
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.

Of Mice and Men

刑事コロンボ

Scarecrow

Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?

奥さまは魔女

Garrison's Gorillas

燃えよ!カンフー

Mission: Impossible

冷血

ボナンザ

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Seconds

ウィンチェスター銃'73

Intruder in the Dust

大いなる勇者

刑事スタスキー&ハッチ

Run for Your Life

The Waltons

Advise & Consent

Hawaii Five-O

Salt of the Earth

A Woman Called Moses

Alias Smith and Jones

Daniel Boone

Bright Victory

The Tall Target

The Night That Panicked America

The Trials of O'Brien

The Invaders

折れた矢

Dinah!

Gunsmoke

Union Pacific

バンドレロ

Executive Action

Johnny Allegro

華麗なる週末

To Please a Lady

The Love Boat

Napoleon and Samantha

Brother John

Isn't It Shocking?

Medical Center

Eight Is Enough

Convicted

Deep Waters

Men and Dust

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

Racket Squad

The Courtship of Eddie's Father

Lust for Gold

Black Like Me

The Sixth Sense

Unknown Powers

The Mafu Cage

The President's Analyst

The Brotherhood of the Bell

Becky Sharp

The Billion Dollar Hobo

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

The Moonshine War

Mayberry R.F.D.

Double Crossbones

The Bill Cosby Show

The Mike Douglas Show

It's a Small World

The Kid from Texas

Savage

青い鳥

The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery

Spitfire

Dear Dead Delilah

Wild Gold

Rip Van Winkle

Comanche Territory

Hurricane

Then Came Bronson

Moving Violation

The Hanged Man

Brock's Last Case

The Barefoot Mailman

Mobs, Inc.

Anna Lucasta

Tony Orlando and Dawn

Pieces of Dreams

The Bold Ones: The Senator

The Rowdyman

The Crucible

Will Geer: America's Grandpa

Certain Honorable Men

In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s

The Misleading Lady

Memory of Us

Bunco

Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970

Law and Order

The New Deal for Artists

Honky Tonk

A Gift of Terror

Tall Tales

Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death

The Lives of Benjamin Franklin

Doc Elliot

The ABC Afternoon Playbreak