Robert J. Anderson

Biography

Robert J. Anderson was an American actor who worked as a child performer and later became a television producer. He was born in Hollywood in 1933 to a show business family, and one of his earliest screen parts came in The Grapes of Wrath (1940), playing a hungry boy. His best-known role was the young George Bailey in the opening scenes of It's a Wonderful Life (1946), and he had a credited part in the holiday film The Bishop's Wife (1947). Acting work grew scarce as he reached adulthood; he turned up in television shows such as Spin and Marty and made his final film in 1956. After serving in the Navy as a photographer, he moved behind the camera, first as an assistant director and then in production on features and television. He also took line producer and production consultant jobs on later films, among them Passenger 57 and Heat.

75years old at death

Born March 6, 1933Hollywood
Died June 6, 2008Palm Springs
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Also credited as Robert James Anderson

Movie Career

Films: 3
Career span: 4 years1947 to 1951

Every film, newest first

1951A Place in the SunIMDb rating 7.7
1948RuthlessIMDb rating 6.8
1947The Bishop's WifeIMDb rating 7.6

Genres

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A change of course
Anderson served in the Navy during the Korean War as a photographer on aircraft carriers, then moved into behind-the-scenes work as an assistant director and later production for studios including Disney, Warner Bros, Universal, HBO, United Artists, Columbia, and 20th Century Fox.
Behind the camera
Robert J. Anderson also served as a production consultant and line producer on several films, including Passenger 57, Demolition Man and Heat.
First role
Anderson's time as a film actor was short. In The Grapes of Wrath (1940), one of his first parts, he played a boy who was hungry.