George Anderson (March 6, 1886 – August 26, 1948) was an American stage and film actor who appeared in 74 films and 25 Broadway productions in his 34-year career.

Career

Born in New York City in 1886, Anderson made his

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

debut on August 5, 1907, as the star of an original

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwo ...

called ''The Time, the Place and the Girl.'' For the next ten years he continued to perform on the Great White Way in both musicals and plays – including

Victor Herbert Victor August Herbert (February 1, 1859 – May 26, 1924) was an American composer, cellist and conductor of English and Irish ancestry and German training. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is bes ...

's '' The Duchess'' – until the end of November 1917. During about this same period, he also appeared in six movies, from 1915 to 1918, at a time when the nascent film industry was largely located in the New York City area. From 1922 to 1924 and from 1927 to 1936, Anderson again appeared on Broadway in musicals, comedies and melodramas, including '' The Strawberry Blonde'', which he also directed, frequently with about a year between each production, time during which it would be the normal procedure of the period for the production to tour the country. Anderson appeared in two short films released in 1935 and 1936, when the film industry had largely relocated to

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

and become known as "

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

". After 1937, until 1948, Anderson worked consistently in films, playing small parts such as policemen, prison wardens, government officials, doctors and businessmen, as well as the occasional worker or bartender. During this time Anderson became part of writer-director

Preston Sturges Preston Sturges (; born Edmund Preston Biden; August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and film director. In 1941, he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the film '' The Great McGinty'' (1940), h ...

' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in six films written and directed by Sturges, as well as one Sturges wrote but did not direct. In 1944, he returned to Broadway for the last time, performing in

Mae West Mae West (born Mary Jane West; August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, singer, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned over seven decades. She was known for her breezy ...

's ''

Catherine Was Great ''Catherine Was Great'' is a 1944 play written by and starring Mae West. The play was a dramatisation of the life of the Russian monarch Catherine the Great. The play ran for 191 performances and then went on tour. It was produced by theater and f ...

''. Anderson's final film was

Cy Endfield Cyril Raker Endfield (November 10, 1914 – April 16, 1995) was an American screenwriter, director, author, magician and inventor. Having been named as a Communist at a House Un-American Activities Committee hearing and subsequently blacklisted, ...

's ''

The Argyle Secrets ''The Argyle Secrets'' is a 1948 American film noir mystery thriller written and directed by Cy Endfield and starring William Gargan and Marjorie Lord. It was based on a half-hour radio play by Endfield, originally heard on CBS's ''Suspense''. Th ...

'', released in 1948. He died in

London, England London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major se ...

on August 26, 1948, at the age of 62.

Partial filmography

*'' Little Pal'' (1915) - John Grandon *''The Question'' (1916) - Ralph Tudor *''The Shadow of a Doubt'' (1916) - John Randolph *'' The Almighty Dollar'' (1916) - Dr. Thornton *''

The Co-Respondent ''The Co-Respondent'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Elaine Hammerstein, Wilfred Lucas and George Anderson.Connelly p.334 It was based on a Broadway play, and was adapted again by Universal Pictures as ...

'' (1917) - Howard Van Keel *''Her Man'' (1918) - Roger Malcom *'' Night of Mystery'' (1937) - Det. Snitkin (uncredited) *''

Hotel Haywire ''Hotel Haywire'' is a 1937 American comedy film written by Preston Sturges with uncredited rewrites by Lillie Hayward. It was directed by George Archainbaud and stars Leo Carrillo, Lynne Overman, Spring Byington, Benny Baker and Colette Lyons ...

'' (1937) - Bartender (uncredited) *'' Under Suspicion'' (1937) - Bill *'' Born to Be Wild'' (1938) - Mayor *''

The Saint in New York ''The Saint in New York'' is a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris, first published in the United Kingdom by Hodder and Stoughton in 1935. It was published in the United States by Doubleday in January 1935. A shorter version of the novel had p ...

'' (1938) - Bonacci (uncredited) *'' King of Alcatraz'' (1938) - Officer #3 (uncredited) *''

Crime Takes a Holiday ''Crime Takes a Holiday'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Lewis D. Collins and written by Jefferson Parker, Henry Altimus and Charles Logue. The film stars Jack Holt, Marcia Ralston, Russell Hopton, Douglass Dumbrille, Arthur Hohl, ...

'' (1938) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''

King of Chinatown ''King of Chinatown'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Nick Grinde and written by Lillie Hayward and Irving Reis. The film stars Anna May Wong, Akim Tamiroff, J. Carrol Naish, Sidney Toler, Philip Ahn, Anthony Quinn and Bernadene Hayes ...

'' (1939) - Detective *''

The Lady's from Kentucky ''The Lady's from Kentucky'' is a 1939 film directed by Alexander Hall and starring George Raft and Ellen Drew. It was written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan from a story by Rowland Brown. The screenplay involves a failing bookie (Raft) who becomes hal ...

'' (1939) - Joe Lane *''

Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pac ...

'' (1939) - Railwayman (uncredited) *''

Undercover Doctor ''Undercover Doctor'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Louis King, written by William R. Lipman and Horace McCoy. The film stars Lloyd Nolan, Janice Logan, J. Carrol Naish, Heather Angel, Broderick Crawford and Robert Wilcox. It was r ...

'' (1939) - Dr. Parsons (uncredited) *'' They All Come Out'' (1939) - Associate Warden (uncredited) *'' Million Dollar Legs'' (1939) - State College President Greene (uncredited) *''

Behind Prison Gates ''Behind Prison Gates'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Charles Barton and written by Arthur T. Horman and Leslie T. White. The film stars Brian Donlevy, Julie Bishop, Joseph Crehan, Paul Fix, George Lloyd and Dick Curtis. The film ...

'' (1939) - State Atty. Gen. Matthews (uncredited) *''

The Man They Could Not Hang ''The Man They Could Not Hang'' is a 1939 American horror film directed by Nick Grinde from a screenplay by Karl Brown. It stars Boris Karloff as Dr. Henryk Savaard,Stephen Jacobs, ''Boris Karloff: More Than a Monster'', Tomahawk Press 2011 pp. ...

'' (1939) - Prison Warden (uncredited) *'' A Woman Is the Judge'' (1939) - Detective (uncredited) *''

Our Neighbors – The Carters ''Our Neighbors – The Carters'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by S.K. Lauren. The film stars Fay Bainter, Frank Craven, Edmund Lowe, Genevieve Tobin, Mary Thomas and Mildred Coles. The film was released ...

'' (1939) - Drug Representative (uncredited) *'' Chip of the Flying U'' (1939) - Foreign Agent (uncredited) *''

The Earl of Chicago ''The Earl of Chicago'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Robert Montgomery, Edward Arnold, Reginald Owen and Edmund Gwenn. It is the first MGM film in the 1940s. Plot To remedy the ill doings of his past, Rob ...

'' (1940) - Prison Guard (uncredited) *'' Santa Fe Marshal'' (1940) - Tex Barnes *'' Women Without Names'' (1940) - Juror (uncredited) *'' The Way of All Flesh'' (1940) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''

Hidden Gold ''Hidden Gold'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Gerald Geraghty and Jack Merserveau. The film stars William Boyd, Russell Hayden, Minor Watson, Ruth Rogers, Britt Wood, Ethel Wales and Lee Phelps. Th ...

'' (1940) - Ward Ackerman *''

The Great McGinty ''The Great McGinty'' is a 1940 political satire comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamiroff and featuring William Demarest and (in her final screen appearance) Muriel Angelus. It was Sturges's fir ...

'' (1940) - Charlie - Cashier (uncredited) *''

Golden Gloves The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States, where they are awarded a belt and a ring. And the title of nations champion is awarded. The Golden Gloves is a term used to refer to the Nationa ...

'' (1940) - Doctor (uncredited) *''

The Secret Seven The Secret Seven or Secret Seven Society is a fictional group of child detectives created by Enid Blyton and based on the publisher’s children. They appear in one of several adolescent detective series which Blyton wrote. The Secret Seven ...

'' (1940) - Bennett *'' Glamour for Sale'' (1940) - Chief of Police (uncredited) *'' The Quarterback'' (1940) - Doctor (uncredited) *'' Christmas in July'' (1940) - Mr. Jenkins (uncredited) *'' Hold Back the Dawn'' (1941) - Emmy's Doctor (uncredited) *''

Sullivan's Travels ''Sullivan's Travels'' is a 1941 American comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges. A satire on the film industry, it follows a famous Hollywood comedy director (Joel McCrea) who, longing to make a socially relevant drama, sets out to ...

'' (1941) - Sullivan's Ex-Manager (uncredited) *'' South of Santa Fe'' (1942) - Reed - Lawyer (uncredited) *'' Reap the Wild Wind'' (1942) - Jailer (uncredited) *''

This Gun for Hire ''This Gun for Hire'' is a 1942 American film noir crime film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Veronica Lake, Robert Preston (actor), Robert Preston, Laird Cregar, and Alan Ladd. It is based on the 1936 novel ''A Gun for Sale'' by Graham Gr ...

'' (1942) - Plainclothesman (uncredited) *'' The Palm Beach Story'' (1942) - The Gent (uncredited) *'' The Major and the Minor'' (1942) - Train Passenger with Esquire Magazine (uncredited) *''

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Monta ...

'' (1943) - Board Member (uncredited) *''

Dixie Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cove ...

'' (1943) - Publisher (uncredited) *'' The Underdog'' (1943) - Kraeger *'' The Chance of a Lifetime'' (1943) - Warden J.A. Edwards (uncredited) *''

Henry Aldrich Haunts a House ''Henry Aldrich Haunts a House'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Hugh Bennett and written by Muriel Roy Bolton and Val Burton. The film stars Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith, John Litel, Olive Blakeney, Joan Mortimer and Vaughan Glaser. Th ...

'' (1943) - Olin Bidecker (uncredited) *'' Destination Tokyo'' (1943) - Officer (uncredited) *'' Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid'' (1944) - Mr. Benton (uncredited) *'' Once Upon a Time'' (1944) - Businessman (uncredited) *'' The Great Moment'' (1944) - Frederick T. Johnson (uncredited) *''

Wilson Wilson may refer to: People *Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender * Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson R ...

'' (1944) - Secretary David F. Houston (uncredited) *'' Hail the Conquering Hero'' (1944) - Bartender (uncredited) *''

The Missing Juror ''The Missing Juror'' is a 1944 American film noir mystery film directed by Budd Boetticher (as Oscar Boetticher Jr.) and starring Jim Bannon, Janis Carter, George Macready and Jean Stevens.Missing Juror, The Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 12 ...

'' (1944) - Wharton Attorney (uncredited) *''

Murder, My Sweet ''Murder, My Sweet'' (released as ''Farewell, My Lovely'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1944 American film noir, directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Dick Powell, Claire Trevor and Anne Shirley (in her final film before retirement). The film ...

'' (1944) - Detective (uncredited) *'' Those Endearing Young Charms'' (1945) - Doorman (uncredited) *'' The Unseen'' (1945) - Plainclothesman (uncredited) *''

Nob Hill Nob Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco, California, United States that is known for its numerous luxury hotels and historic mansions. Nob Hill has historically served as a center of San Francisco's upper class. Nob Hill is among the hig ...

'' (1945) - Rafferty (uncredited) *'' Shady Lady'' (1945) - Conductor (uncredited) *'' Mildred Pierce'' (1945) - Peterson's Assistant (uncredited) *''

Road to Utopia ''Road to Utopia'' is a 1946 American semi-musical comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Filmed in 1943 but not released until 1946, ''Road to Utopia'' is the fourth film of the "'' Road to � ...

'' (1945) - Townsman (uncredited) *''

Masquerade in Mexico ''Masquerade in Mexico'' is a 1945 comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen. It stars Dorothy Lamour and Arturo de Córdova. Plot Ill on the flight to Mexico City, honest banker Tom Grant doesn't know that Angel O'Reilly, seated nearby, has slippe ...

'' (1945) - Customs Official (uncredited) *''

Because of Him ''Because of Him'' is a 1946 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Wallace and starring Deanna Durbin, Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone. Plot Kim Walker (Deanna Durbin) is an ambitious waitress who dreams of being on the stage. ...

'' (1946) - Detective (uncredited) *''

The Bride Wore Boots ''The Bride Wore Boots'' is a 1946 romantic comedy film with Barbara Stanwyck in the title role, playing opposite Robert Cummings. A very young Natalie Wood is seen in the film, directed by Irving Pichel. This was Stanwyck's last feature comedy ...

'' (1946) - Judge #1 (uncredited) *''

The Killers The Killers are an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After going through a number of short-term bass players and drummers in t ...

'' (1946) - Jail Ward Doctor (uncredited) *''

'' (1947) - Miner (uncredited) *'' My Brother Talks to Horses'' (1947) - Judge (uncredited) *''

Blaze of Noon ''Blaze of Noon'' is a 1947 aviation adventure film directed by John Farrow and based on writer and aviator Ernest K. Gann's best-selling novel ''Blaze of Noon'' (1946), a story about early air mail operations. The screenplay was from well-known ...

'' (1947) - Doctor (uncredited) *'' Desperate'' (1947) - Man on Train (uncredited) *'' The Perils of Pauline'' (1947) - Western Saloon Set Director (uncredited) *''

Song of the Thin Man ''Song of the Thin Man'' is a 1947 murder mystery-comedy directed by Edward Buzzell. The sixth and final film in MGM's '' Thin Man'' series, starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, characters created by Dashiell Hammett ...

'' (1947) - Dunne (uncredited) *''

Unconquered Unconquered or The Unconquered may refer to: Films * ''Unconquered'' (1917 film), a drama film by Frank Reicher * ''Unconquered'' (1947 film), an adventure film by Cecil B. DeMille * ''The Unconquered'' (documentary) or ''Helen Keller in Her Sto ...

'' (1947) - Villager (uncredited) *'' My Wild Irish Rose'' (1947) - Plainclothesman (uncredited) *''

King of the Gamblers ''King of the Gamblers'' is a 1948 American crime film directed by George Blair and starring Janet Martin, William Wright and Thurston Hall.Martin p.470 The film's sets were designed by the art director Frank Hotaling. Cast * Janet Martin a ...

'' (1948) - O'Brien *''

'' (1948) - Allen Pierce (final film role)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, George 1886 births 1948 deaths Male actors from New York City American male film actors American male stage actors 20th-century American male actors