1902-03-09 Frankfort, Indiana, USA
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 | 2019-05-02 | |
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Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970 | Narrator | 2019-03-01 |
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In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s | Self | 2017-02-15 |
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Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death | Host | 2005-01-01 |
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James Stewart: A Wonderful Life | Self (archive footage) | 1987-03-13 |
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The New Deal for Artists | Self | 1981-07-06 |
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The Man Who Loved Bears | Narrator | 1979-06-17 |
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Rip Van Winkle | Narrator (voice) | 1978-11-20 |
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Unknown Powers | Host | 1978-01-01 |
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The Mafu Cage | Zom | 1978-03-19 |
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Bunco | 1977-01-01 | |
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The Billion Dollar Hobo | Choo-Choo Trayne | 1977-11-01 |
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The Blue Bird | Grandfather | 1976-04-30 |
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Law and Order | Pat Crowley | 1976-05-06 |
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Moving Violation | Rockfield | 1976-07-16 |
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The Night That Panicked America | Reverend Davis | 1975-10-31 |
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The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery | Dr. Simpson | 1975-03-07 |
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The Hanged Man | Nameless | 1974-03-13 |
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Memory of Us | Motel Manager | 1974-05-01 |
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Hurricane | Dr. McCutcheon | 1974-09-10 |
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Honky Tonk | Judge Cotton | 1974-04-01 |
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Silence | Crazy Jack | 1974-04-15 |
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Isn't It Shocking? | Lemuel Lovell | 1973-10-02 |
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Brock's Last Case | J. Smiley Krenshaw | 1973-03-05 |
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Executive Action | Ferguson | 1973-11-07 |
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Savage | Joel Ryker | 1973-03-31 |
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A Gift of Terror | Ben | 1973-04-05 |
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Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On | Len McNeil | 1973-03-11 |
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Scarecrow | Justice Gilead Merton | 1972-01-10 |
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The Rowdyman | Stan | 1972-05-18 |
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Napoleon and Samantha | Grandpa | 1972-07-05 |
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Dear Dead Delilah | Roy Jurroe | 1972-05-05 |
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Jeremiah Johnson | Bear Claw | 1972-09-10 |
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Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster? | Simon Anderson | 1971-02-01 |
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Brother John | Doc Thomas | 1971-08-15 |
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The Brotherhood of the Bell | Mike Patterson | 1970-09-17 |
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Pieces of Dreams | The Bishop | 1970-09-23 |
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The Moonshine War | Mr. Baylor | 1970-06-30 |
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The Reivers | Boss | 1969-12-20 |
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Certain Honorable Men | Malcolm Stoddard | 1968-09-12 |
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Of Mice and Men | Candy | 1968-01-31 |
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Bandolero! | Pop Chaney | 1968-06-01 |
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The President's Analyst | Dr. Lee-Evan | 1967-12-21 |
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In Cold Blood | Prosecutor | 1967-12-15 |
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The Crucible | Giles Corey | 1967-05-04 |
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Seconds | Old Man | 1966-10-05 |
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Black Like Me | Truckdriver | 1964-01-01 |
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Advise & Consent | Senate Minority Leader | 1962-06-06 |
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Mobs, Inc. | Harry Robinson | 1956-03-21 |
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Salt of the Earth | Sheriff | 1954-03-14 |
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The Barefoot Mailman | Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster | 1951-12-03 |
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The Tall Target | Homer Crowley | 1951-08-17 |
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Double Crossbones | Tom Botts | 1951-04-26 |
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Bright Victory | Mr. Nevins | 1951-08-01 |
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It's a Small World | William Musk - Father | 1950-06-24 |
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Winchester '73 | Wyatt Earp | 1950-07-12 |
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The Kid from Texas | O'Fallon | 1950-03-01 |
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Comanche Territory | Dan'l Seeger | 1950-05-01 |
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Convicted | Convict Mapes | 1950-08-01 |
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Broken Arrow | Ben Slade | 1950-07-21 |
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To Please a Lady | Jack Mackay | 1950-10-13 |
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Intruder in the Dust | Sheriff Hampton | 1949-11-22 |
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Johnny Allegro | Schultzy | 1949-05-26 |
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Anna Lucasta | Noah | 1949-07-11 |
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Lust for Gold | Deputy Ray Covin | 1949-06-10 |
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Deep Waters | Nick Driver | 1948-07-22 |
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Tall Tales | Self | 1940-01-01 |
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Men and Dust | Narrator (voice) | 1940-11-08 |
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The Fight for Life | Ballou | 1940-03-07 |
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Union Pacific | Foreman (uncredited) | 1939-05-05 |
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Becky Sharp | Spectator (uncredited) | 1935-06-28 |
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The Mystery of Edwin Drood | Village Lamplighter (uncredited) | 1935-02-04 |
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Wild Gold | Poker Player (uncredited) | 1934-06-08 |
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Spitfire | West Fry | 1934-03-08 |
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The Misleading Lady | McMahon - Asylum Guard | 1932-04-15 |
