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

(1933-03-06)March 6, 1933
DiedJune 6, 2008(2008-06-06) (aged 75)
OccupationChild Actor/Television producer
Years active1940–1996
SpouseVictoria Anderson
Children6

Life and career

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Bobby 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

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He 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

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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

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  1. ^ Wade, Mrs. Jeff (1973). Wade ancestors and related families. p. 97.
  2. ^ Schaden, Chuck (Spring 2009). "Necrology for 2008". Nostalgia Digest. 35 (2): 55–59.
  3. ^ "Bob Anderson, 75, Child Actor, Is Dead". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 10, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
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