Robert James Anderson (March 6, 1933 – June 6, 2008) was an American child actor and television producer, whose roles included young George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life.
Bobby Anderson | |
|---|---|
 Bobby Anderson (left) with young Mary and Violet in It's a Wonderful life (1946) | |
| Born | Robert James Anderson March 6, 1933 Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Died | June 6, 2008 (aged 75) Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Child Actor/Television producer |
| Years active | 1940–1996 |
| Spouse | Victoria Anderson |
| Children | 6 |
Life and career
editBobby Anderson was born in Hollywood, to a show business family. He was the son of Eugene Randolph Anderson, an assistant director and production manager, and Marie Augusta Fleischer, and his brothers and cousins were editors and production managers in their own right.[1] He was also the nephew, by marriage, of directors William Beaudine and James Flood, both of whom were married to Anderson's mother's sisters.
Anderson's film career as an actor was brief. One of his earliest roles was in The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as a hungry boy. Anderson is perhaps best-known for his featured role as young George Bailey in the early scenes of the film classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946). He also had a credited role in another holiday movie, The Bishop's Wife (1947), starring Loretta Young, Cary Grant and David Niven. His film career slowed when he entered adulthood. He appeared in a number of TV shows including Spin and Marty and he made his last film in 1956.[2]
Anderson enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War, serving as a photographer on aircraft carriers. After his time in the Navy, he went on to work behind the scenes in assistant directing, then later production with Disney, Warner Bros, Universal, HBO, United Artists, Columbia, and 20th Century Fox on such films and TV shows as The Apartment, Hawaii, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Code Red, Police Story, and Ripley's Believe It or Not!.
He also worked as a line producer and production consultant for films such as Passenger 57, Demolition Man and Heat.[citation needed]
Death
editHe died of cancer at age 75 at his home in Palm Springs, California.[3] He was survived by his wife, 3 sons, 3 daughters and 11 grandchildren.
Partial filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | The Grapes of Wrath | Hungry Boy | Film debut |
| 1940 | Maryland | Lee Danfield - Age 7 | |
| 1940 | Young People | Jerry Dakin | |
| 1940 | Youth Will Be Served | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1941 | The Officer and the Lady | Jimmy | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Mystery of the 13th Guest | Harold as a Child | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Tender Comrade | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1945 | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Augie | Uncredited |
| 1945 | The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry | Child | Uncredited |
| 1945 | Colorado Pioneers | Parish Boy | Uncredited |
| 1946 | Gentleman Joe Palooka | Young Boy | Uncredited |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Little George | |
| 1947 | The Fabulous Texan | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1947 | The Bishop's Wife | Defense Captain | |
| 1948 | Ruthless | Horace Vendig as Child | |
| 1948 | Silver River | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1949 | Kidnapped | Ransome - Cabin Boy | |
| 1949 | Samson and Delilah | Boy | Uncredited |
| 1951 | A Place in the Sun | Eagle Scout | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Born to the Saddle | Ricky Summers | |
| 1959 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Zach Bradley | Episode "Lola Montez" |
References
edit- ^ Wade, Mrs. Jeff (1973). Wade ancestors and related families. p. 97.
- ^ Schaden, Chuck (Spring 2009). "Necrology for 2008". Nostalgia Digest. 35 (2): 55–59.
- ^ "Bob Anderson, 75, Child Actor, Is Dead". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 10, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2012.