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.
340 movies
Charlie Chaplin: The Long Year at Essanay
2017·0.0
Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs
2000·10.0
The Bounty Killer
1965·6.0
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
1961·7.0
The Western: A Lost TV Special
1958·0.0
Life with Henry
1941·6.5
The Movies March On
1939·5.3
The Film Parade
1933·8.0
Stars of Yesterday
1931·9.0
The Greater Duty
1922·0.0
The Son-of-a-Gun
1919·7.5
Red Blood and Yellow
1919·8.0
Shootin' Mad
1918·0.0
Humanity
1917·9.0
The Man in Him
1916·9.0
The Book Agent's Romance
1916·8.0
Her Lesson
1916·7.0
A Christmas Revenge
1915·9.0
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
1915·7.0
The Indian's Narrow Escape
1915·8.0
The Escape of Broncho Billy
1915·9.0
Wine, Women and Song
1915·10.0
Too Much Turkey
1915·10.0
Broncho Billy's Cowardly Brother
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy Evens Matters
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy's Parents
1915·0.0
Suppressed Evidence
1915·8.0
Broncho Billy, Sheepman
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy Misled
1915·7.0
The Convict's Threat
1915·8.0
An Unexpected Romance
1915·9.0
Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp
1915·9.0
Broncho Billy and the Lumber King
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy Begins Life Anew
1915·0.0
Her Return
1915·7.0
Broncho Billy's Marriage
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy Steps In
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy's Protégé
1915·0.0
The Bachelor's Baby
1915·8.0
Broncho Billy Well Repaid
1915·0.0
The Little Prospector
1915·7.0
Her Realization
1915·10.0
Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber
1915·0.0
The Wealth of the Poor
1915·8.0
Broncho Billy's Word of Honor
1915·0.0
The Bachelor's Burglar
1915·9.0
The Revenue Agent
1915·7.0
The Other Girl
1915·8.0
Broncho Billy's Teachings
1915·0.0
His Regeneration
1915·4.4
The Tie That Binds
1915·8.0
His Wife's Secret
1915·9.0
The Face at the Curtain
1915·7.0
Andy of the Royal Mounted
1915·8.0
Ingomar of the Hills
1915·9.0
The Outlaw's Awakening
1915·7.0
The Western Way
1915·9.0
The Champion
1915·6.5
Broncho Billy's Vengeance
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy's Brother
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy's Sentence
1915·5.0
Broncho Billy's Greaser Deputy
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy and the False Note
1915·6.0
Broncho Billy and the Baby
1915·0.0
When Love and Honor Called
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Sisters
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Claim Jumpers
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Escaped Bandit
1915·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office
1914·7.0
Broncho Billy's Christmas Spirit
1914·10.0
Broncho Billy's Dad
1914·10.0
Broncho Billy's Judgment
1914·10.0
Broncho Billy's Double Escape
1914·7.0
Broncho Billy's Scheme
1914·8.0
The Tell-Tale Hand
1914·8.0
Broncho Billy's Decision
1914·9.0
Broncho Billy's Mission
1914·8.0
Broncho Billy's Mother
1914·7.0
Broncho Billy -- Favorite
1914·8.0
Broncho Billy Rewarded
1914·9.0
Broncho Billy and the Greaser
1914·6.0
Broncho Billy Trapped
1914·7.0
The Strategy of Broncho Billy's Sweetheart
1914·9.0
Broncho Billy Butts In
1914·10.0
Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need
1914·10.0
Broncho Billy, the Vagabond
1914·7.0
Broncho Billy's Indian Romance
1914·8.0
Broncho Billy's Wild Ride
1914·7.0
Broncho Billy Wins Out
1914·10.0
Broncho Billy's Fatal Joke
1914·6.0
The Squatter's Gal
1914·10.0
Broncho Billy and the Gambler
1914·9.0
Broncho Billy Puts One Over
1914·8.0
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy's Punishment
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy's Jealousy
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy, Outlaw
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark
1914·0.0
The Good-for-Nothing
1914·5.0
Broncho Billy's Duty
1914·0.0
Red Riding Hood of the Hills
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy's Leap
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy's Sermon
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy's Close Call
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy -- Gun-Man
1914·9.0
Broncho Billy and the Rattler
1914·0.0
The Treachery of Broncho Billy's Pal
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy's Cunning
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy's True Love
1914·0.0
The Inference of Broncho Billy
1914·0.0
The Calling of Jim Barton
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Settler's Daughter
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Red Man
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Bad Man
1914·0.0
A Night on the Road
1914·7.0
Broncho Billy-Guardian
1914·0.0
Snakeville's New Doctor
1914·0.0
The Redemption of Broncho Billy
1914·0.0
Broncho Billy's Christmas Deed
1913·0.0
The Three Gamblers
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's Squareness
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's First Arrest
1913·0.0
The New Schoolmarm of Green River
1913·9.0
The Wheels of Safety
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's Secret
1913·0.0
The Doctor's Duty
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's Elopement
1913·8.0
Broncho Billy Gets Square
1913·8.0
Broncho Billy's Oath
1913·0.0
The Struggle
1913·10.0
Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
1913·7.0
The Redeemed Claim
1913·8.0
Broncho Billy Reforms
1913·10.0
Broncho Billy's Conscience
1913·10.0
A Western Sister's Devotion
1913·7.0
Broncho Billy's Mistake
1913·9.0
The Man in the Cabin
1913·8.0
Broncho Billy and the Navajo Maid
1913·9.0
The Tenderfoot Sheriff
1913·8.0
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmam's Sweetheart
1913·8.0
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
1913·6.0
Broncho Billy's Strategy
1913·9.0
The Ranch Feud
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's Capture
1913·9.0
Broncho Billy and the Express Rider
1913·7.0
Broncho Billy's Grit
1913·9.0
The Crazy Prospector
1913·8.0
Broncho Billy and the Rustler's Child
1913·6.0
The Accusation of Broncho Billy
1913·10.0
Broncho Billy's Reason
1913·9.0
Broncho Billy's Way
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's Gratefulness
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's Sister
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Step-Sisters
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter
1913·0.0
The Influence on Broncho Billy
1913·8.0
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid
1913·7.0
Broncho Billy's Last Deed
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's Ward
1913·0.0
The Making of Broncho Billy
1913·5.0
Broncho Billy's Gun Play
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy's Brother
1913·9.0
Broncho Billy and the Outlaw's Mother
1913·0.0
Broncho Billy and the Maid
1913·0.0
The Reward for Broncho Billy
1912·0.0
Broncho Billy's Promise
1912·0.0
Broncho Billy's Love Affair
1912·0.0
Western Girls
1912·0.0
Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
1912·0.0
Broncho Billy's Heart
1912·0.0
An Indian's Friendship
1912·0.0
The Ranch Girl's Trial
1912·0.0
The Tomboy on Bar Z
1912·4.0
An Indian Sunbeam
1912·7.0
Broncho Billy Outwitted
1912·0.0
The Tenderfoot Foreman
1912·9.0
The Ranchman's Trust
1912·9.0
Broncho Billy for Sheriff
1912·7.0
Broncho Billy's Escapade
1912·10.0
Broncho Billy's Last Hold-Up
1912·6.0
Broncho Billy's Pal
1912·8.0
A Wife of the Hills
1912·5.5
The Smuggler's Daughter
1912·0.0
A Story of Montana
1912·8.0
Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
1912·6.7
On the Cactus Trail
1912·9.0
Broncho Billy and the Indian Maid
1912·8.0
A Moonshiner's Heart
1912·10.0
The Foreman's Cousin
1912·8.0
Broncho Billy's Gratitude
1912·7.0
Western Hearts
1912·7.0
A Child of the Purple Sage
1912·7.0
On El Monte Ranch
1912·9.0
Broncho Billy's Bible
1912·0.0
The Desert Sweetheart
1912·7.0
A Western Legacy
1912·9.0
The Sheriff and His Man
1912·9.0
The Dead Man's Claim
1912·7.0
Broncho Billy and the Bandits
1912·8.0
The Indian and the Child
1912·9.0
The Cattle King's Daughter
1912·9.0
Under Mexican Skies
1912·8.0
Broncho Billy and the Girl
1912·8.0
A Road Agent's Love
1912·0.0
An Arizona Escapade
1912·9.0
Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
1912·4.0
The Deputy's Love Affair
1912·0.0
The Bandit's Child
1912·7.0
The Ranch Girl's Mistake
1912·10.0
The Deputy and the Girl
1912·7.0
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress
1912·5.3
The Oath of His Office
1912·9.0
The Sheepman's Escape
1912·9.0
A Child of the West
1912·9.0
Broncho Billy's Adventure
1911·4.0
Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
1911·4.5
The Cowboy Coward
1911·4.2
Hubby's Scheme
1911·8.0
The Girl Back East
1911·0.0
Outlaw Deputy
1911·0.0
Outwitting Papa
1911·8.0
The Forester's Plea
1911·0.0
A Western Redemption
1911·0.0
The Stage Driver's Daughter
1911·0.0
Town Hall, Tonight
1911·7.0
The Sheriff's Decision
1911·0.0
The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine
1911·0.0
The Power of Good
1911·0.0
An Indian's Sacrifice
1911·0.0
The Millionaire and the Squatter
1911·0.0
The Puncher's Law
1911·0.0
Broncho Bill's Last Spree
1911·10.0
A Western Girl's Sacrifice
1911·0.0
Spike Shannon's Last Fight
1911·0.0
A Pal's Oath
1911·0.0
The Two Fugitives
1911·0.0
The Outlaw Samaritan
1911·0.0
The Backwoodsman's Suspicion
1911·0.0
The Corporation and the Ranch Girl
1911·0.0
At the Break of Dawn
1911·0.0
The Tribe's Penalty
1911·0.0
Forgiven in Death
1911·0.0
The Infant at Snakeville
1911·0.0
The Lucky Card
1911·0.0
The Puncher's New Love
1911·0.0
The Bunco Game at Lizardhead
1911·0.0
What a Woman Can Do
1911·0.0
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
1911·0.0
The Bad Man's First Prayer
1911·0.0
Across the Plains
1911·0.0
The Sheriff's Chum
1911·0.0
The Faithful Indian
1911·0.0
The Romance on 'Bar O'
1911·0.0
The Cattleman's Daughter
1911·0.0
The Outlaw and the Child
1911·0.0
The Bad Man's Downfall
1911·0.0
Carmenita the Faithful
1911·0.0
The Two Reformations
1911·0.0
The Border Ranger
1911·0.0
The Count and the Cowboys
1911·0.0
A Gambler of the West
1910·0.0
The Bad Man's Christmas Gift
1910·3.5
The Tenderfoot Messenger
1910·0.0
A Cowboy's Vindication
1910·0.0
Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present
1910·4.0
The Little Prospector
1910·0.0
The Marked Trail
1910·0.0
A Westerner's Way
1910·0.0
The Silent Message
1910·0.0
Pals of the Range
1910·0.0
A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
1910·0.0
The Bearded Bandit
1910·4.0
Patricia of the Plains
1910·0.0
The Tout's Remembrance
1910·0.0
The Pony Express Rider
1910·0.0
He Met the Champion
1910·0.0
An Indian Girl's Love
1910·0.0
The Millionaire and the Ranch Girl
1910·0.0
The Deputy's Love
1910·10.0
The Dumb Half Breed's Defense
1910·0.0
The Count That Counted
1910·8.0
The Girl on Triple X
1910·0.0
Under Western Skies
1910·0.0
Broncho Billy's Redemption
1910·3.0
The Desperado
1910·0.0
Trailed to the Hills
1910·10.0
The Unknown Claim
1910·0.0
The Bad Man's Last Deed
1910·4.5
The Forest Ranger
1910·0.0
The Bandit's Wife
1910·3.0
The Ranchman's Feud
1910·0.0
Away Out West
1910·3.5
The Brother, Sister and the Cowpuncher
1910·9.0
The Little Doctor of the Foothills
1910·9.0
The Cowpuncher's Ward
1910·0.0
The Sheriff's Sacrifice
1910·0.0
A Vein of Gold
1910·0.0
The Cowboy's Sweetheart
1910·0.0
The Mistaken Bandit
1910·0.0
The Bad Man and the Preacher
1910·7.0
The Ranger's Bride
1910·0.0
The Flower of the Ranch
1910·0.0
A Ranchman's Wooing
1910·7.0
The Girl and the Fugitive
1910·0.0
Method in His Madness
1910·9.0
The Fence on 'Bar Z' Ranch
1910·0.0
The Ranch Girl's Legacy
1910·0.0
The Mexican's Faith
1910·0.0
The Cowboy and the Squaw
1910·0.0
Western Chivalry
1910·0.0
The Outlaw's Sacrifice
1910·0.0
Won by a Hold-Up
1910·7.0
Electric Insoles
1910·7.0
Trail to the West
1910·0.0
A Western Maid
1910·0.0
The Heart of a Cowboy
1909·3.5
The Spanish Girl
1909·4.0
The Ranchman's Rival
1909·4.0
His Reformation
1909·1.0
Judgment
1909·3.0
The Best Man Wins
1909·3.5
A Maid of the Mountains
1909·1.0
The Black Sheep
1909·1.5
The Indian Trailer
1909·2.0
A Mexican's Gratitude
1909·1.5
A Tale of the West
1909·3.0
The Road Agents
1909·3.5
Shanghaied
1909·0.0
Tag Day
1909·10.0
The Bandit Makes Good
1908·3.5
The Baseball Fan
1908·8.0
The Bandit King
1907·7.0
The Life of an American Cowboy
1906·3.0
The Train Wreckers
1905·5.7
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
1905·3.0
Western Stage Coach Hold Up
1904·0.0
The Great Train Robbery
1903·7.0
What Happened in the Tunnel
1903·5.5
The Messenger Boy's Mistake
1903·4.2