Will Geer
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Columbo
Edmund Hidemann
1971
Series
The Love Boat
Franklyn Bootherstone
1977
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Bonanza
Zach Randolph
1959
Series
Bonanza
Ferris Callahan
1959
Series
Bonanza
Calvin Butler
1959
Series
Hawaii Five-O
Professor Harold Lochner
1968
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Performer
1956
Series
Bewitched
1964
Series
Bewitched
George Washington
1964
Series
Mission: Impossible
Doc
1966
Series
The Waltons
Grandfather Walton
1972
Series
Daniel Boone
Adam Jarrett
1964
Series
Starsky & Hutch
Commodore Atwater
1975
Series
Gunsmoke
Slocum
1955
Series
Medical Center
1969
Series
Mayberry R.F.D.
Captain Charles Wolford
1968
Series
Run for Your Life
Judge David P. Andrews
1965
Series
The Invaders
Hank Willis
1967
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Harry I. Madison
1969
Series
Eight Is Enough
1977
Series
Alias Smith and Jones
Seth
1971
Series
Racket Squad
1951
Series
Then Came Bronson
Oliver Hidemann
1969
Series
Garrison's Gorillas
1967
Series
The Bill Cosby Show
Mr. Kane
1969
Series
The Sixth Sense
1972
Series
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Self
1974
Film
Broken Arrow
Ben Slade
1950
Film
Bandolero!
Pop Chaney
1968
Film
Jeremiah Johnson
Bear Claw
1972
Series
The Trials of O'Brien
Judge Lindemann
1965
Film
In Cold Blood
Prosecutor
1967
Film
Winchester '73
Wyatt Earp
1950
Silence
Crazy Jack
1974
Series
The ABC Afternoon Playbreak
Ben
1972
Film
Seconds
Old Man
1966
Series
A Woman Called Moses
Thomas Garrett
1978
Series
Doc Elliot
Paul Bartlett
1973
Film
Union Pacific
Foreman (uncredited)
1939
Film
The Blue Bird
Grandfather
1976
Film
The Reivers
Boss
1969
Series
The Lives of Benjamin Franklin
1974
Film
The Mafu Cage
Zom
1978
Series
The Bold Ones: The Senator
Senator Homer Bryant Wydell
1970
Film
Advise & Consent
Senate Minority Leader
1962
Film
Napoleon and Samantha
Grandpa
1972
Film
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Self (archive footage)
1987
Film
The President's Analyst
Dr. Lee-Evan
1967
Film
Executive Action
Ferguson
1973
Film
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Village Lamplighter (uncredited)
1935
Film
Salt of the Earth
Sheriff
1954
Film
Becky Sharp
Spectator (uncredited)
1935
Film
Lust for Gold
Deputy Ray Covin
1949
Film
Comanche Territory
Dan'l Seeger
1950
Film
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Len McNeil
1973
Series
Kung Fu
Judge Emmitt Marcus
1972
Film
Intruder in the Dust
Sheriff Hampton
1949
Film
The Tall Target
Homer Crowley
1951
Film
Bright Victory
Mr. Nevins
1951
Film
Unknown Powers
Host
1978
Film
The Night That Panicked America
Reverend Davis
1975
Film
The Crucible
Giles Corey
1967
Film
Deep Waters
Nick Driver
1948
Film
Of Mice and Men
Candy
1968
Film
Convicted
Convict Mapes
1950
Film
Certain Honorable Men
Malcolm Stoddard
1968
Film
Brother John
Doc Thomas
1971
Film
The New Deal for Artists
Self
1981
Film
The Moonshine War
Mr. Baylor
1970
Film
The Kid from Texas
O'Fallon
1950
Film
The Misleading Lady
McMahon - Asylum Guard
1932
Film
Memory of Us
Motel Manager
1974
Film
Honky Tonk
Judge Cotton
1974
Film
To Please a Lady
Jack Mackay
1950
Film
The Brotherhood of the Bell
Mike Patterson
1970
Film
Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?
Simon Anderson
1971
Film
Spitfire
West Fry
1934
Film
Savage!
Joel Ryker
1973
Film
The Billion Dollar Hobo
Choo-Choo Trayne
1977
Film
The Hanged Man
Nameless
1974
Film
Black Like Me
Truckdriver
1964
Film
Isn't It Shocking?
Lemuel Lovell
1973
Film
Double Crossbones
Tom Botts
1951
Film
The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery
Dr. Simpson
1975
Film
Brock's Last Case
J. Smiley Krenshaw
1973
Film
Anna Lucasta
Noah
1949
Film
Moving Violation
Rockfield
1976
Film
Law and Order
Pat Crowley
1976
Film
Bunco
1977
Film
A Gift of Terror
Ben
1973
Film
Men and Dust
Narrator (voice)
1940
Film
Hurricane
Dr. McCutcheon
1974
Film
Scarecrow
Justice Gilead Merton
1972
Film
Johnny Allegro
Schultzy
1949
Film
The Rowdyman
Stan
1972
The Fight for Life
Ballou
1940
The Man Who Loved Bears
Narrator
1979
Film
It's a Small World
William Musk - Father
1950
Film
Dear Dead Delilah
Roy Jurroe
1972
Film
The Barefoot Mailman
Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster
1951
Film
Wild Gold
Poker Player (uncredited)
1934
Film
Pieces of Dreams
The Bishop
1970
Film
In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s
Self
2017
Film
Mobs, Inc.
Harry Robinson
1956
Film
Rip Van Winkle
Narrator (voice)
1978
Film
Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970
Narrator
2019
Film
Will Geer: America's Grandpa
2019
Film
Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death
Host
2005
Film
Tall Tales
Self
1940