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.
Messenger Boy
The Messenger Boy's Mistake
Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer (uncredited)
The Great Train Robbery
(archive footage)
Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs
The Tomboy on Bar Z
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Conscience
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Claim Jumpers
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Christmas Spirit
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Dad
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sisters
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Greaser Deputy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Escaped Bandit
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office
Self
Hollywood and the Stars
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the False Note
Dr. Roland White
The Doctor's Duty
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Elopement
Ingomar
Ingomar of the Hills
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Outlaw's Mother
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Cowardly Brother
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's First Arrest
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Christmas Deed
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Settler's Daughter
Broncho Billy
The Treachery of Broncho Billy's Pal
Cal Evans
The Silent Message
The Doctor
The Marked Trail
Pete the Coyote
A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
Jack Smythe
Pals of the Range
Big Bill Hastings
A Westerner's Way
Hal Martin
The Little Prospector
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's True Love
Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present
Frank Morrison
A Cowboy's Vindication
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Well Repaid
The Tenderfoot Messenger
Trail to the West
Andy Carson
The Bad Man's Christmas Gift
Halsted
A Gambler of the West
The Count and the Cowboys
Broncho Billy
The Inference of Broncho Billy
The Mexican
The Mexican's Faith
One of Hubby's Friends
Hubby's Scheme
The Border Ranger
The Border Ranger
A Child of the West
The Baseball Fan
The Road Agents
Western Stage Coach Hold Up
Western Justice
The Bandit Makes Good
The Life of an American Cowboy
Tag Day
Shanghaied
A Brush Between Cowboys and Indians
Jack Reed
The Tenderfoot Foreman
Tom Harper
The Sheepman's Escape
The Black Sheep
Bob Graham
The Oath of His Office
A Tale of the West
A Maid of the Mountains
The Deputy
The Deputy and the Girl
Tom 'Bud' Wilson
The Spanish Girl
The Sheriff
A Mexican's Gratitude
The Best Man Wins
Honest Steve
The Heart of a Cowboy
Jim Watson
The Ranchman's Rival
The Indian Trailer
Ten Nights in a Barroom
Tom Carlton
His Reformation
Judgment
Broncho Billy
The Ranch Girl's Mistake
The Two Reformations
Brant Graham
The Smuggler's Daughter
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Bible
Carmenita the Faithful
Frank Carpenter
The Cattleman's Daughter
Harry Perkins
The Bad Man's Downfall
Dan Warrington
The Outlaw and the Child
Revered Warren Addington
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
Sheriff Will Phelps
The Sheriff's Chum
Sherwin Wells
The Romance on 'Bar O'
Harvey Barton
The Puncher's New Love
The Bunco Game at Lizardhead
The Cowboy
Across the Plains
Bad Man Dan Quigley
The Bad Man's First Prayer
Frank Mills
What a Woman Can Do
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Red Man
Gray Wolf
The Tribe's Penalty
George Maxwell
The Lucky Card
Broncho Billy
The Infant at Snakeville
Jack
Forgiven in Death
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Bad Man
Gilbert Randall
At the Break of Dawn
Walker - the Backwoodsman
The Backwoodsman's Suspicion
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy-Guardian
Gerald Todds
The Corporation and the Ranch Girl
A Western Maid
Electric Insoles
Old Rancher
Won by a Hold-Up
Western Chivalry
The Outlaw's Sacrifice
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Rattler
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Navajo Maid
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mistake
Tom Ripley, a Cowboy
The Cowboy and the Squaw
The Man in the Cantina
The Bounty Killer
Will Talbot
The Faithful Indian
Robert Graham
The Fence on 'Bar Z' Ranch
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Reforms
Jack Tyler
The Ranch Girl's Legacy
Pedestrian with Seltzer Bottle
Method in His Madness
Frank Wendell
The Flower of the Ranch
Innocent Cowboy
The Mistaken Bandit
James Smyth
The Bad Man and the Preacher
A Ranchman's Wooing
Ross White
The Girl and the Fugitive
A Texas Ranger / The 'Bride'
The Ranger's Bride
Walt Rooney, Convict No. 999
A Vein of Gold
Jesse Farson
The Cowboy's Sweetheart
The Sheriff's Sacrifice
The Brother, Sister and the Cowpuncher
The Little Doctor of the Foothills
A Dying Miner
Away Out West
The Cowpuncher's Ward
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Girl
Pasquale
Under Mexican Skies
Bob Farco
A Road Agent's Love
Barnes
An Arizona Escapade
Bill Simpson
The Deputy's Love Affair
Tom Fleming
The Bandit's Child
The Indian
The Indian and the Child
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Bandits
Jack / Jim
Red Blood and Yellow
Buck Brady
The Cattle King's Daughter
Jack Harvey
The Two Fugitives
Bill Hinchley
The Greater Duty
Jack Manley
A Pal's Oath
Jack Mason
The Outlaw Samaritan
Broncho Billy
The Redemption of Broncho Billy
Spike Shannon
Spike Shannon's Last Fight
Tom Patterson
The Puncher's Law
Spike Shannon
A Western Girl's Sacrifice
Broncho Bill
Broncho Bill's Last Spree
Grey Deer
An Indian's Sacrifice
Silas Strong
The Millionaire and the Squatter
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Squareness
Jim Logan
The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine
Broncho Bill
Town Hall, Tonight
Steve Jameson
The Sheriff's Decision
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Secret
Jim Reed - an Outlaw
The Power of Good
Tom
A Western Redemption
Tom Percival
The Stage Driver's Daughter
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Teachings
Rev. Small
The Forester's Plea
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Word of Honor
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Vengeance
The Doctor
The Ranchman's Feud
The Bad Man
The Bad Man's Last Deed
The Bandit's Wife
Deputy Marshal Charles Wentworth
The Forest Ranger
Bartwell
The Unknown Claim
The New Sheriff
The Desperado
A Cowboy
Under Western Skies
Harry Forsyth
Trailed to the Hills
Jack Hartley
The Girl on Triple X
The Half-Breed
The Dumb Half Breed's Defense
Bob Dean
The Deputy's Love
The Count That Counted
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmam's Sweetheart
Milton Rodd
The Millionaire and the Ranch Girl
The Referee
He Met the Champion
Jim Allison
The Pony Express Rider
Bullets Brown
The Tout's Remembrance
Jack Sherwood
An Indian Girl's Love
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Strategy
Dick Martin
Patricia of the Plains
Curt, the Sheriff
The Bearded Bandit
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Brother
Jim Morris
The Desert Sweetheart
Walter Johnson
A Western Legacy
Jim Durkin
The Dead Man's Claim
The Arizona Kid
The Sheriff and His Man
Jim Andrews - Foreman of the Ranch
On El Monte Ranch
Bart Darrow
A Child of the Purple Sage
Sam Hardy
Western Hearts
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Gratitude
Tom Phelps
Outwitting Papa
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
Buck Stevens
The Outlaw Deputy
Jack King
The Girl Back East
Bob Knight
The Foreman's Cousin
Triggerless Jim Burrows
A Story of Montana
Jim Andrews
On the Cactus Trail
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Indian Maid
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Pal
Tom Jackson
A Moonshiner's Heart
Bill Dunham - Ranch Foreman
The Ranchman's Trust
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy for Sheriff
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Escapade
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Outwitted
An Indian
An Indian Sunbeam
Dave Price
The Ranch Girl's Trial
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Promise
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Brother
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Last Deed
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid
Western Girls
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
Broncho Billy
The Reward for Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Heart
Broncho Billy
An Indian's Friendship
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Maid
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Gun Play
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Ward
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Step-Sisters
Broncho Billy
The Influence on Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Gratefulness
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sister
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Way
Broncho Billy
The Ranch Feud
The Accusation of Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Reason
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Grit
Broncho Billy
The Crazy Prospector
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Express Rider
Broncho Billy
The Tenderfoot Sheriff
Mr. Orr, a Government Assayist
The Redeemed Claim
Broncho Billy
The Man in the Cabin
Broncho Billy
A Western Sister's Devotion
The Regenerate
His Regeneration
Dr. Sharp
The Struggle
Dr. Sharp
The Wheels of Safety
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Gets Square
The Sheriff
The New Schoolmarm of Green River
Broncho Billy
The Three Gamblers
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Oath
Rough Neck
A Night on the Road
Broncho Billy
Snakeville's New Doctor
Broncho Billy
The Strategy of Broncho Billy's Sweetheart
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Trapped
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Rewarded
Jim Barton
The Calling of Jim Barton
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy -- Favorite
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mother
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Mission
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy -- Gun-Man
Broocho Billy
Broncho Billy's Scheme
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sermon
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Close Call
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Decision
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Leap
Broncho Billy
Red Riding Hood of the Hills
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Cunning
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Duty
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, Outlaw
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Jealousy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Punishment
The Husband
The Tie That Binds
The Artist
The Other Girl
Tom
The Revenue Agent
The Husband
The Wealth of the Poor
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber
The Bachelor
The Bachelor's Burglar
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Puts One Over
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Gambler
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Judgment
Broncho Billy
The Squatter's Gal
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Double Escape
Broncho Billy
The Tell-Tale Hand
The Outlaw
The Western Way
Broncho Billy
When Love and Honor Called
The Outlaw
The Outlaw's Awakening
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Wild Ride
Andy of the Royal Mounted
Andy of the Royal Mounted
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Wins Out
The Burglar
His Wife's Secret
The Burglar
The Face at the Curtain
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, the Vagabond
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Butts In
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Indian Romance
The Sweetheart
Her Realization
Broncho Billy
The Little Prospector
The Bachelor
The Bachelor's Baby
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Protégé
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Marriage
The Husband
Her Return
The Landowner
An Unexpected Romance
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Steps In
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Begins Life Anew
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp
The Convict
The Convict's Threat
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Lumber King
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Misled
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy, Sheepman
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Parents
The Husband
Suppressed Evidence
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy Evens Matters
The Young Man
Wine, Women and Song
The Indian
The Indian's Narrow Escape
Broncho Billy
The Escape of Broncho Billy
The Capitalist
Her Lesson
Broncho Billy / Santa Claus
A Christmas Revenge
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
Frank Potter
Too Much Turkey
John Stone
The Man in Him
Broncho Billy Adair
Humanity
The Book Agent
The Book Agent's Romance
Business Man (uncredited)
Life with Henry
Self
Stars of Yesterday
Self (archive footage)
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Self (archive footage)
Smash His Camera
Gilbert Sterling
The Good-for-Nothing
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Sentence
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Fatal Joke
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Greaser
Bill
The Son-of-a-Gun
Broncho Billy
The Making of Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Baby
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Redemption
What Happened in the Tunnel
Steve
The Cowboy Coward
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
Last Train Wrecker
The Train Wreckers
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Rustler's Child
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Last Hold-Up
Bart McGrew
A Wife of the Hills
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Capture
Sherlock Holmes
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes; or, Held for Ransom
(archive footage) (uncredited)
The Film Parade
Self - from 'The Great Train Robbery' (archive footage)
The Movies March On
Self (archive footage)
Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay
Broncho Billy
Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
The Bandit King
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
Broncho Billy
Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy
Broncho Billy's Adventure
Broncho Billy
Shootin' Mad
Known For
Directing
Known Credits
343
Gender
Male
Birthday
1880-03-20
Place of Birth
Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
Also Known As
Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson