1910
as Dick Martin
The Tout's Remembrance
1910
as Bullets Brown
The Pony Express Rider
1910
as Jim Allison
He Met the Champion
1910
as The Referee
An Indian Girl's Love
1910
as Jack Sherwood
The Millionaire and the Ranch Girl
1910
as Milton Rodd
The Deputy's Love
1910
as Bob Dean
The Dumb Half Breed's Defense
1910
as The Half-Breed
The Count That Counted
1910
The Girl on Triple X
1910
as Jack Hartley
Under Western Skies
1910
as A Cowboy
Broncho Billy's Redemption
1910
as Broncho Billy
The Desperado
1910
as The New Sheriff
Trailed to the Hills
1910
as Harry Forsyth
The Unknown Claim
1910
as Bartwell
The Bad Man's Last Deed
1910
as The Bad Man
The Forest Ranger
1910
as Deputy Marshal Charles Wentworth
The Bandit's Wife
1910
The Ranchman's Feud
1910
as The Doctor
Away Out West
1910
as A Dying Miner
The Brother, Sister and the Cowpuncher
1910
The Little Doctor of the Foothills
1910
The Cowpuncher's Ward
1910
The Sheriff's Sacrifice
1910
A Vein of Gold
1910
as Walt Rooney, Convict No. 999
The Cowboy's Sweetheart
1910
as Jesse Farson
The Mistaken Bandit
1910
as Innocent Cowboy
The Bad Man and the Preacher
1910
as James Smyth
The Ranger's Bride
1910
as A Texas Ranger / The 'Bride'
The Flower of the Ranch
1910
as Frank Wendell
A Ranchman's Wooing
1910
The Girl and the Fugitive
1910
as Ross White
Method in His Madness
1910
as Pedestrian with Seltzer Bottle
The Fence on 'Bar Z' Ranch
1910
as Robert Graham
The Ranch Girl's Legacy
1910
as Jack Tyler
The Mexican's Faith
1910
as The Mexican
The Cowboy and the Squaw
1910
as Tom Ripley, a Cowboy
Western Chivalry
1910
The Outlaw's Sacrifice
1910
Won by a Hold-Up
1910
as Old Rancher
Electric Insoles
1910
Trail to the West
1910
A Western Maid
1910
The Heart of a Cowboy
1909
as Honest Steve
The Spanish Girl
1909
as Tom 'Bud' Wilson
The Ranchman's Rival
1909
as Jim Watson
His Reformation
1909
as Tom Carlton
Judgment
1909
The Best Man Wins
1909
A Maid of the Mountains
1909
The Black Sheep
1909
Ten Nights in a Barroom
1909
The Indian Trailer
1909
A Mexican's Gratitude
1909
as The Sheriff
A Tale of the West
1909
The Road Agents
1909
Shanghaied
1909
Tag Day
1909
The Bandit Makes Good
1908
The Baseball Fan
1908
The Life of an American Cowboy
1908
The Bandit King
1907
Western Justice
1907
The Train Wreckers
1905
as Last Train Wrecker
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
1905
as Sherlock Holmes
Western Stage Coach Hold Up
1904
A Brush Between Cowboys and Indians
1904
The Great Train Robbery
1903
as Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer (uncredited)
What Happened in the Tunnel
1903
The Messenger Boy's Mistake
1903
as Messenger Boy