Will Geer (born William Aughe Ghere; March 9, 1902 – April 22, 1978) was an American actor, musician, and social activist, who was active in labor organizing and other movements in New York and

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban a ...

in the 1930s and 1940s. In California he befriended rising singer

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...

. They both lived in New York for a time in the 1940s. He was blacklisted in the 1950s by Hollywood after refusing, in testimony before Congress, to name persons who had joined the Communist Party. In his later years, he was well known for his role as the grandfather figure Zebulon Walton in the TV series ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., based on his 1961 book '' Spencer's Mountain'' and the 1963 fil ...

'' until his death.

Early life

Geer was born in Frankfort, Indiana, the son of Katherine (née Aughe), a teacher, and Roy Aaron Ghere, a postal worker. His father left the family when he was 11 years old. He was deeply influenced by his grandfather, who taught him the botanical names of the plants in his native state. Geer started out to become a

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

, studying the subject and obtaining a

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

. While at Chicago, he was a member of

Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha (), commonly known as Lambda Chi, is a college fraternity in North America which was founded at Boston University in 1909. It is one of the largest social fraternities in North America, with more than 300,000 lifetime members a ...

fraternity.

Career

Anglicizing his name, Geer began his acting career touring in

tent show Tent shows have been an important part of American history since the mid-to-late nineteenth century. In 1927, Don Carle Gillette gave "statistical evidence that the tented drama constituted 'a more extensive business than Broadway and all the rest ...

s and on

riverboats A riverboat is a watercraft designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury un ...

. He worked on several left-oriented documentaries, including narrating

Sheldon Dick Sheldon Dick (1906–1950) was an American publisher, literary agent, photographer, and filmmaker. He was a member of a wealthy and well-connected industrialist family, and was able to support himself while funding a series of literary and artis ...

's ''Men and Dust'', about silicosis among miners. He created the role of Mr. Mister in Marc Blitzstein's 1937 ''

The Cradle Will Rock ''The Cradle Will Rock'' is a 1937 play in music by Marc Blitzstein. Originally a part of the Federal Theatre Project, it was directed by Orson Welles and produced by John Houseman. A Brechtian allegory of corruption and corporate greed, it ...

'', played Candy in John Steinbeck's theatrical adaptation of his novella ''

Of Mice and Men ''Of Mice and Men'' is a novella written by John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, it narrates the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job o ...

'', 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 ''Winchester '73'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea and Stephen McNally. Written by Borden Chase and Robert L. Richards, the film is about the journey of a pr ...

'' (as

Wyatt Earp Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp took part in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which l ...

), '' Broken Arrow'', '' Comanche Territory'' (all 1950) and ''

Bright Victory ''Bright Victory'' is a 1951 American drama romance war film directed by Mark Robson and starring Arthur Kennedy and Peggy Dow. Plot During World War II, American sergeant Larry Nevins is blinded by a German sniper while fighting in North Afr ...

'' (1951). He became a dedicated activist, touring government work camps of the

Civilian Conservation Corps The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part of ...

in the 1930s with

folk singer Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

s such as

Burl Ives Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995) was an American musician, actor, and author with a career that spanned more than six decades. Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own rad ...

and

(whom he introduced to the ''People's World'' and the ''

Daily Worker The ''Daily Worker'' was a newspaper published in New York City by the Communist Party USA, a formerly Comintern-affiliated organization. Publication began in 1924. While it generally reflected the prevailing views of the party, attempts were ...

''). In 1956, the duo released an album together on Folkways Records, titled ''Bound for Glory: Songs and Stories of Woody Guthrie.'' In his biography, Harry Hay described Geer's activism and their activities while organizing for the strike. He is credited with introducing Guthrie to

Pete Seeger Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...

at the 'Grapes of Wrath' benefit which he organized in 1940 for migrant farm workers. He acted with the

Group Theatre (New York) The Group Theatre was a theater collective based in New York City and formed in 1931 by Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford and Lee Strasberg. It was intended as a base for the kind of theatre they and their colleagues believed in— a forceful, n ...

studying under

Harold Clurman Harold Edgar Clurman (September 18, 1901 – September 9, 1980) was an American theatre director and drama critic. In 2003, he was named one of the most influential figures in U.S. theater by PBS.

, Cheryl Crawford and

Lee Strasberg Lee Strasberg (born Israel Strassberg; November 17, 1901 – February 17, 1982) was an American theatre director, actor and acting teacher. He co-founded, with theatre directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford, the Group Theatre in 1931 ...

. He acted in radio, appearing as

Mephistopheles Mephistopheles (, ), also known as Mephisto, is a demon featured in German folklore. He originally appeared in literature as the demon in the Faust legend, and he has since appeared in other works as a stock character (see: Mephistopheles i ...

(

the Devil Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an entity in the Abrahamic religions that seduces humans into sin or falsehood ...

) in the 1938 and 1944 productions of

Norman Corwin Norman Lewis Corwin (May 3, 1910 – October 18, 2011) was an American writer, screenwriter, producer, essayist and teacher of journalism and writing. His earliest and biggest successes were in the writing and directing of radio drama during the ...

's '' The Plot to Overthrow Christmas''."The Plot to Overthrow Christmas: Norman Corwin", ''Tangent'' online
/ref> He also acted in the radio soap opera ''

Bright Horizon ''Bright Horizon'' is an old-time radio soap opera in the United States. It was broadcast on CBS August 25, 1941 - July 6, 1945. The program initially had an alternate title, ''The Story of Michael West''. Format ''Bright Horizon'' was a spinoff ...

''.

Blacklist

Geer was blacklisted in the early 1950s for refusing to testify before the

House Committee on Un-American Activities The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly dubbed the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloy ...

. As a result, he appeared in very few films over the next decade. Among them was '' Salt of the Earth'' (1954) which starred and was produced, directed and written by blacklisted Hollywood personnel. It 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.

Later years

In 1951, Geer founded the Will Geer

Theatricum Botanicum The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, named for the English botanist John Parkinson (botanist), John Parkinson's herbal, ''Theatrum Botanicum'' (1640), is an open-air theater founded in Topanga, California, Topanga Canyon, near The Getty Villa by Wil ...

in Topanga, California, with his wife, actress

Herta Ware Herta Ware (June 9, 1917 – August 15, 2005) was an American actress and activist. Early life Ware was born Herta Schwartz in Wilmington, Delaware, the daughter of Helen Ware, a musician and violin teacher, and Laszlo Schwartz, an actor wh ...

. He combined his acting and botanical careers at the Theatricum, cultivating every plant mentioned in

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

's plays. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, he played several seasons at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut. In addition, he created a second Shakespeare Garden on the theater's grounds. By this time, he was working sporadically again on Broadway. In 1964, he was nominated for the

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for '' 110 in the Shade''. In 1967 he performed a soliloquy as the prosecutor delivering the closing argument against the two murderers in the film '' In Cold Blood''. In 1972, he played the part of Bear Claw in '' Jeremiah Johnson''. In 1972, he was cast as Zebulon Walton, the family patriarch on ''The Waltons,'' a role he took over from Edgar Bergen, who played the character in the TV movie upon which the series was based. He won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for ''The Waltons'' in 1975. When he died, shortly after completing the sixth season of ''The Waltons'', the death of his character was written into the show's script. His final episode, the last episode of the 1977–1978 season, depicted his being reunited with his onscreen wife Esther (played by Ellen Corby; she had been absent for the entire season, due to a stroke). His character was mourned onscreen during the first episode of the 1978–1979 season, titled "The Empty Nest".

Personal life

Geer married actress

in 1934. He and Ware had three children, Kate Geer, Thad Geer, and actress

Ellen Geer Ellen Ware Geer is an American actress, professor, and theatre director. Personal life Geer was born in New York City, the daughter of actors Herta Ware and Will Geer. Her father was best-known for playing Grandpa Zebulon "Zeb" Walton on ''Th ...

. Ware also had a daughter, actress Melora Marshall, from another marriage. Although he and Ware divorced in 1954, they remained close for the rest of their lives. In 1934 he met Harry Hay at the Tony Pastor Theatre where Geer worked as an actor. They became lovers. He and Hay participated in a milk strike in Los Angeles. Later that year, he and Hay performed in support of the San Francisco General Strike, where they witnessed police firing on strikers, killing two. He was a committed leftist, with Hay later describing him as his political mentor. He introduced Hay to Los Angeles' leftist community, and together they took part in activism, joining demonstrations for laborers' rights and the unemployed, and on one occasion handcuffed themselves to lampposts outside

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...

to hand out leaflets for the

American League Against War and Fascism The American League Against War and Fascism was an organization formed in 1933 by the Communist Party USA and pacifists united by their concern as Nazism and Fascism rose in Europe. In 1937 the name of the group was changed to the American League ...

. He became a member of the

Communist Party of the United States The Communist Party USA, officially the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA), is a communist party in the United States which was established in 1919 after a split in the Socialist Party of America following the Russian Revo ...

in 1934. After Hay had become increasingly politicized, Geer introduced him to the Party. In 1934, he and Hay gave support to a labor strike of the port of San Francisco, part of the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike.Michael Bronsk
"The real Harry Hay"
''Boston Phoenix'', October 31, 2002 Geer became a reader of the West Coast Communist newspaper ''

People's World ''People's World'', official successor to the '' Daily Worker'', is a Marxist and American leftist national daily online news publication. Founded by activists, socialists, communists, and those active in the labor movement in the early 1900s, ...

''.Denning, Michael, ''The Cultural Front: The Laboring of American Culture in the Twentieth Century,'' Verso (1998), , , p. 14 He maintained a garden at his vacation house, called Geer-Gore Gardens, in Nichols, Connecticut. He visited often and attended the local Fourth of July fireworks celebrations, sometimes wearing a black top hat or straw hat and always his trademark denim overalls with only one suspender hooked. He also had a small vacation house in Solana Beach, California, where his front and back yards were cultivated as vegetable gardens rather than lawns. As he was dying on April 22, 1978, of

respiratory failure Respiratory failure results from inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, meaning that the arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both cannot be kept at normal levels. A drop in the oxygen carried in the blood is known as hypoxemia; a rise ...

at the age of 76, his family sang Woody Guthrie's "

This Land Is Your Land "This Land Is Your Land" is one of the United States' most famous folk songs. Its lyrics were written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie in 1940 in critical response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America", with melody based on a Carter Fam ...

" and recited poems by Robert Frost at his deathbed. His remains were cremated; his ashes are buried at the

in the Shakespeare Garden in Topanga Canyon, California.Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Location 17144). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.

TV and filmography

*''

Misleading Lady ''The Misleading Lady'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Stuart Walker, and starring Claudette Colbert and Edmund Lowe. The film is based on the 1913 Broadway play by Charles W. Goddard and Paul Dickey. It is also a remake o ...

'' (1932) as McMahon – Asylum Guard *''

Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Grif ...

'' (1934) as West Fry *''

Wild Gold Wild, wild, wilds or wild may refer to: Common meanings * Wild animal * Wilderness, a wild natural environment * Wildness, the quality of being wild or untamed Art, media and entertainment Film and television * ''Wild'' (2014 film), a 2014 Am ...

'' (1934) as Poker Player (uncredited) *''

The Mystery of Edwin Drood ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' is the final novel by Charles Dickens, originally published in 1870. Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, it focuses more on Drood's uncle, John Jasper, a precentor, choirmaster and opium ...

'' (1935) as Village Lamplighter (uncredited) *''

Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pac ...

'' (1939) as Foreman (uncredited) *''

The Fight for Life ''The Fight for Life'' is a 1940 American medical drama film nominated for the Best Original Score of a Picture composed by Louis Gruenberg and released by Columbia Pictures. Plot At the City Hospital a young intern witnesses the death of a you ...

'' (1940) as 2nd Teacher *'' Deep Waters'' (1948) as Nick Driver *''

The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre ''The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre'' is an American anthology series that aired live on NBC Mondays at 8 pm EST from September 27, 1948 to June 26, 1950. The program presented both news headlines and live dramatic performances of either original plays ...

'' (1948) as Sam Hobbs *''

Johnny Allegro ''Johnny Allegro'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff and starring George Raft. An ex-gangster (Raft), temporarily working as a federal agent, runs afoul of a counterfeiting crime lord (Macready) who enjoys hunting.Everett Aa ...

'' (1949) as Schultzy *''

Lust for Gold ''Lust for Gold'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring Ida Lupino and Glenn Ford. The film is about the legendary Lost Dutchman gold mine, starring Ford as the "Dutchman" and Lupino as the woman he loves. ...

'' (1949) as Deputy Ray Covin *'' Anna Lucasta'' (1949) as Noah *''

Intruder in the Dust ''Intruder in the Dust '' is a 1948 crime novel written by American author William Faulkner. Taking place in Mississippi, it revolves around an African American farmer accused of murdering a Caucasian man. Overview The novel focuses on Lucas B ...

'' (1949) as Sheriff Hampton *''

The Kid from Texas ''The Kid from Texas'' is a 1950 American Western film that was Audie Murphy's first Technicolor Western and the first feature film on Murphy's Universal-International Pictures contract. It was directed by Kurt Neumann and featured Gale Storm ...

'' (1950) as O'Fallon *'' Comanche Territory'' (1950) as Dan'l Seeger *''

'' (1950) as Wyatt Earp *''

It's a Small World "It's a Small World" is a water-based boat ride located in the Fantasyland area at various Disney theme parks worldwide, including Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California; Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida; Tokyo D ...

'' (1950) as William Musk – Father *'' Broken Arrow'' (1950) as Ben Slade *''

Convicted In law, a conviction is the verdict reached by a court of law finding a defendant guilty of a crime. The opposite of a conviction is an acquittal (that is, "not guilty"). In Scotland, there can also be a verdict of " not proven", which is co ...

'' (1950) as Convict Mapes *''

To Please a Lady ''To Please a Lady'' is a 1950 American romance film produced and directed by Clarence Brown, and starring Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck. The climactic race scene was shot at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Plot Racing driver Mike Brannan ha ...

'' (1950) as Jack Mackay *'' Double Crossbones'' (1951) as Tom Botts *''

'' (1951) as Mr. Lawrence Nevins *''

The Tall Target ''The Tall Target'' is a 1951 American historical crime film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Dick Powell, Paula Raymond and Adolphe Menjou. Powell stars as a police sergeant who tries to stop the assassination of Abraham Lincoln at a train ...

'' (1951) as Homer Crowley – Train Conductor *''

Racket Squad ''Racket Squad'' is an American TV crime drama series that aired from 1951 to 1953. The format was a narrated anthology drama, as each individual episode featured various ordinary citizens getting ensnared in a different confidence scheme. E ...

'' (1951) as Harry Robinson *''

The Barefoot Mailman ''The Barefoot Mailman'' is a comedy-adventure film starring Robert Cummings and distributed by Columbia Pictures in 1951. The film was based on the 1943 novel ''The Barefoot Mailman'' by Theodore Pratt. Filmed in Super Cinecolor on location i ...

'' (1951) as Dan Paget – Miami Mayor / Postmaster *'' Salt of the Earth'' (1954) as Sheriff *''

The Searchers ''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American Technicolor VistaVision epic Western film directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May. It is set during the Texas-Native American wars, and stars John W ...

'' (1956) *'' Mobs, Inc.'' (1956) as Harry Robinson (archive footage) *''

Advise and Consent Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts. It describes either of two situations: where a weak executive branch of a government enacts something previ ...

'' (1962) as Senate Minority Leader *''

East Side/West Side ''East Side/West Side'' is an American drama series starring George C. Scott, Elizabeth Wilson, Cicely Tyson, and, later on, Linden Chiles. The series aired for one season (1963–1964), and was shown Monday nights on CBS. Set in New York City ...

'' (1964) as Brian Lincoln *''

Black Like Me ''Black Like Me'', first published in 1961, is a nonfiction book by journalist John Howard Griffin recounting his journey in the Deep South of the United States, at a time when African-Americans lived under racial segregation. Griffin was a nat ...

'' (1964) as Truckdriver *''

The Trials of O'Brien ''The Trials of O'Brien'' is a 1965 television series starring Peter Falk as sordid, Shakespeare-quoting lawyer Daniel O'Brien, and featuring Elaine Stritch as his secretary and Joanna Barnes as his ex-wife. The series ran for 22 episodes on C ...

'' (1966) as Judge Lindemann / Sheldon *'' Seconds'' (1966) as Old Man *''The Crucible'' (1967) as Giles *''

Garrison's Gorillas ''Garrison's Gorillas'' is an American Broadcasting Company, ABC Television program, TV series originally broadcast from 1967 to 1968; a total of 26 hour-long episodes were produced. It was inspired by the 1967 film ''The Dirty Dozen'', which fea ...

'' (1967) as Laski *'' In Cold Blood'' (1967) as Prosecutor *''

The President's Analyst ''The President's Analyst'' is a 1967 American satirical black comedy film written and directed by Ted Flicker and starring James Coburn. The film has elements of political satire and science fiction, including themes concerning modern ethics ...

'' (1967) as Dr. Lee-Evans *''

I Spy I spy is a guessing game where one player (the ''spy'' or ''it'') chooses an object within sight and announces to the other players that "I spy with my little eye something beginning with...", naming the first letter of the object. Other players a ...

'' (1968) as Uncle Harry *'' Run for Your Life'' (1968) as Judge David P. Andrews *''

'' (1968) as Candy *'' Mission: Impossible'' (1968) as Doc *''

The Invaders ''The Invaders'' is an American science-fiction television series created by Larry Cohen that aired on ABC for two seasons, from 1967 to 1968. Roy Thinnes stars as David Vincent, who after stumbling across evidence of an in-progress invas ...

'' (1968) as Hank Willis *''

Bandolero! ''Bandolero!'' is a 1968 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring James Stewart, Dean Martin, Raquel Welch and George Kennedy. The story centers on two brothers on the run from a posse, led by a local sheriff who want ...

'' (1968) as Pop Chaney *'' Gunsmoke'' (1968) as Slocum *'' Certain Honorable Men'' (1968) as Malcolm Stoddard *''

Mayberry R.F.D. ''Mayberry R.F.D.'' (abbreviation for Rural Free Delivery) is an American television series produced as a spin-off continuation of ''The Andy Griffith Show''. When star Andy Griffith decided to leave his series, most of the supporting character ...

'' (1969) as Captain Wolford *''

Here Come the Brides ''Here Come the Brides'' is an American comedy Western series from Screen Gems that aired on the ABC television network from September 25, 1968 to April 3, 1970. It was loosely based on Asa Mercer's efforts in the 1860s to import marriageable wo ...

'' (1969) as Benjamin Pruitt *'' Bonanza'' (1969–1971) as Ferris Callahan / Zach Randolph / Calvin Butler *''

Hawaii Five-O Hawaii Five-O or Hawaii Five-0 may refer to: * ''Hawaii Five-0'' (2010 TV series), an American action police procedural television series * ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1968 TV series), an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productio ...

'' (1969) as Professor Harold Lochner *''

Then Came Bronson ''Then Came Bronson'' is an American adventure/drama television series starring Michael Parks that aired on NBC. It was created by Denne Bart Petitclerc, and produced by MGM Television. ''Then Came Bronson'' began with a television film pilot ...

'' (1969) as Oliver Hidemann *''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'' (1969) as Adam *'' The Reivers'' (1969) as Boss McCaslin *''

I Walk The Line "I Walk the Line" is a song written and recorded in 1956 by Johnny Cash. After three attempts with moderate chart ratings, it became Cash's first #1 hit on the ''Billboard'' charts, eventually reaching #17 on the US pop charts. The song rema ...

'' (1970) (Grandpa Tawes voice dub) *'' The Name of the Game'' (1970) as Mac *''

The Moonshine War ''The Moonshine War'' is a 1970 American crime comedy-drama film directed by Richard Quine, based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard. It stars Patrick McGoohan, Richard Widmark, Alan Alda, and Will Geer. Plot John "Son" Mart ...

'' (1970) as Mr. Baylor *'' The Brotherhood of the Bell'' (1970) as Mike Patterson *'' Pieces of Dreams'' (1970) as The Bishop *'' The Bold Ones: The Senator'' (1970–1971) as Elliot Leveridge / Judge Scanlon / Ralph Turner *''

The Bill Cosby Show ''The Bill Cosby Show'' is an American sitcom television series, that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made in the series. It marked Bill ...

'' (1970) as Mr. Kane *'' Medical Center'' (1970–1974) as Coughlin *''Shooting the Moonshine War'' (1970) as Himself (uncredited) *'' The Bold Ones: The Lawyers'' (1970–1971) as Elliot Leveridge / Judge Scanlon / Ralph Turner *''Sam Hill: Who Killed Mr. Foster?'' (1971) as Simon Anderson *'' Love, American Style'' (1971) as Desk Clerk (segment "Love and the Pulitzer Prize") *'' Brother John'' (1971) as Doc Thomas *''

Cade's County ''Cade's County'' is a modern-day Western/ crime drama which aired Sundays at 9:30 pm (EST) on CBS during the 1971–1972 television season. There were 24 episodes. Synopsis ''Cade's County'' starred well-known Hollywood actor Glenn Ford as ...

'' (1971) as Hurley Gaines *''

Alias Smith and Jones ''Alias Smith and Jones'' is an American Western series that originally aired on ABC from January 1971 to January 1973. The show initially starred Pete Duel as Hannibal Heyes and Ben Murphy as Jedediah "Kid" Curry, outlaw cousins who are tryin ...

'' (1971) as Seth *'' O'Hara, U.S. Treasury'' (1971) as Singlefoot *''

The Jimmy Stewart Show ''The Jimmy Stewart Show'' is an American situation comedy starring James Stewart as a college professor in a small town who shares his home with three generations of his family. Twenty-four episodes of the show were broadcast during the 1971� ...

'' (1971) as Uncle Everett *''

'' (TV series) (1972–1978) as Zebulon Tyler Walton *''

Dear Dead Delilah ''Dear Dead Delilah'' is a 1972 American slasher film written and directed by John Farris and starring Agnes Moorehead, Will Geer, Michael Ansara, Dennis Patrick, Anne Meacham, and Robert Gentry. It follows a group of family members in a dilapida ...

'' (1972) as Roy Jurroe *'' The Scarecrow'' (1972) as Justice Gilead Merton *'' Bewitched'' (1972) as President George Washington *'' The Sixth Sense (TV series)'' (1972) as Rev. Jordan *'' Jeremiah Johnson'' (1972) as Bear Claw *''

The Rowdyman ''The Rowdyman'' is a 1972 comedy film with moralistic overtones, set in Newfoundland.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 185. It was written by and starred native Newfoundlander Gordon Pinsent. The film is ...

'' (1972) as Stan *''

Napoleon and Samantha ''Napoleon and Samantha'' is a 1972 American adventure drama film directed by Bernard McEveety and written by Stewart Raffill. Filmed in and around John Day, Oregon, it stars Johnny Whitaker and Jodie Foster (in her feature film debut) in the ...

'' (1972) as Grandpa *''

Night Gallery ''Night Gallery'' is an American anthology television series that aired on NBC from December 16, 1970, to May 27, 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, ''The Twilight Zone ...

'' (1973) as Walt Peckinpah *'' Columbo: A Stitch in Crime'' (1973) as Dr. Edmund Hidemann *''Brock's Last Case'' (1973) as J. Smiley Krenshaw *''

Harry O ''Harry O'', sometimes spelled ''Harry-O'', is an American Detective fiction, private detective series that aired for two seasons on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from 1974 to 1976. The series starred David Janssen, and Jerry Thorpe was exec ...

'' (1973) as Len McNeil *''

Savage Savage may refer to: Places Antarctica * Savage Glacier, Ellsworth Land * Savage Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land * Savage Ridge, Victoria Land United States * Savage, Maryland, an unincorporated community * Savage, Minnesota, a city * Savage, Mi ...

'' (1973) as Joel Ryker *''The Gift of Terror'' (Made for TV Film) (1973) as Ben *''

Kung Fu Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to commo ...

'' (1973) as Judge Emmitt Marcus *''

Isn't It Shocking? ''Isn't It Shocking?'' is a made-for-television comedy-mystery film that aired on the ABC network in 1973 as an ''ABC Movie of the Week''. Written by Lane Slate, it stars Alan Alda, Louise Lasser and Edmond O'Brien, and was directed by John Badha ...

'' (1973) as Lemuel Lovell *''

Doc Elliot ''Doc Elliot'' is an American medical drama series that aired on ABC from October 10, 1973 until May 1, 1974. Premise Dr Benjamin R. Elliot (James Franciscus) is a successful New York City doctor who decided to leave Bellevue Hospital, drop out o ...

'' (1973) as Paul Bartlett *'' Executive Action'' (1973) as Harold Ferguson *'' The Hanged Man'' (1974) as Nameless *''Silence'' (1974) as Crazy Jack *''Honky Tonk'' (1974) as Judge Cotton *''Memory of Us'' (1974) as Motel Manager *''

Hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...

'' (1974) as Dr. McCutcheon *'' The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery'' (1975) as Dr. Simpson *''

The Night That Panicked America '' The Night That Panicked America'' is an American made-for-television drama film that was originally broadcast on the ABC network on October 31, 1975. The telefilm dramatizes events surrounding Orson Welles' famous - and infamous - ''War of t ...

'' (1975) as Reverend Davis *'' The Blue Bird'' (1976) as Grandfather *''Law and Order'' (1976) as Pat Crowley *''

Moving Violation A moving violation is any violation of the law committed by the driver of a vehicle while it is in motion. The term "motion" distinguishes it from other motor vehicle violations, such as paperwork violations (which include violations involving ...

'' (1976) as Rockfield *'' Hollywood on Trial'' (1976) as Himself *'' Starsky & Hutch'' (1976) as Commodore Atwater *''

Hee Haw ''Hee Haw'' is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with the fictional rural "Kornfield Kounty" as the backdrop. It aired first-run on CBS from 1969 to 1971, in syndication from 1971 to 1993, and on TNN from 1 ...

'' (1976) as Himself *''

The Billion Dollar Hobo ''The Billion Dollar Hobo'' is a 1977 American comedy film starring Tim Conway and Will Geer (in his last role). Plot Conway is Vernon Praiseworthy, only heir to his uncle's fortune, who faced poverty and misfortune during the Great Depression b ...

'' (1977) as Choo-Choo Trayne *''

Eight Is Enough ''Eight Is Enough'' is an American television comedy-drama series that ran on ABC from March 15, 1977, until May 23, 1981. The show was modeled on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, who ...

'' (1977) as Sam *''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pa ...

'' (1977) as Franklyn Bootherstone *''

A Woman Called Moses ''A Woman Called Moses'' is a 1978 American television miniseries based on the life of Harriet Tubman, the escaped African American slave who helped to organize the Underground Railroad, and who led dozens of African Americans from Slavery in the ...

'' (1978) as Thomas Garrett *''Unknown Powers'' (1978) as Host *''CBS: On the Air'' (1978) *''

The Mafu Cage ''The Mafu Cage'' (also released as ''My Sister, My Love'', ''Deviation'' and ''Don't Ring the Doorbell'') is a 1978 American psychological horror film directed by Karen Arthur, and starring Carol Kane and Lee Grant. Its plot follows two siste ...

'' (1979) as Zom

Discography

*''Folkways: The Original Vision'' (2005)

Smithsonian Folkways Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was fo ...

*''Ecology Won: Readings by Will Geer and Ellen Geer'' (1978) Folkways Records *''Woody's Story: As Told by Will Geer and Sung by Dick Wingfield'' (1976) Folkways Records *''American History in Ballad and Song, Vol.2'' (1962) Folkways Records *''Mark Twain: Readings from the Stories and from "Huckleberry Finn"'' (1961) Folkways Records *''Hootenanny at Carnegie Hall'' (1960) Folkways Records *''Bound for Glory: Songs and Stories of Woody Guthrie'' (1956) Folkways Records

References

External links

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Discography
of Will Geer on Folkways {{DEFAULTSORT:Geer, Will 1902 births 1978 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male stage actors American male television actors Bisexual male actors Deaths from respiratory failure Hollywood blacklist LGBT people from Indiana Male actors from Indiana Male actors from Los Angeles County, California Members of the Communist Party USA Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners People from Frankfort, Indiana People from Topanga, California 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers American communists American bisexual actors American activists University of Chicago alumni American botanists People from Trumbull, Connecticut People from Solana Beach, California The Waltons