John Anderson

Biography

John Anderson was an American character actor who was best known for his many television roles. Born in 1922, he was raised in Clayton, Illinois, and studied theater in Minnesota and Ohio, served in the Coast Guard during World War II, and earned a master's degree in drama at the University of Iowa. After moving to Los Angeles, he took jobs as a street mime, jester, and juggler. On Broadway, he appeared in Paint Your Wagon in 1951 and in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Morosco Theatre from 1955 to 1956. He bore a strong resemblance to Abraham Lincoln and portrayed him three times. He played California Charlie in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960). His television work included four appearances on The Rat Patrol, a two-part Gunsmoke episode in 1966, and a recurring role as Harry Jackson on MacGyver. He died in 1992.

69years old at death

Born October 20, 1922Clayton
Died August 7, 1992Sherman Oaks
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Also credited as John Robert Anderson

Movie Career

Films: 24
Career span: 35 years1951 to 1986

Genres

Drama54%, 13 films
Western46%, 11 films
Comedy21%, 5 films
Action17%, 4 films
Crime17%, 4 films

First and latest

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Early training
Anderson studied theater in Minnesota and Ohio, then acted in New York City. He also earned a drama master's degree from the University of Iowa.
A first
Standing 6 ft, Anderson looked a great deal like Abraham Lincoln, and he played the part of Lincoln three times.

John Anderson movies on Netflix

Never Too Young to Die1986IMDb rating 4.9as Arliss
Out of the Blue1981IMDb rating 7.2as T.V. Interviewer
Zoot Suit1981IMDb rating 6.7as Judge F.W. Charles
Smokey and the Bandit II1980IMDb rating 5.3as Governor
Executive Action1973IMDb rating 6.7as Halliday
Molly and Lawless John1972IMDb rating 5.4as Sheriff Marvin Parker
Cotton Comes to Harlem1970IMDb rating 6.5as Capt. Bryce
Soldier Blue1970IMDb rating 6.9as Col. Iverson
The Animals1970IMDb rating 4.4as Sheriff Allan Pierce
Heaven with a Gun1969IMDb rating 6.3as Ase Beck
Young Billy Young1969IMDb rating 5.7as Boone
5 Card Stud1968IMDb rating 6.5as Marshal Dana
Day of the Evil Gun1968IMDb rating 6.4as Capt. Jefferson Addis
A Covenant with Death1967IMDb rating 6.0as Dietrich
Scalplock1966IMDb rating 6.1as Burton Standish
The Hallelujah Trail1965IMDb rating 6.4as Sgt. Buell
The Satan Bug1965IMDb rating 6.1as Agent Reagan
Geronimo1962IMDb rating 5.8as Jeremiah Burns
Ride the High Country1962IMDb rating 7.4as Elder Hammond
Walk on the Wild Side1962IMDb rating 6.7as Preacher
Psycho1960IMDb rating 8.5as California Charlie
The Wackiest Ship in the Army1960IMDb rating 6.3as Sailor
Last Train from Gun Hill1959IMDb rating 7.3as Salesman in Horseshoe
The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel1951IMDb rating 6.9

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Psycho1960 Horror, Mystery, Thrilleras California Charlie
IMDb rating 8.5794K votes
Soldier Blue1970 Westernas Col. Iverson
IMDb rating 6.97.4K votes
Smokey and the Bandit II1980as Governor
IMDb rating 5.319K votes
Ride the High Country1962as Elder Hammond
IMDb rating 7.417K votes
Executive Action1973as Halliday
IMDb rating 6.73.8K votes
5 Card Stud1968as Marshal Dana
IMDb rating 6.55.1K votes
The Hallelujah Trail1965as Sgt. Buell
IMDb rating 6.45.0K votes
Zoot Suit1981as Judge F.W. Charles
IMDb rating 6.71.5K votes

Most often with

John Sturges directed three of these films, Henry Hathaway two. Whit Bissell appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Whit Bissell

Donald Pleasence

Robert Mitchum

Burt Lancaster

David Carradine

Paul Fix

John SturgesDirector, 3 films Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films

Films together

Whit Bissell3 films together, 1965 to 1968
Whit Bissell's page
- 5 Card Stud1968IMDb rating 6.5Anderson as Marshal DanaBissell as Dr. Cooper
- A Covenant with Death1967IMDb rating 6.0Anderson as DietrichBissell as Bruce Donnelly
- The Hallelujah Trail1965IMDb rating 6.4Anderson as Sgt. BuellBissell as Hobbs
Donald Pleasence2 films together, 1965 to 1970
Donald Pleasence's page
- Soldier Blue1970IMDb rating 6.9Anderson as Col. IversonPleasence as Isaac Q. Cumber
- The Hallelujah Trail1965IMDb rating 6.4Anderson as Sgt. BuellPleasence as 'Oracle' Jones
Robert Mitchum2 films together, 1968 to 1969
Robert Mitchum's page
- Young Billy Young1969IMDb rating 5.7Anderson as BooneMitchum as Deputy Ben Kane
- 5 Card Stud1968IMDb rating 6.5Anderson as Marshal DanaMitchum as The Rev. Jonathan Rudd
Burt Lancaster2 films together, 1965 to 1973
Burt Lancaster's page
- Executive Action1973IMDb rating 6.7Anderson as HallidayLancaster as James Farrington
- The Hallelujah Trail1965IMDb rating 6.4Anderson as Sgt. BuellLancaster as Col. Thaddeus P. Gearhart
David Carradine2 films together, 1969
David Carradine's page
- Heaven with a Gun1969IMDb rating 6.3Anderson as Ase BeckCarradine as Coke Beck
- Young Billy Young1969IMDb rating 5.7Anderson as BooneCarradine as Jesse Boone
Paul Fix2 films together, 1968 to 1969
Paul Fix's page
- Young Billy Young1969IMDb rating 5.7Anderson as BooneFix as Charlie
- Day of the Evil Gun1968IMDb rating 6.4Anderson as Capt. Jefferson AddisFix as Sheriff Kelso
John SturgesDirector, 3 films, 1959 to 1965
All films by John Sturges
- The Hallelujah Trail1965IMDb rating 6.4Anderson as Sgt. Buell
- The Satan Bug1965IMDb rating 6.1Anderson as Agent Reagan
- Last Train from Gun Hill1959IMDb rating 7.3Anderson as Salesman in Horseshoe
Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films, 1951 to 1968
All films by Henry Hathaway
- 5 Card Stud1968IMDb rating 6.5Anderson as Marshal Dana
- The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel1951IMDb rating 6.9
Also two films together21 more actors
- Glenn FordHeaven with a Gun (1969) and Day of the Evil Gun (1968)
- Denver Pyle5 Card Stud (1968) and Geronimo (1962)
- Val AveryThe Hallelujah Trail (1965) and Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)
- William 'Billy' BenedictThe Hallelujah Trail (1965) and Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)
- Parley BaerYoung Billy Young (1969) and Day of the Evil Gun (1968)
- Earl HollimanA Covenant with Death (1967) and Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)
- Vera MilesMolly and Lawless John (1972) and Psycho (1960)
- Lee RemickThe Hallelujah Trail (1965) and The Satan Bug (1965)
- William BryantThe Animals (1970) and Heaven with a Gun (1969)
- Carolyn JonesHeaven with a Gun (1969) and Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)
- James GriffithHeaven with a Gun (1969) and Day of the Evil Gun (1968)
- Simon OaklandThe Satan Bug (1965) and Psycho (1960)
- Richard BullExecutive Action (1973) and The Satan Bug (1965)
- Mort MillsSoldier Blue (1970) and Psycho (1960)
- Barbara BabcockHeaven with a Gun (1969) and Day of the Evil Gun (1968)
- J.D. CannonCotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and Heaven with a Gun (1969)
- Nesdon BoothWalk on the Wild Side (1962) and The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960)
- Jerry Gatlin5 Card Stud (1968) and The Hallelujah Trail (1965)
- George MaharisA Covenant with Death (1967) and The Satan Bug (1965)
- Brian G. HuttonGeronimo (1962) and Last Train from Gun Hill (1959)
- Todd ArmstrongScalplock (1966) and Walk on the Wild Side (1962)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What John Anderson's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$126 million

5 of the 24 films have a worldwide figure.

5Worldwide figure
2US gross only
1Never in cinemas
16Figure not found

Top grosser

Smokey and the Bandit II1980Governor$66.1 million

Highest grossing

The five biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Smokey and the Bandit II1980as Governor
$66M52.5% of the total
2
Psycho1960as California Charlie
$50M39.7% of the total
3
The Hallelujah Trail1965as Sgt. Buell
$4.0M3.2% of the total
4
Zoot Suit1981as Judge F.W. Charles
$3.3M2.6% of the total
5
Last Train from Gun Hill1959as Salesman in Horseshoe
$2.5M2.0% of the total