John Robert Anderson, a towering figure with a silver mane and rugged features, carved out a decades-long career through his versatility and uncanny ability to embody historical figures, notably Abraham Lincoln and Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis. His commanding presence in westerns and science-fiction series was marked by dignity and a sense of moral rectitude, though he occasionally took on darker roles, such as his chilling turn as an interrogator in "Nightmare" from The Outer Limits. Anderson held a particular reverence for Rod Serling, appearing in four episodes of The Twilight Zone, including the memorable role of Gabriel in "A Passage for Trumpet," where he mirrored Henry Travers's iconic performance in It's a Wonderful Life.
59 credits across 3 departments.
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Born In Chicago | Director | Film |
| 2012 | The Beach Boys: Doin' It Again | Director | Film |
| 2008 | Life After People | Self | Film |
| 2005 | The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico | Blues Musician | Film |
| 2005 | Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE | Director | Film |
| 2003 | The Cheetah Girls | Reporter | Film |
| 2003 | Brian Wilson Presents: Pet Sounds – Live in London | Director | Film |
| 2003 | Brian Wilson: On Tour | Director | Film |
| 2000 | Jailbait! | Reporter #3 | Film |
| 1992 | Bed of Lies | Price Daniel, Sr. | Film |
| 1991 | In Broad Daylight | Wes Westerman | Film |
| 1991 | Daddy | George Watson | Film |
| 1989 | Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal | George Dutton | Film |
| 1988 | Eight Men Out | Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis | Film |
| 1986 | I-Man | Holbrook | Film |
| 1986 | Never Too Young to Die | Arliss | Film |
| 1986 | Scorpion | Noel G. Koch | Film |
| 1983 | Lone Wolf McQuade | Burnside | Film |
| 1981 | Out of the Blue | T.V. Interviewer | Film |
| 1981 | Zoot Suit | Judge F.W. Charles | Film |
| 1980 | Smokey and the Bandit II | Governor | Film |
| 1980 | Powder Heads | Director | Film |
| 1979 | Backstairs at the White House | Pres. Franklin Delano Roosevelt | TV |
| 1979 | In Search of Historic Jesus | Caiaphas | Film |
| 1978 | Donner Pass: The Road to Survival | Patrick Breen | Film |
| 1977 | The Lincoln Conspiracy | Abraham Lincoln | Film |
| 1975 | The Specialist | Pike Smith | Film |
| 1974 | Smile Jenny, You're Dead | Col. John Lockport | Film |
| 1974 | Manhunter | Aaron Denver | Film |
| 1974 | Heatwave! | Toler | Film |
| 1974 | The Dove | Mike Turk | Film |
| 1973 | Executive Action | Halliday | Film |
| 1973 | Counselor at Crime | Don Vito Albanese | Film |
| 1972 | The Stepmother | Inspector Darnezi | Film |
| 1971 | Man and Boy | Stretch | Film |
| 1970 | Cotton Comes to Harlem | Capt. Bryce | Film |
| 1970 | The Andersonville Trial | Ambrose Spencer | Film |
| 1970 | The Animals | Sheriff Allan Pierce | Film |
| 1970 | Soldier Blue | Col. Iverson | Film |
| 1969 | Heaven with a Gun | Ase Beck | Film |
| 1969 | Young Billy Young | Boone | Film |
| 1969 | The Great Bank Robbery | Mayor Kincaid | Film |
| 1968 | Day of the Evil Gun | Captain Jefferson Addis | Film |
| 1968 | 5 Card Stud | Marshal Dana | Film |
| 1968 | A Man Called Gannon | Capper | Film |
| 1967 | Welcome to Hard Times | Ezra Maple / Isaac Maple | Film |
| 1966 | Namu, the Killer Whale | Joe Clausen | Film |
| 1965 | The Satan Bug | Agent Reagan | Film |
| 1965 | The Hallelujah Trail | Sgt. Buell | Film |
| 1964 | For the Love of Willadean | Farmer Wills | Film |
| 1962 | Ride the High Country | Elder Hammond | Film |
| 1962 | Geronimo | Jeremiah Burns | Film |
| 1962 | Walk on the Wild Side | Preacher | Film |
| 1960 | The Wackiest Ship in the Army | Sailor (uncredited) | Film |
| 1960 | Psycho | California Charlie | Film |
| 1959 | Last Train from Gun Hill | Salesman | Film |
| 1951 | The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel | Film | |
| 1934 | Treasure Island | Pirate of the Spanish Main | Film |
| The American Adventure | Mark Twain / Franklin D. Roosevelt (voice) | Film |
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