Anderson was born in
Smithfield, Utah. 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. He studied pre-law at
El Camino College Compton Center and the
University of Southern California. 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 credit. In 1959, Anderson's wife Virginia was instrumental in bringing
Hayley Mills to his attention. 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. In 1960, he became a member of Disney's Board of Directors, a position he would hold until 1984. ==References==