
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.
Acting (72 movies)

Seconds
1966

Salt of the Earth
1954

Jeremiah Johnson
1972

The Tall Target
1951

Executive Action
1973

Convicted
1950

Deep Waters
1948

Winchester '73
1950

Napoleon and Samantha
1972

Broken Arrow
1950

Johnny Allegro
1949

The Kid from Texas
1950

Advise & Consent
1962

In Cold Blood
1967

Becky Sharp
1935

Wild Gold
1934

Certain Honorable Men
1968

Of Mice and Men
1968

Intruder in the Dust
1949

It's a Small World
1950

Double Crossbones
1951

Lust for Gold
1949

Pieces of Dreams
1970

Comanche Territory
1950

The Hanged Man
1974

Brother John
1971

Bright Victory
1951

Savage
1973

Dear Dead Delilah
1972

To Please a Lady
1950

Rip Van Winkle
1978

Hurricane
1974

Anna Lucasta
1949

Isn't It Shocking?
1973

Bandolero!
1968

The Mafu Cage
1978

Moving Violation
1976

The Billion Dollar Hobo
1977

Spitfire
1934

Union Pacific
1939

Men and Dust
1940

Scarecrow
1972

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

Brock's Last Case
1973

Black Like Me
1964

The Barefoot Mailman
1951

The Rowdyman
1972

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On
1973

The Misleading Lady
1932

The Brotherhood of the Bell
1970

The Moonshine War
1970

The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery
1975

Unknown Powers
1978

The Crucible
1967

The Blue Bird
1976

Memory of Us
1974

Bunco
1977

Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970
2019

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987

Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?
1971

The Reivers
1969

Will Geer: America's Grandpa
2019

Law and Order
1976

The New Deal for Artists
1981

Honky Tonk
1974

The President's Analyst
1967

The Night That Panicked America
1975

Mobs, Inc.
1956

A Gift of Terror
1973

Tall Tales
1940

Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death
2005

The Mystery of Edwin Drood
1935
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