Trivia

Anderson had lost his own wife shortly before appearing in "Star Trek: The Next Generation The Survivors (1989)", and said that the subject matter made the role of Kevin Uxbridge one of the most difficult of his career. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion).

The first of his appearances on Gunsmoke (1955), in the episode "Buffalo Man", climaxed with a brutal fistfight between his character, Ben Siple, and James Arness' Marshal Matt Dillon. This action scene, from its build-up to its dénouement, would become the common sequence upon which generations of budding editors would cut their teeth in film school. This sequence also features Jack Klugman, who would later co-star with Anderson in the classic "A Passage for Trumpet" episode of The Twilight Zone (1959). Shortly before his death, Anderson remarked that it was Klugman who informed him, many years after the filming of their Gunsmoke (1955) episode, that they had become legendary among film editors for their ubiquitous presence in student editing bays.

Served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.

After his death in 1992, he was cremated and his ashes taken out to sea as part of his membership with the Neptune Society.

Received a master's degree in drama from the University of Iowa.

Twice played Judge Kenesaw M. Landis, the Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 to 1944 brought in by the team owners to restore public confidence after the 1919 Black Sox scandal in "Babe Ruth (1991) (TV movie)'" and "Eight Men Out (1988).".

Bore a strong resemblance to President Abraham Lincoln and portrayed him three times. He also played Presidents Andrew Jackson(twice) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (once).

Started his acting career on the Mississippi River showboat Goldenrod.

Spent a year at the Cleveland Playhouse before going to New York and Broadway.

He guest starred in episodes of 3 different TV westerns as the former commander of a Civil War prison camp who was now trying to hide under an assumed name to escape his past. In The Fence (1969) and The Guilt of Matt Bentell (1965) he was unaware of some of the deplorable conditions in his camp and was remorseful for what happened. However, on Retaliation (1961) he was fully aware of the conditions and tried to eliminate anyone who discovered his true identity.

Shares last name with Richard Dean Anderson, and played the grandfather of MacGyver (1985). Despite this, there is no relation.

John Anderson appeared in "The Rifleman The Retired Gun (1959)" as a gunfighter named Owny.

Originally intended to be Lucas McCain in the TV show "The Rifleman".