Gilbert M. Anderson
Directing
BornMarch 20, 1880
DiedJanuary 20, 1971 · 90
FromLittle Rock, Arkansas, USA
GenderMale
338
Movies
1
TV Shows
676
Crew Credits
114
Years Active
★ 1
Popularity
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.
AKA Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson · G. M. Anderson · G.M. Anderson · Gilbert Anderson
Known For
Top 8 by popularity
The Great Train Robbery
★ 7.01903
The Great Train Robbery
1903★ 7.0
as Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer (uncredited)
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
★ 5.71913
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
1913★ 5.7
as Broncho Billy
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
★ 7.01961
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
1961★ 7.0
as Self (archive footage)
Photos (2)
Filmography
338 titles
1915The Championas Enthusiastic Fan (uncredited) ★ 6.5 Watch 
1903The Great Train Robberyas Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer (uncredited) ★ 7.0 Watch 
1915His Regenerationas The Regenerate ★ 4.4 Watch 
1911The Stage Driver's Daughteras Tom Percival Watch 
2000Golden Saddles, Silver Spursas (archive footage) ★ 10.0 Watch 
1913Broncho Billy and the Western Girlsas Broncho Billy ★ 5.7 Watch 
1961The Legend of Rudolph Valentinoas Self (archive footage) ★ 7.0 Watch 
1915Broncho Billy's Brotheras Broncho Billy Watch Her Lesson
1915The Bachelor's Burglaras The Bachelor ★ 9.0 Watch 
1911The Corporation and the Ranch Girlas Gerald Todds Watch Pals of the Range
1912Broncho Billy for Sheriffas Broncho Billy ★ 7.0 Watch Broncho Billy's Cowardly Brother
1911Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinneras Broncho Billy ★ 4.5 Watch 
1912Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billyas Broncho Billy ★ 4.0 Watch 
1914The Redemption of Broncho Billyas Broncho Billy Watch 
1912The Indian and the Childas The Indian ★ 9.0 Watch 
1913Broncho Billy and the Navajo Maidas Broncho Billy ★ 9.0 Watch 
1913Broncho Billy's Gratefulnessas Broncho Billy Watch 
1914A Night on the Roadas Rough Neck ★ 7.0 Watch 
1912Broncho Billy's Mexican Wifeas Broncho Billy Watch The Ranchmen's Feud
The Ranchman's Rival
1914Broncho Billy Rewardedas Broncho Billy ★ 9.0 Watch The Cowpuncher's Ward
The Pony Express Rider
The Squatter's Gal
1911Outwitting Papaas Tom Phelps ★ 8.0 Watch The Ranch Girl's Mistake
1913Broncho Billy's Mistakeas Broncho Billy ★ 9.0 Watch The Desert Sweetheart
Broncho Billy and the Girl
Broncho Billy's Word of Honor
1909Tag Day ★ 10.0 Watch The Heart of a Cowboy
1914Broncho Billy's Jealousyas Broncho Billy Watch 
1958The Western: A Lost TV Specialas Self Watch 
1912Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistressas Broncho Billy ★ 5.3 Watch On the Cactus Trail
The Cattle King's Daughter
The Girl on Triple X
Her Realization
Won by a Hold-Up
The Book Agent's Romance
1914Broncho Billy's Leapas Broncho Billy Watch Broncho Billy's Wild Ride
1913Why Broncho Billy Left Bear Countyas Broncho Billy ★ 7.0 Watch The Bad Man and the Preacher
1915Broncho Billy and the False Noteas Broncho Billy ★ 6.0 Watch He Met the Champion
1913Broncho Billy Gets Squareas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch 
1912Broncho Billy's Palas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch The Cowboy's Sweetheart
1911Town Hall, Tonightas Broncho Bill ★ 7.0 Watch 
1912A Road Agent's Loveas Bob Farco Watch Broncho Billy's Brother
The Marked Trail
1911Hubby's Schemeas One of Hubby's Friends ★ 8.0 Watch Broncho Billy's Love Affair
1910The Mexican's Faithas The Mexican Watch 
1914Broncho Billy Puts One Overas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch 
1915Broncho Billy and the Babyas Broncho Billy Watch A Cowboy's Vindication
1933The Film Paradeas (archive footage) (uncredited) ★ 8.0 Watch 
1913Broncho Billy Reformsas Broncho Billy ★ 10.0 Watch 
1915Broncho Billy's Vengeanceas Broncho Billy Watch 
1912Broncho Billy's Promiseas Broncho Billy Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's Punishmentas Broncho Billy Watch 
1915Broncho Billy's Teachingsas Broncho Billy Watch Broncho Billy's Redemption
1914Broncho Billy and the Bad Manas Broncho Billy Watch 
1912Broncho Billy's Narrow Escapeas Broncho Billy ★ 6.7 Watch 
1912A Story of Montanaas Triggerless Jim Burrows ★ 8.0 Watch 
1914The Tell-Tale Handas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch 
1915The Convict's Threatas The Convict ★ 8.0 Watch 
1913Broncho Billy's Squarenessas Broncho Billy Watch 
1911A Pal's Oathas Jack Manley Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's Cunningas Broncho Billy Watch 
1912Broncho Billy's Heartas Broncho Billy Watch 
1914Snakeville's New Doctoras Broncho Billy Watch 
1913Broncho Billy's Strategyas Broncho Billy ★ 9.0 Watch The Count and the Cowboys
The Puncher's New Love
1913The Making of Broncho Billyas Broncho Billy ★ 5.0 Watch The Cowboy and the Squaw
1915Ingomar of the Hillsas Ingomar ★ 9.0 Watch 
1911A Western Redemptionas Tom Watch 
1915Andy of the Royal Mountedas Andy of the Royal Mounted ★ 8.0 Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's True Loveas Broncho Billy Watch The Millionaire and the Squatter
1912Broncho Billy and the Indian Maidas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch 
1910A Gambler of the Westas Halsted Watch Broncho Billy's Sermon
Broncho Billy Steps In
1914Broncho Billy -- Gun-Manas Broncho Billy ★ 9.0 Watch The Little Doctor of the Foothills
The Bad Man's Last Deed
The Sheepman's Escape
1911The Strike at the Little Jonny Mineas Jim Logan Watch 
1913Broncho Billy's Captureas Broncho Billy ★ 9.0 Watch 
1914Broncho Billy and the Rattleras Broncho Billy Watch The Deputy's Love Affair
1911Spike Shannon's Last Fightas Spike Shannon Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's Dutyas Broncho Billy Watch The Forest Ranger
1913Broncho Billy's Elopementas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch The Flower of the Ranch
A Western Girl's Sacrifice
1912A Child of the West ★ 9.0 Watch 
1913Broncho Billy's Christmas Deedas Broncho Billy Watch 
1912Broncho Billy's Last Hold-Upas Broncho Billy ★ 6.0 Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's Double Escapeas Broncho Billy ★ 7.0 Watch 
1911Broncho Billy's Adventureas Broncho Billy ★ 4.0 Watch 
1914Broncho Billy and the Sheriffas Broncho Billy Watch Patricia of the Plains
Broncho Billy's Sister
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
Broncho Billy's Protégé
The Dumb Half Breed's Defense
Wine, Women and Song
The Life of an American Cowboy
1965The Bounty Killeras The Man in the Cantina ★ 6.0 Watch 
1914Broncho Billy, Outlawas Broncho Billy Watch 
1913The Doctor's Dutyas Dr. Roland White Watch The Accusation of Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber
1915Broncho Billy's Greaser Deputyas Broncho Billy Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's Dadas Broncho Billy ★ 10.0 Watch Broncho Billy and the Gambler
The Sheriff and His Man
Broncho Billy's Marriage
The Tout's Remembrance
The Foreman's Cousin
1914The Strategy of Broncho Billy's Sweetheartas Broncho Billy ★ 9.0 Watch Broncho Billy's Way
The Crazy Prospector
The Infant at Snakeville
The Oath of His Office
A Western Sister's Devotion
Broncho Billy's Ward
1915Broncho Billy's Sentenceas Broncho Billy ★ 5.0 Watch 
1915When Love and Honor Calledas Broncho Billy Watch 
1913Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kidas Broncho Billy ★ 7.0 Watch 
1914The Good-for-Nothingas Gilbert Sterling ★ 5.0 Watch 
1912The Tomboy on Bar Z ★ 4.0 Watch The Sheriff's Chum
The Man in Him
1913Broncho Billy's Last Deedas Broncho Billy Watch Broncho Billy's Escapade
The Brother, the Sister and the Cowpuncher
1912Broncho Billy's Bibleas Broncho Billy Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's Christmas Spiritas Broncho Billy ★ 10.0 Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's Schemeas Broocho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
1912An Indian's Friendshipas Broncho Billy Watch The Bunco Game at Lizardhead
Broncho Billy and the Step-Sisters
Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
Broncho Billy Wins Out
1912The Bandit's Childas Tom Fleming ★ 7.0 Watch 
1910An Outlaw's Sacrifice Watch 
1914The Inference of Broncho Billyas Broncho Billy Watch 
1914Broncho Billy, a Friend in Needas Broncho Billy ★ 10.0 Watch 
1910A Westerner's Wayas Big Bill Hastings Watch 
1913Broncho Billy and the Rustler's Childas Broncho Billy ★ 6.0 Watch 
1915A Christmas Revengeas Broncho Billy / Santa Claus ★ 9.0 Watch 
1915Broncho Billy and the Claim Jumpersas Broncho Billy Watch The Best Man Wins
The Millionaire and the Ranch Girl
The Count That Counted
The Deputy's Love
1914Broncho Billy and the Red Manas Broncho Billy Watch 
1915His Wife's Secretas The Burglar ★ 9.0 Watch An Indian Sunbeam
1913Broncho Billy's First Arrestas Broncho Billy Watch The Bad Man's First Prayer
1931Stars of Yesterdayas Self ★ 9.0 Watch Broncho Billy's Close Call
1914Broncho Billy and the Settler's Daughteras Broncho Billy Watch The Influence on Broncho Billy
The Bad Man's Christmas Gift
1914Broncho Billy -- Favoriteas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch 
1911Broncho Bill's Last Spreeas Broncho Bill ★ 10.0 Watch The Girl and the Fugitive
The Forester's Plea
A Maid of the Mountains
The Girl Back East
1911The Outlaw and the Childas Dan Warrington Watch Trailed to the Hills
The Lucky Card
The Spanish Girl
1913The Three Gamblersas Broncho Billy Watch 
1914Broncho Billy's Motheras Broncho Billy ★ 7.0 Watch 
1941Life with Henryas Business Man (uncredited) ★ 6.5 Watch 
1915Broncho Billy Well Repaidas Broncho Billy Watch 
1914Broncho Billy Trappedas Broncho Billy ★ 7.0 Watch 
1912The Reward for Broncho Billyas Broncho Billy Watch A Ranchman's Wooing
Broncho Billy's Parents
Broncho Billy Butts In
Broncho Billy's Reason
1914Broncho Billy's Missionas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch 
1914Broncho Billy and the Greaseras Broncho Billy ★ 6.0 Watch 
1919The Son-of-a-Gunas Bill ★ 7.5 Watch 
1915The Western Wayas The Outlaw ★ 9.0 Watch The Sheriff's Decision
1915Broncho Billy and the Sistersas Broncho Billy Watch The Mistaken Bandit
1914Broncho Billy's Decisionas Broncho Billy ★ 9.0 Watch 
1915Broncho Billy and the Escaped Banditas Broncho Billy Watch Broncho Billy's Gun Play
The Indian's Narrow Escape
Broncho Billy Misled
Method in His Madness
Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp
1939The Movies March Onas Self - from 'The Great Train Robbery' (archive footage) ★ 5.2 Watch Under Mexican Skies
The Tribe's Penalty
1912A Wife of the Hillsas Bart McGrew ★ 5.5 Watch An Indian Girl's Love
1915The Face at the Curtainas The Burglar ★ 7.0 Watch Broncho Billy's Oath
The Backwoodsman's Suspicion
The Bad Man's Downfall
1912Broncho Billy and the Banditsas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch On El Monte Ranch
1912The Smuggler's Daughteras Brant Graham Watch The Romance on 'Bar O'
The Ranch Girl's Trial
1912The Deputy and the Girlas The Deputy ★ 7.0 Watch 
1913Broncho Billy's Conscienceas Broncho Billy ★ 10.0 Watch Broncho Billy, the Vagabond
1905Adventures of Sherlock Holmesas Sherlock Holmes ★ 3.0 Watch 
1914Broncho Billy and the Mine Sharkas Broncho Billy Watch The Escape of Broncho Billy
1914Red Riding Hood of the Hillsas Broncho Billy Watch Broncho Billy, Sheepman
The Ranch Girl's Legacy
1914Broncho Billy's Fatal Jokeas Broncho Billy ★ 6.0 Watch The Ranger's Bride
Broncho Billy and the Lumber King
Broncho Billy and the Express Rider
The Tenderfoot Sheriff
1913The New Schoolmarm of Green Riveras The Sheriff ★ 9.0 Watch The Bachelor's Baby
The Bandit's Wife
The Ranchman's Trust
1915Broncho Billy and the Vigilanteas Broncho Billy Watch 
2017Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanayas Self (archive footage) Watch A Child of the Purple Sage
The Bandit Makes Good
The Wealth of the Poor
Western Chivalry
1913Broncho Billy and the Outlaw's Motheras Broncho Billy Watch The Fence on 'Bar Z' Ranch
Red Blood and Yellow
1913Broncho Billy's Secretas Broncho Billy Watch The Two Reformations
The Redeemed Claim
Trail to the West
1914Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Officeas Broncho Billy ★ 7.0 Watch Broncho Billy's Indian Romance
Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present
1913Broncho Billy and the Maidas Broncho Billy Watch The Calling of Jim Barton
The Tenderfoot Foreman
Broncho Billy Begins Life Anew
1903The Messenger Boy's Mistakeas Cholly ★ 4.2 Watch The Bearded Bandit
1914Broncho Billy-Guardianas Broncho Billy Watch The Struggle
The Desperado
The Cattleman's Daughter
The Tenderfoot Messenger
1913Broncho Billy and the Schoolmam's Sweetheartas Broncho Billy ★ 8.0 Watch 
1914The Treachery of Broncho Billy's Palas Broncho Billy Watch An Unexpected Romance
A Mexican's Gratitude
Broncho Billy Evens Matters
The Two Fugitives
The Revenue Agent
Western Stage Coach Hold Up
A Moonshiner's Heart
Outlaw Deputy
1911Across the Plainsas The Cowboy Watch 
1915The Outlaw's Awakeningas The Outlaw ★ 7.0 Watch Suppressed Evidence
Western Girls
The Sheriff's Sacrifice
The Border Ranger
1914Broncho Billy's Judgmentas Broncho Billy ★ 10.0 Watch 
1903What Happened in the Tunnel ★ 5.5 Watch The Tie That Binds
1917Humanityas Broncho Billy Adair ★ 9.0 Watch Under Western Skies
What a Woman Can Do
1912Broncho Billy's Gratitudeas Broncho Billy ★ 7.0 Watch The Faithful Indian
The Dead Man's Claim
A Tale of the West
1905The Train Wreckersas Last Train Wrecker ★ 5.7 Watch The Black Sheep
The Man in the Cabin
The Power of Good
The Outlaw Samaritan
1918Shootin' Madas Broncho Billy Watch The Ranch Feud
Broncho Billy's Grit
At the Break of Dawn
The Greater Duty
The Other Girl
A Western Legacy
1911The Cowboy Cowardas Steve ★ 4.2 Watch The Unknown Claim
Electric Insoles
1912Western Heartsas Sam Hardy ★ 7.0 Watch The Baseball Fan
Forgiven in Death
An Indian's Sacrifice
His Reformation
Her Return
The Little Prospector
Carmenita the Faithful
The Bandit King
The Puncher's Law
The Little Prospector
Away Out West
The Wheels of Safety
1912Broncho Billy Outwittedas Broncho Billy Watch Too Much Turkey
The Road Agents
The Silent Message
A Western Maid
The Indian Trailer
An Arizona Escapade
Shanghaied