Will Geer
Will Geer
​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Will Geer, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For Acting
Most Rating 3.183
Birthday 1902-03-09
Place of Birth Frankfort, Indiana, USA
Also Known As High Ghere, William Aughe Ghere, Уилл Гир,
Seconds
1966

Seconds

Salt of the Earth
1954

Salt of the Earth

Jeremiah Johnson
1972

Jeremiah Johnson

The Tall Target
1951

The Tall Target

Executive Action
1973

Executive Action

Convicted
1950

Convicted

Deep Waters
1948

Deep Waters

Winchester '73
1950

Winchester '73

Napoleon and Samantha
1972

Napoleon and Samantha

Broken Arrow
1950

Broken Arrow

Johnny Allegro
1949

Johnny Allegro

The Kid from Texas
1950

The Kid from Texas

Advise & Consent
1962

Advise & Consent

In Cold Blood
1967

In Cold Blood

Wild Gold
1934

Wild Gold

Becky Sharp
1935

Becky Sharp

Of Mice and Men
1968

Of Mice and Men

Certain Honorable Men
1968

Certain Honorable Men

Intruder in the Dust
1949

Intruder in the Dust

It's a Small World
1950

It's a Small World

Double Crossbones
1951

Double Crossbones

Lust for Gold
1949

Lust for Gold

Pieces of Dreams
1970

Pieces of Dreams

Comanche Territory
1950

Comanche Territory

The Hanged Man
1974

The Hanged Man

The Man Who Loved Bears
1979

The Man Who Loved Bears

Brother John
1971

Brother John

Bright Victory
1951

Bright Victory

Savage
1973

Savage

Dear Dead Delilah
1972

Dear Dead Delilah

To Please a Lady
1950

To Please a Lady

Rip Van Winkle
1978

Rip Van Winkle

Hurricane
1974

Hurricane

Anna Lucasta
1949

Anna Lucasta

Isn't It Shocking?
1973

Isn't It Shocking?

The Fight for Life
1940

The Fight for Life

Bandolero!
1968

Bandolero!

The Mafu Cage
1978

The Mafu Cage

Moving Violation
1976

Moving Violation

The Billion Dollar Hobo
1977

The Billion Dollar Hobo

Spitfire
1934

Spitfire

Union Pacific
1939

Union Pacific

Men and Dust
1940

Men and Dust

Scarecrow
1972

Scarecrow

In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s
2017

In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s

Black Like Me
1964

Black Like Me

Brock's Last Case
1973

Brock's Last Case

The Barefoot Mailman
1951

The Barefoot Mailman

The Rowdyman
1972

The Rowdyman

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

The Misleading Lady
1932

The Misleading Lady

Silence
1974

Silence

The Brotherhood of the Bell
1970

The Brotherhood of the Bell

The Moonshine War
1970

The Moonshine War

The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery
1975

The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery

Unknown Powers
1978

Unknown Powers

The Crucible
1967

The Crucible

The Blue Bird
1976

The Blue Bird

Memory of Us
1974

Memory of Us

Bunco
1977

Bunco

Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970
2019

Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1988

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?
1971

Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?

The Reivers
1969

The Reivers

Will Geer: America's Grandpa
2019

Will Geer: America's Grandpa

Law and Order
1976

Law and Order

The New Deal for Artists
1981

The New Deal for Artists

Honky Tonk
1974

Honky Tonk

The President's Analyst
1967

The President's Analyst

The Night That Panicked America
1975

The Night That Panicked America

Mobs, Inc.
1956

Mobs, Inc.

A Gift of Terror
1973

A Gift of Terror

Mobs Incorporated
1956

Mobs Incorporated

Tall Tales
1940

Tall Tales

Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death
2005

Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death