Gilbert M. Anderson
1880-03-20 ( 145 years old ) in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

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

Shootin' Mad 1918-10-20
Humanity 1917-05-19
The Man in Him 1916-02-08
Her Lesson 1916-01-06
Her Return 1915-08-27
The Other Girl 1915-05-14
The Struggle 1913-10-04
The Ranch Feud 1913-06-14
Western Girls 1912-12-03
Western Hearts 1912-06-14
Hubby's Scheme 1911-11-14
Outlaw Deputy 1911-11-04
A Pal's Oath 1911-08-12
The Lucky Card 1911-05-27
The Desperado 1910-07-23
Away Out West 1910-06-04
A Vein of Gold 1910-04-30
A Western Maid 1910-01-01
Judgment 1909-11-27
Shanghaied 1909-03-03
Tag Day 1909-02-19