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 ...

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 Left, American socialism and anti-fascism. He ...

. 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 Frankfort is a city in Clinton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 16,422 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Clinton County. History Brothers John, William and Nicholas Pence, previously of Warren County, Ohio, settl ...

, 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, 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 university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...

. 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 shows and on riverboats. He worked on several

left Left may refer to: Music * ''Left'' (Hope of the States album), 2006 * ''Left'' (Monkey House album), 2016 * "Left", a song by Nickelback from the album ''Curb'', 1996 Direction * Left (direction), the relative direction opposite of right * L ...

-oriented documentaries, including narrating Sheldon Dick's ''Men and Dust'', about

silicosis Silicosis is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust. It is marked by inflammation and scarring in the form of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs. It is a type of pneumoconiosis. Silicosi ...

among miners. He created the role of Mr. Mister in

Marc Blitzstein Marcus Samuel Blitzstein (March 2, 1905January 22, 1964), was an American composer, lyricist, and librettist. He won national attention in 1937 when his pro- union musical '' The Cradle Will Rock'', directed by Orson Welles, was shut down by the ...

'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 ...

'', 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 prized r ...

'' (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 la ...

), '' Broken Arrow'', '' Comanche Territory'' (all 1950) and '' Bright Victory'' (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 o ...

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 be ...

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 Folkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987 and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways. History The Folkways Records & Servic ...

, 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, notabl ...

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, ...

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 193 ...

. 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'' is a radio play written by Norman Corwin and first performed on December 25, 1938. Plot The play, a fantasy told entirely in rhyme, begins with a narrative introduction. It proceeds without further narration, b ...

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

Blacklist

Geer was

blacklisted Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist (or black list) of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list. If someone is on a blacklist, t ...

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 Salt of the earth may refer to: Literature * A metaphor that occurs in the Sermon on the Mount, part of a discourse on salt and light * ''Salt of the Earth'', a book by Pope Benedict XVI Film * ''Salt of the Earth'' (1954 film), an American dr ...

'' (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 in Topanga, California, with his wife, actress Herta Ware. 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 ''110 in the Shade'' is a musical with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt. Based on Nash's 1954 play '' The Rainmaker'', it focuses on Lizzie Curry, a spinster living on a ranch in the American southwest ...

''. In 1967 he performed a soliloquy as the prosecutor delivering the closing argument against the two murderers in the film ''

In Cold Blood ''In Cold Blood'' is a non-fiction novel by American author Truman Capote, first published in 1966. It details the 1959 murders of four members of the Clutter family in the small farming community of Holcomb, Kansas. Capote learned of the ...

''. 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 Edgar John Bergen (born Edgar John Berggren; February 16, 1903 – September 30, 1978) was an American ventriloquist, actor, comedian, vaudevillian and radio performer, best known for his proficiency in ventriloquism and his characters C ...

, 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 Ellen Hansen Corby (June 3, 1911 – April 14, 1999) was an American actress and screenwriter. She played the role of Esther "Grandma" Walton on the CBS television series ''The Waltons'', for which she won three Emmy Awards. She was also ...

; 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 Herta Ware 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 ''T ...

. 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 The 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike (also known as the 1934 West Coast Longshoremen's Strike, as well as a number of variations on these names) lasted 83 days, and began on May 9, 1934 when longshoremen in every US West Coast port walked out. ...

, 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 university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a Normal school, teachers colle ...

to hand out leaflets for the American League Against War and Fascism. 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 The 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike (also known as the 1934 West Coast Longshoremen's Strike, as well as a number of variations on these names) lasted 83 days, and began on May 9, 1934 when longshoremen in every US West Coast port walked out ...

.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, t ...

''.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 Solana Beach (''Solana'', Spanish for "warm wind") is a coastal city in San Diego County, California. Its population was at 12,941 at the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 12,867 at the 2010 Census. History The area was first settled by the San Die ...

, 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 Robert Lee Frost (March26, 1874January29, 1963) was an American poet. His work was initially published in England before it was published in the United States. Known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American collo ...

at his deathbed. His remains were cremated; his ashes are buried at the Theatricum Botanicum 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'' (1932) as McMahon – Asylum Guard *''

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

'' (1934) as West Fry *'' Wild Gold'' (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 opiu ...

'' (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'' (1940) as 2nd Teacher *'' Deep Waters'' (1948) as Nick Driver *'' The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre'' (1948) as Sam Hobbs *'' Johnny Allegro'' (1949) as Schultzy *'' Lust for Gold'' (1949) as Deputy Ray Covin *'' Anna Lucasta'' (1949) as Noah *'' Intruder in the Dust'' (1949) as Sheriff Hampton *'' The Kid from Texas'' (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 ...

'' (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 con ...

'' (1950) as Convict Mapes *'' To Please a Lady'' (1950) as Jack Mackay *'' Double Crossbones'' (1951) as Tom Botts *'' Bright Victory'' (1951) as Mr. Lawrence Nevins *'' The Tall Target'' (1951) as Homer Crowley – Train Conductor *'' Racket Squad'' (1951) as Harry Robinson *'' The Barefoot Mailman'' (1951) as Dan Paget – Miami Mayor / Postmaster *''

'' (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 Way ...

'' (1956) *''

Mobs, Inc. ''Mobs, Inc.'' is a 1956 film directed by William Asher. It stars Reed Hadley and Lisa Howard. It was composed of three episodes from the American television series ''Racket Squad''. Plot Captain John Braddock schools a group of police recruits ...

'' (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 C ...

'' (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 n ...

'' (1964) as Truckdriver *'' The Trials of O'Brien'' (1966) as Judge Lindemann / Sheldon *''

Seconds The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds eac ...

'' (1966) as Old Man *''The Crucible'' (1967) as Giles *''

Garrison's Gorillas ''Garrison's Gorillas'' is an ABC 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 featured a similar scenario of training Allied priso ...

'' (1967) as Laski *''

'' (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 a ...

'' (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 ...

'' (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!'' (1968) as Pop Chaney *''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

'' (1968) as Slocum *''

Certain Honorable Men ''Certain Honorable Men'' is a 1968 American TV movie starring Van Heflin and Peter Fonda. It was written by Rod Serling. It was part of a series of specials called ''On Stage'' sponsored by Prudential. Cast *Van Heflin *Peter Fonda Production It ...

'' (1968) as Malcolm Stoddard *'' Mayberry R.F.D.'' (1969) as Captain Wolford *'' Here Come the Brides'' (1969) as Benjamin Pruitt *''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'' (1969–1971) as Ferris Callahan / Zach Randolph / Calvin Butler *'' Hawaii Five-O'' (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 w ...

'' (1969) as Adam *''

The Reivers ''The Reivers: A Reminiscence'', published in 1962, is the last novel by the American author William Faulkner. The bestselling novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1963. Faulkner previously won this award for his book ''A Fable'', ...

'' (1969) as Boss McCaslin *'' I Walk The Line'' (1970) (Grandpa Tawes voice dub) *''

The Name of the Game Name of the Game may refer to: Television * ''The Name of the Game'' (TV series), a 1968–1971 American drama ** ''Fame Is the Name of the Game'', a 1966 American television film and pilot for the series * "The Name of the Game" (''Grey's Anato ...

'' (1970) as Mac *'' The Moonshine War'' (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 Medical center or medical centre may refer to: Medical care * A collection of medical services on the same site, such as the services of a general practitioner, pharmacist, pathology, radiology, dentist etc. * Clinic * Hospital * Academic medic ...

'' (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 ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'' (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 S ...

'' (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 tr ...

'' (1971) as Seth *'' O'Hara, U.S. Treasury'' (1971) as Singlefoot *'' The Jimmy Stewart Show'' (1971) as Uncle Everett *''

'' (TV series) (1972–1978) as Zebulon Tyler Walton *'' Dear Dead Delilah'' (1972) as Roy Jurroe *''

The Scarecrow A scarecrow is a decoy used to discourage birds from disturbing crops. Scarecrow(s) or The Scarecrow(s) may also refer to: Comics * Scarecrow (DC Comics), a supervillain in the Batman series * Scarecrow (Marvel Comics), a supervillain * Straw Ma ...

'' (1972) as Justice Gilead Merton *''

Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typi ...

'' (1972) as President George Washington *'' The Sixth Sense (TV series)'' (1972) as Rev. Jordan *'' Jeremiah Johnson'' (1972) as Bear Claw *'' The Rowdyman'' (1972) as Stan *'' Napoleon and Samantha'' (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 private detective series that aired for two seasons on ABC from 1974 to 1976. The series starred David Janssen, and Jerry Thorpe was executive producer. ''Harry O'' followed the broadcas ...

'' (1973) as Len McNeil *'' Savage'' (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?'' (1973) as Lemuel Lovell *'' Doc Elliot'' (1973) as Paul Bartlett *''

Executive Action Executive actions of the CIA are directives issued to the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States. History The CIA was created under the National Security Act of 1947, which Harry S. Truman signed on July 26, 1947. Richard Bissell was ...

'' (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. Depe ...

'' (1974) as Dr. McCutcheon *''

The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery The ''Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery'' is a 1975 comedy-mystery film starring former " Bowery Boys" members Gabriel Dell and Huntz Hall, Jackie Coogan, and Joyce Van Patten. The film is a parody of the 1941 film noir '' The Maltese Falcon'' ...

'' (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 the ...

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

Hollywood on Trial ''Hollywood on Trial'' is a 1976 American documentary film directed by David Helpern. Synopsis The film chronicles the 1947 hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee, with a focus on the Hollywood Ten directors, screenwriters and ...

'' (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, w ...

'' (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'' (1978) as Thomas Garrett *''Unknown Powers'' (1978) as Host *''CBS: On the Air'' (1978) *'' The Mafu Cage'' (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 fou ...

*''Ecology Won: Readings by Will Geer and Ellen Geer'' (1978)

*''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