Will Geer

Biography

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.

Known For

Old Man

Seconds

Sheriff

Salt of the Earth

Bear Claw

Jeremiah Johnson

Homer Crowley

The Tall Target

Ferguson

Executive Action

Convict Mapes

Convicted

Nick Driver

Deep Waters

Wyatt Earp

Winchester '73

Grandpa

Napoleon and Samantha

Ben Slade

Broken Arrow

Schultzy

Johnny Allegro

O'Fallon

The Kid from Texas

Senate Minority Leader

Advise & Consent

Prosecutor

In Cold Blood

Poker Player (uncredited)

Wild Gold

Spectator (uncredited)

Becky Sharp

Candy

Of Mice and Men

Malcolm Stoddard

Certain Honorable Men

Sheriff Hampton

Intruder in the Dust

William Musk - Father

It's a Small World

Tom Botts

Double Crossbones

Deputy Ray Covin

Lust for Gold

The Bishop

Pieces of Dreams

Dan'l Seeger

Comanche Territory

Nameless

The Hanged Man

Narrator

The Man Who Loved Bears

Doc Thomas

Brother John

Mr. Nevins

Bright Victory

Joel Ryker

Savage

Roy Jurroe

Dear Dead Delilah

Jack Mackay

To Please a Lady

Narrator (voice)

Rip Van Winkle

Dr. McCutcheon

Hurricane

Noah

Anna Lucasta

Lemuel Lovell

Isn't It Shocking?

Ballou

The Fight for Life

Pop Chaney

Bandolero!

Zom

The Mafu Cage

Rockfield

Moving Violation

Choo-Choo Trayne

The Billion Dollar Hobo

West Fry

Spitfire

Foreman (uncredited)

Union Pacific

Narrator (voice)

Men and Dust

Justice Gilead Merton

Scarecrow

Self

In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s

Truckdriver

Black Like Me

J. Smiley Krenshaw

Brock's Last Case

Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster

The Barefoot Mailman

Stan

The Rowdyman

Len McNeil

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

McMahon - Asylum Guard

The Misleading Lady

Crazy Jack

Silence

Mike Patterson

The Brotherhood of the Bell

Mr. Baylor

The Moonshine War

Dr. Simpson

The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery

Host

Unknown Powers

Giles Corey

The Crucible

Grandfather

The Blue Bird

Motel Manager

Memory of Us

Bunco

Narrator

Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970

Self (archive footage)

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

Simon Anderson

Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?

Boss

The Reivers

Will Geer: America's Grandpa

Pat Crowley

Law and Order

Self

The New Deal for Artists

Judge Cotton

Honky Tonk

Dr. Lee-Evan

The President's Analyst

Reverend Davis

The Night That Panicked America

Harry Robinson

Mobs, Inc.

Ben

A Gift of Terror

Self

Tall Tales

Host

Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death

Village Lamplighter (uncredited)

The Mystery of Edwin Drood