John Anderson
ActingAbout John Anderson
John Robert Anderson (October 20, 1922 – August 7, 1992) A tall, sinewy, austere-looking character actor with silver hair, rugged features and a distinctive voice, John Robert Anderson appeared in hundreds of films and television episodes. Immensely versatile, he was at his best submerging himself in the role of historical figures (he impersonated Abraham Lincoln three times and twice baseball commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, men whom he strongly resembled). He was a familiar presence in westerns and science-fiction serials, usually as upstanding, dignified and generally benign citizens (a rare exception was his Ebonite interrogator in The Outer Limits (1963) episode "Nightmare"). He had a high opinion of Rod Serling and was proud to be featured in four episodes of The Twilight Zone (1959), most memorably as the tuxedo-clad angel Gabriel in "A Passage for Trumpet" (doing for Jack Klugman what Henry Travers did for James Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of John Anderson reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of John Anderson's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 36% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), John Anderson remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Quest, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best John Anderson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from John Anderson's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of John Anderson.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone | Virgil Earp (flashback sequence) (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Bed of Lies | Price Daniel, Sr. | Flop | Similar → |
| 1991 | Babe Ruth | Judge Landis | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | In Broad Daylight | Wes Westerman | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Deadly Innocents | Gus | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Eight Men Out | Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Never Too Young to Die | Arliss | Flop | Similar → |
| 1986 | I-Man | Holbrook | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Missing Children: A Mother's Story | Stanley Willard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Zoot Suit | Judge F.W. Charles | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Out of the Blue | T.V. Interviewer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Smokey and the Bandit II | Governor | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | The Deerslayer | Hutter | Flop | Similar → |
| 1977 | Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion | Alexander Majors | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | The Lincoln Conspiracy | Abraham Lincoln | Average | Similar → |
| 1977 | The Force of Evil | Sheriff John Carrington | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Quest | Army Officer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Dead Man on the Run | Jason Monroe | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Dove | Mike Turk | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | Manhunter | Aaron Denver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Smile Jenny, You're Dead | Col. John Lockport | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | Heatwave! | Toler | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | Executive Action | Halliday | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | Counselor at Crime | Don Vito Albanese | Flop | Similar → |
| 1973 | Hitched | Jomer Cruett | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Man and Boy | Stretch | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Soldier Blue | Col. Iverson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem | Capt. Bryce | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Andersonville Trial | Ambrose Spencer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Young Billy Young | Boone | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Great Bank Robbery | Mayor Kincaid | Average | Similar → |
| 1969 | Heaven with a Gun | Ase Beck | Flop | Similar → |
| 1968 | 5 Card Stud | Marshal Dana | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | Day of the Evil Gun | Captain Jefferson Addis | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | Welcome to Hard Times | Ezra Maple / Isaac Maple | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | A Covenant with Death | Dietrich | Flop | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Fortune Cookie | Abraham Lincoln (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1966 | Namu, the Killer Whale | Joe Clausen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1966 | Scalplock | Standish | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Hallelujah Trail | Sgt. Buell | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Satan Bug | Agent Reagan | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | For the Love of Willadean | Farmer Wills | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | Ride the High Country | Elder Hammond | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Geronimo | Jeremiah Burns | Flop | Similar → |
| 1962 | Walk on the Wild Side | Preacher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | The Wackiest Ship in the Army | Sailor (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | Psycho | California Charlie | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Last Train from Gun Hill | Salesman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The True Story of Lynn Stuart | Doc | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel | - | Hit | Similar → |
John Anderson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of John Anderson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring John Anderson is "The Quest" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has John Anderson acted in?
John Anderson has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by John Anderson?
Other notable films include "Psycho", "Deadly Innocents", and "The Fortune Cookie".