Background
Anderson was born in Smithfield, Utah.
Anderson was born in Smithfield, Utah.
He studied pre-law at El Camino College Compton Center and the University of Southern California.
He also served on the company's Board of Directors from 1964 to 1984. From a young age, he had the desire to be an actor. To pursue his dream, he moved to California where he found himself playing small radio parts.
He eventually abandoned acting in favor of the automobile industry. In 1943, the Walt Disney Company hired Anderson to work in their production control department. By 1951, Anderson had risen in the ranks to become production manager for Walt Disney.
In 1956, he was named vice president in charge of studio operations. His first film as a producer was Old Yeller. He was given an associate producer cr.
He then suggested to Walt Disney that the English actress would be a good fit for the lead role in Pollyanna. He later produced Disney's 1960 adaptation of The Swiss Family Robinson. He worked extensively on the ABC television series Zorro, starring Guy Williams.
He went on to produce many more successful Disney films like The Moon-Spinners, The Happiest Millionaire and The Apple Dumpling Gang. Anderson died from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1997 after suffering a fall. He was inducted as a Disney Legend in 2004.
In 1964, he became a member of Disney's Board of Directors, a position he would hold until 1984.