Acting
Will Geer
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
Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970
Film · 2019
Will Geer: America's Grandpa
Film · 2019
In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s
Film · 2017
Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death
Film · 2005
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Film · 1987
The Man Who Loved Bears
Film · 1979
Rip Van Winkle
Film · 1978
The Mafu Cage
Film · 1978
Unknown Powers
Film · 1978
A Woman Called Moses
Series · 1978
The Billion Dollar Hobo
Film · 1977
Bunco
Film · 1977
The Love Boat
Series · 1977
Eight Is Enough
Series · 1977
Moving Violation
Film · 1976
The Blue Bird
Film · 1976
Law and Order
Film · 1976
The New Deal for Artists
Film · 1976
The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery
Film · 1975
The Night That Panicked America
Film · 1975
Starsky & Hutch
Series · 1975
The Hanged Man
Film · 1974
Hurricane
Film · 1974
Silence
Film · 1974
Memory of Us
Film · 1974
Honky Tonk
Film · 1974
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Series · 1974
The Lives of Benjamin Franklin
Series · 1974
Dinah!
Series · 1974
Executive Action
Film · 1973
Savage!
Film · 1973
Isn't It Shocking?
Film · 1973
Brock's Last Case
Film · 1973
Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
Film · 1973
A Gift of Terror
Film · 1973
Doc Elliot
Series · 1973
Jeremiah Johnson
Film · 1972
Napoleon and Samantha
Film · 1972
Dear Dead Delilah
Film · 1972
Scarecrow
Film · 1972
The Rowdyman
Film · 1972
Kung Fu
Series · 1972
The Waltons
Series · 1972
The Sixth Sense
Series · 1972
The ABC Afternoon Playbreak
Series · 1972
Brother John
Film · 1971
Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?
Film · 1971
Alias Smith and Jones
Series · 1971
Columbo
Series · 1971
Pieces of Dreams
Film · 1970
The Brotherhood of the Bell
Film · 1970
The Moonshine War
Film · 1970
The Bold Ones: The Senator
Series · 1970
The Reivers
Film · 1969
Hawaii Five-O
Series · 1969
The Bill Cosby Show
Series · 1969
Medical Center
Series · 1969
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Series · 1969
Then Came Bronson
Series · 1969
Of Mice and Men
Film · 1968
Certain Honorable Men
Film · 1968
Bandolero!
Film · 1968
Mayberry R.F.D.
Series · 1968
In Cold Blood
Film · 1967
The Crucible
Film · 1967
The President's Analyst
Film · 1967
Garrison's Gorillas
Series · 1967
The Invaders
Series · 1967
Seconds
Film · 1966
Mission: Impossible
Series · 1966
Run for Your Life
Series · 1965
The Trials of O'Brien
Series · 1965
Black Like Me
Film · 1964
Bewitched
Series · 1964
Daniel Boone
Series · 1964
Bewitched
Series · 1964
Advise & Consent
Film · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961
Bonanza
Series · 1959
Bonanza
Series · 1959
Bonanza
Series · 1959
Mobs, Inc.
Film · 1956
Tony Awards
Series · 1956
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955
Salt of the Earth
Film · 1954
The Tall Target
Film · 1951
Double Crossbones
Film · 1951
Bright Victory
Film · 1951
The Barefoot Mailman
Film · 1951
Racket Squad
Series · 1951
Convicted
Film · 1950
Winchester '73
Film · 1950
Broken Arrow
Film · 1950
The Kid from Texas
Film · 1950
It's a Small World
Film · 1950
Comanche Territory
Film · 1950
To Please a Lady
Film · 1950
Johnny Allegro
Film · 1949
Intruder in the Dust
Film · 1949
Lust for Gold
Film · 1949
Anna Lucasta
Film · 1949
Deep Waters
Film · 1948
The Fight for Life
Film · 1940
Men and Dust
Film · 1940
Tall Tales
Film · 1940
Union Pacific
Film · 1939
Becky Sharp
Film · 1935
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Film · 1935
Wild Gold
Film · 1934
Spitfire
Film · 1934
The Misleading Lady
Film · 1932