Will Geer
Born
March 9, 1902
Died
April 22, 1978 (76 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Frankfort, Indiana, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Will Geer (March 9, 1902 – April 22, 1978) was an American actor and social activist. His original name was William Aughe Ghere. He is remembered for his portrayal of Grandpa Zebulon Tyler Walton in the 1970s TV series, The Waltons.
Geer made his Broadway debut as Pistol in a 1928 production of Much Ado About Nothing, created the role of Mr. Mister in Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, played Candy in John Steinbeck's theatrical adaptation of his novella Of Mice and Men, and appeared in numerous plays and revues throughout the 1940s. From 1948 to 1951, he appeared in more than a dozen movies, including Winchester '73 (as Wyatt Earp), Broken Arrow, Comanche Territory (all 1950) and Bright Victory (1951).
Geer became a member of the Communist Party of the United States in 1934. Geer was also influential in introducing Harry Hay to organizing in the Communist Party. In 1934, Geer and Hay gave support to a labor strike of the port of San Francisco; the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which lasted 83 days. Though marred by violence, it was an organizing triumph, one that became a model for future union strikes Geer became a reader of the West Coast Communist newspaper People's World.
Geer became a dedicated activist, touring government work camps in the 1930s with folk singers like Burl Ives and Woody Guthrie (whom he introduced to the People's World and the Daily Worker; Guthrie would go on to write a column for the latter paper). In 1956, the duo released an album together on Folkways Records, titled Bound for Glory: Songs and Stories of Woody Guthrie. In his biography, fellow organizer and homosexual rights pioneer Harry Hay described Geer's activism and outlined their activities while organizing for the strike. Geer is credited with introducing Guthrie to Pete Seeger at the 'Grapes of Wrath' benefit Geer organized in 1940 for migrant farm workers.
Geer acted with the Group Theatre (New York) studying under Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford and Lee Strasberg. Geer also acted in radio, appearing as Mephistopheles (the Devil) in the 1938 and 1944 productions of Norman Corwin's The Plot to Overthrow Christmas. He also acted in the radio soap opera Bright Horizon.
Geer was blacklisted in the early 1950s for refusing to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. As a result, Geer appeared in very few films over the next decade. Among them was Salt of the Earth (1954) which was produced, directed, written, and starring blacklisted Hollywood personnel and told the story of a miners' strike in New Mexico from a pro-union standpoint. The film was denounced as "subversive" and faced difficulties in its production and distribution as a consequence.
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Will Geer: America's Grandpa
2019
Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970
Narrator
2019
In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s
Self
2017
Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death
Host
2005
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
1988
The New Deal for Artists
1981
The Man Who Loved Bears
Narrator
1979
A Woman Called Moses
Thomas Garrett · (2 episodes)
1978
Rip Van Winkle
Narrator (voice)
1978
The Mafu Cage
Zom
1978
Unknown Powers
Host
1978
The Billion Dollar Hobo
Choo-Choo Trayne
1977
The Love Boat
Franklyn Bootherstone · (1 episode)
1977
Eight Is Enough
(2 episodes)
1977
Bunco
1977
Moving Violation
Rockfield
1976
Law and Order
Pat Crowley
1976
The Blue Bird
Grandfather
1976
The Night That Panicked America
Reverend Davis
1975
Starsky & Hutch
Commodore Atwater · (2 episodes)
1975
The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery
Dr. Simpson
1975
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Self · (1 episode)
1974
The Lives of Benjamin Franklin
(4 episodes)
1974
Dinah!
Self · (2 episodes)
1974
Hurricane
Dr. McCutcheon
1974
Memory of Us
Motel Manager
1974
Silence
Crazy Jack
1974
Honky Tonk
Judge Cotton
1974
The Hanged Man
Nameless
1974
Executive Action
Ferguson
1973
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Len McNeil
1973
Doc Elliot
Paul Bartlett · (1 episode)
1973
Isn't It Shocking?
Lemuel Lovell
1973
A Gift of Terror
Ben
1973
Savage
Joel Ryker
1973
Brock's Last Case
J. Smiley Krenshaw
1973
Kung Fu
(1 episode)
1972
The Waltons
Grandfather Walton · (142 episodes)
1972
Jeremiah Johnson
Bear Claw
1972
Napoleon and Samantha
Grandpa
1972
The Rowdyman
Stan
1972
Dear Dead Delilah
Roy Jurroe
1972
The Sixth Sense
(1 episode)
1972
Scarecrow
Justice Gilead Merton
1972
Columbo
Edmund Hidemann · (1 episode)
1971
Brother John
Doc Thomas
1971
Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?
Simon Anderson
1971
Alias Smith and Jones
Seth · (1 episode)
1971
Pieces of Dreams
The Bishop
1970
The Brotherhood of the Bell
Mike Patterson
1970
The Bold Ones: The Senator
Senator Homer Bryant Wydell · (1 episode)
1970
The Moonshine War
Mr. Baylor
1970
The Reivers
Boss
1969
Medical Center
(2 episodes)
1969
Then Came Bronson
(1 episode)
1969
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Harry I. Madison · (1 episode)
1969
The Bill Cosby Show
Mr. Kane · (1 episode)
1969
Mayberry R.F.D.
Captain Charles Wolford · (2 episodes)
1968
Hawaii Five-O
Professor Harold Lochner · (1 episode)
1968
Certain Honorable Men
Malcolm Stoddard
1968
Bandolero!
Pop Chaney
1968
Of Mice and Men
Candy
1968
The President's Analyst
Dr. Lee-Evan
1967
In Cold Blood
Prosecutor
1967
Garrison's Gorillas
(1 episode)
1967
The Crucible
Giles Corey
1967
The Invaders
Hank Willis · (1 episode)
1967
Seconds
Old Man
1966
Mission: Impossible
Doc · (1 episode)
1966
The Trials of O'Brien
Judge Lindemann · (1 episode)
1965
Run for Your Life
Judge David P. Andrews · (1 episode)
1965
Daniel Boone
Adam Jarrett · (1 episode)
1964
Bewitched
(2 episodes)
1964
Black Like Me
Truckdriver
1964
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962
Advise & Consent
Senate Minority Leader
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961
Bonanza
Zach Randolph · (1 episode)
1959
Bonanza
Ferris Callahan · (1 episode)
1959
Bonanza
Calvin Butler · (1 episode)
1959
Tony Awards
Self - Performer · (1 episode)
1956
Mobs, Inc.
Harry Robinson
1956
Mobs Incorporated
Harry Robinson
1956
Gunsmoke
Slocum · (1 episode)
1955
Salt of the Earth
Sheriff
1954
The Barefoot Mailman
Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster
1951
The Tall Target
Homer Crowley
1951
Bright Victory
Mr. Nevins
1951
Racket Squad
(1 episode)
1951
Double Crossbones
Tom Botts
1951
To Please a Lady
Jack Mackay
1950
Convicted
Convict Mapes
1950
Broken Arrow
Ben Slade
1950
Winchester '73
Wyatt Earp
1950
It's a Small World
William Musk - Father
1950
Comanche Territory
Dan'l Seeger
1950
The Kid from Texas
O'Fallon
1950
Intruder in the Dust
Sheriff Hampton
1949
Anna Lucasta
Noah
1949
Lust for Gold
Deputy Ray Covin
1949
Johnny Allegro
Schultzy
1949
Deep Waters
Nick Driver
1948
Men and Dust
Narrator (voice)
1940
The Fight for Life
Ballou
1940
Tall Tales
Self
1940
Union Pacific
Foreman (uncredited)
1939
Becky Sharp
Spectator (uncredited)
1935
Wild Gold
Poker Player (uncredited)
1934
Spitfire
West Fry
1934
The Misleading Lady
McMahon - Asylum Guard
1932