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