Acting · Frankfort, Indiana, USA · Born March 9, 1902
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.
MovieWill Geer: America's Grandpa
2019
MovieWoody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970
2019
as Narrator
MovieIn Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s
2017
as Self
MovieMysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death
2005
as Host
MovieJames Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe New Deal for Artists
1981
as Self
The Man Who Loved Bears
1979
as Narrator
TVA Woman Called Moses
1978
as Thomas Garrett
MovieRip Van Winkle
1978
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Mafu Cage
1978
as Zom
MovieUnknown Powers
1978
as Host
MovieThe Billion Dollar Hobo
1977
as Choo-Choo Trayne
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Franklyn Bootherstone
TVEight Is Enough
1977
MovieBunco
1977
MovieMoving Violation
1976
as Rockfield
MovieLaw and Order
1976
as Pat Crowley
MovieThe Blue Bird
1976
as Grandfather
MovieThe Night That Panicked America
1975
as Reverend Davis
TVStarsky & Hutch
1975
as Commodore Atwater
MovieThe Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery
1975
as Dr. Simpson
TVTony Orlando and Dawn
1974
as Self
TVThe Lives of Benjamin Franklin
1974
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
MovieHurricane
1974
as Dr. McCutcheon
MovieMemory of Us
1974
as Motel Manager
Silence
1974
as Crazy Jack
MovieHonky Tonk
1974
as Judge Cotton
MovieThe Hanged Man
1974
as Nameless
MovieExecutive Action
1973
as Ferguson
TVDoc Elliot
1973
as Paul Bartlett
MovieIsn't It Shocking?
1973
as Lemuel Lovell
MovieA Gift of Terror
1973
as Ben
MovieSavage!
1973
as Joel Ryker
MovieSuch Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973
as Len McNeil
MovieBrock's Last Case
1973
as J. Smiley Krenshaw
TVThe ABC Afternoon Playbreak
1972
as Ben
TVKung Fu
1972
as Judge Emmitt Marcus
TVThe Waltons
1972
as Grandfather Walton
MovieJeremiah Johnson
1972
as Bear Claw
MovieNapoleon and Samantha
1972
as Grandpa
MovieThe Rowdyman
1972
as Stan
MovieDear Dead Delilah
1972
as Roy Jurroe
TVThe Sixth Sense
1972
MovieScarecrow
1972
as Justice Gilead Merton
TVColumbo
1971
as Edmund Hidemann
MovieBrother John
1971
as Doc Thomas
MovieWho Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?
1971
as Simon Anderson
TVAlias Smith and Jones
1971
as Seth
MoviePieces of Dreams
1970
as The Bishop
MovieThe Brotherhood of the Bell
1970
as Mike Patterson
TVThe Bold Ones: The Senator
1970
as Senator Homer Bryant Wydell
MovieThe Moonshine War
1970
as Mr. Baylor
MovieThe Reivers
1969
as Boss
TVMedical Center
1969
TVThe Courtship of Eddie's Father
1969
as Harry I. Madison
TVThen Came Bronson
1969
as Oliver Hidemann
TVThe Bill Cosby Show
1969
as Mr. Kane
TVMayberry R.F.D.
1968
as Captain Charles Wolford
TVHawaii Five-O
1968
as Professor Harold Lochner
MovieCertain Honorable Men
1968
as Malcolm Stoddard
MovieBandolero!
1968
as Pop Chaney
MovieOf Mice and Men
1968
as Candy
MovieThe President's Analyst
1967
as Dr. Lee-Evan
MovieIn Cold Blood
1967
as Prosecutor
TVGarrison's Gorillas
1967
MovieThe Crucible
1967
as Giles Corey
TVThe Invaders
1967
as Hank Willis
MovieSeconds
1966
as Old Man
TVMission: Impossible
1966
as Doc
TVThe Trials of O'Brien
1965
as Judge Lindemann
TVRun for Your Life
1965
as Judge David P. Andrews
TVDaniel Boone
1964
as Adam Jarrett
TVBewitched
1964
MovieBlack Like Me
1964
as Truckdriver
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
MovieAdvise & Consent
1962
as Senate Minority Leader
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
TVBonanza
1959
as Zach Randolph
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Performer
MovieMobs, Inc.
1956
as Harry Robinson
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Slocum
MovieSalt of the Earth
1954
as Sheriff
MovieThe Barefoot Mailman
1951
as Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster
MovieThe Tall Target
1951
as Homer Crowley
MovieBright Victory
1951
as Mr. Nevins
TVRacket Squad
1951
MovieDouble Crossbones
1951
as Tom Botts
MovieTo Please a Lady
1950
as Jack Mackay
MovieConvicted
1950
as Convict Mapes
MovieBroken Arrow
1950
as Ben Slade
MovieWinchester '73
1950
as Wyatt Earp
MovieIt's a Small World
1950
as William Musk - Father
MovieComanche Territory
1950
as Dan'l Seeger
MovieThe Kid from Texas
1950
as O'Fallon
MovieIntruder in the Dust
1949
as Sheriff Hampton
MovieAnna Lucasta
1949
as Noah
MovieLust for Gold
1949
as Deputy Ray Covin
MovieJohnny Allegro
1949
as Schultzy
MovieDeep Waters
1948
as Nick Driver
MovieMen and Dust
1940
as Narrator (voice)
The Fight for Life
1940
as Ballou
MovieTall Tales
1940
as Self
MovieUnion Pacific
1939
as Foreman (uncredited)
MovieBecky Sharp
1935
as Spectator (uncredited)
MovieThe Mystery of Edwin Drood
1935
as Village Lamplighter (uncredited)
MovieWild Gold
1934
as Poker Player (uncredited)
MovieSpitfire
1934
as West Fry
MovieThe Misleading Lady
1932
as McMahon - Asylum Guard
