Anna Mae Bilson
Actor
About Anna Mae Bilson
Anna Mae Bilson was a child actor who briefly appeared in the Our Gang comedy series during its early years in 1922. She was part of the original cast during the silent era when the series was produced by Hal Roach Studios. Like many child actors of the period, her career was extremely brief, spanning only a single year. Her appearance in Our Gang places her among the pioneering group of child actors who helped establish one of cinema's most beloved comedy franchises. The Our Gang series, later known as The Little Rascals, was revolutionary for its time, featuring a diverse group of children in naturalistic comedic situations. Unfortunately, like many early film performers, detailed records of her life and career are scarce, reflecting the limited documentation kept for minor child actors during the silent film era.
The Craft
On Screen
As a child actor in the Our Gang series, she would have employed naturalistic comedic timing typical of the Hal Roach style, which emphasized authentic child behavior rather than theatrical performance
Milestones
- Appeared in Our Gang series during its foundational year of 1922
- Participated in early silent comedy shorts at Hal Roach Studios
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Anna Mae Bilson's contribution to cinema, while brief, is part of the broader legacy of the Our Gang series, which revolutionized child performance in film and created enduring representations of childhood that influenced generations of filmmakers. The series she participated in would go on to become one of the most successful and longest-running comedy franchises in film history, eventually spanning over 200 shorts and feature films through 1944.
Lasting Legacy
Her legacy exists primarily as part of the foundational cast of Our Gang, helping establish the series that would launch the careers of numerous child actors and create timeless comedy that continues to be discovered by new generations. The Our Gang series pioneered naturalistic child acting and represented diverse urban childhood in ways unprecedented for its time.
Who They Inspired
As a very early participant in the Our Gang series, she contributed to establishing the template for child comedy that would influence countless future productions featuring child actors, from television sitcoms to modern family films.
Off Screen
Very little information is available about Anna Mae Bilson's personal life, which was common for minor child actors of the silent era who often returned to private life after brief film careers.
Did You Know?
- Our Gang was created by producer Hal Roach in 1922, the same year Anna Mae Bilson appeared
- The series was revolutionary for its time, featuring children from various ethnic backgrounds playing together naturally
- Early Our Gang shorts were silent films before transitioning to sound in the late 1920s
- Many child actors from the early Our Gang years only appeared briefly before returning to normal childhood
- The series was later renamed 'The Little Rascals' for television syndication
- Hal Roach Studios was known as 'The Lot of Fun' for its comedy production
- Child actors in the 1920s often worked without the legal protections that would later be established
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Anna Mae Bilson?
Anna Mae Bilson was a child actor who briefly appeared in the Our Gang comedy series in 1922 during the silent film era. She was part of the early cast at Hal Roach Studios but had a very brief career spanning only that single year.
What films is Anna Mae Bilson best known for?
She is known exclusively for her appearances in the Our Gang series in 1922, which were silent comedy shorts produced by Hal Roach Studios featuring a group of child actors in comedic situations.
When was Anna Mae Bilson born and when did she die?
Specific birth and death dates for Anna Mae Bilson are not documented in available historical records, which was common for minor child actors from the silent film era who had brief careers.
What awards did Anna Mae Bilson win?
Anna Mae Bilson did not receive any formal awards or recognition, which was typical for child actors with very brief appearances in early comedy shorts during the 1920s.
What was Anna Mae Bilson's acting style?
As part of the Our Gang series, she would have employed the naturalistic comedic style pioneered by Hal Roach Studios, which emphasized authentic child behavior rather than theatrical performance, a revolutionary approach for the time.
Films
1 film
