Will Geer

Known For: Acting
Born: March 9, 1902
Place of Birth: Frankfort, Indiana, USA
Died: April 22, 1978

Will Geer

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 a…

Filmography

Will Geer: America's Grandpa

2019

Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970

2019 · Narrator

In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s

2017 · Self

Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death

2005 · Host

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987 · Self (archive footage)

The New Deal for Artists

1981 · Self

The Man Who Loved Bears

The Man Who Loved Bears

1979 · Narrator

A Woman Called Moses

1978 · Thomas Garrett

Rip Van Winkle

1978 · Narrator (voice)

The Mafu Cage

1978 · Zom

Unknown Powers

1978 · Host

The Billion Dollar Hobo

1977 · Choo-Choo Trayne

The Love Boat

1977 · Franklyn Bootherstone

Eight Is Enough

1977

Bunco

1977

Moving Violation

1976 · Rockfield

Law and Order

1976 · Pat Crowley

The Blue Bird

1976 · Grandfather

The Night That Panicked America

1975 · Reverend Davis

Starsky & Hutch

1975 · Commodore Atwater

The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery

1975 · Dr. Simpson

Tony Orlando and Dawn

1974 · Self

The Lives of Benjamin Franklin

1974

Dinah!

1974 · Self

Hurricane

1974 · Dr. McCutcheon

Memory of Us

1974 · Motel Manager

Silence

1974 · Crazy Jack

Honky Tonk

1974 · Judge Cotton

The Hanged Man

1974 · Nameless

Executive Action

1973 · Ferguson

Doc Elliot

1973 · Paul Bartlett

Isn't It Shocking?

1973 · Lemuel Lovell

A Gift of Terror

1973 · Ben

Savage!

1973 · Joel Ryker

Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On

1973 · Len McNeil

Brock's Last Case

1973 · J. Smiley Krenshaw

The ABC Afternoon Playbreak

1972 · Ben

Kung Fu

1972 · Judge Emmitt Marcus

The Waltons

1972 · Grandfather Walton

Jeremiah Johnson

1972 · Bear Claw

Napoleon and Samantha

1972 · Grandpa

The Rowdyman

1972 · Stan

Dear Dead Delilah

1972 · Roy Jurroe

The Sixth Sense

1972

Scarecrow

1972 · Justice Gilead Merton

Columbo

1971 · Edmund Hidemann

Brother John

1971 · Doc Thomas

Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?

1971 · Simon Anderson

Alias Smith and Jones

1971 · Seth

Pieces of Dreams

1970 · The Bishop

The Brotherhood of the Bell

1970 · Mike Patterson

The Bold Ones: The Senator

1970 · Senator Homer Bryant Wydell

The Moonshine War

1970 · Mr. Baylor

The Reivers

1969 · Boss

Medical Center

1969

The Courtship of Eddie's Father

1969 · Harry I. Madison

Then Came Bronson

1969 · Oliver Hidemann

The Bill Cosby Show

1969 · Mr. Kane

Mayberry R.F.D.

1968 · Captain Charles Wolford

Hawaii Five-O

1968 · Professor Harold Lochner

Certain Honorable Men

1968 · Malcolm Stoddard

Bandolero!

1968 · Pop Chaney

Of Mice and Men

1968 · Candy

The President's Analyst

1967 · Dr. Lee-Evan

In Cold Blood

1967 · Prosecutor

Garrison's Gorillas

1967

The Crucible

1967 · Giles Corey

The Invaders

1967 · Hank Willis

Seconds

1966 · Old Man

Mission: Impossible

1966 · Doc

The Trials of O'Brien

1965 · Judge Lindemann

Run for Your Life

1965 · Judge David P. Andrews

Daniel Boone

1964 · Adam Jarrett

Bewitched

1964 · , George Washington

Black Like Me

1964 · Truckdriver

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962 · Self

Advise & Consent

1962 · Senate Minority Leader

The Mike Douglas Show

1961 · Self

Bonanza

1959 · Zach Randolph, Ferris Callahan, Calvin Butler

Tony Awards

1956 · Self - Performer

Mobs, Inc.

1956 · Harry Robinson

Gunsmoke

1955 · Slocum

Salt of the Earth

1954 · Sheriff

The Barefoot Mailman

1951 · Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster

The Tall Target

1951 · Homer Crowley

Bright Victory

1951 · Mr. Nevins

Racket Squad

1951

Double Crossbones

1951 · Tom Botts

To Please a Lady

1950 · Jack Mackay

Convicted

1950 · Convict Mapes

Broken Arrow

1950 · Ben Slade

Winchester '73

1950 · Wyatt Earp

It's a Small World

1950 · William Musk - Father

Comanche Territory

1950 · Dan'l Seeger

The Kid from Texas

1950 · O'Fallon

Intruder in the Dust

1949 · Sheriff Hampton

Anna Lucasta

1949 · Noah

Lust for Gold

1949 · Deputy Ray Covin

Johnny Allegro

1949 · Schultzy

Deep Waters

1948 · Nick Driver

Men and Dust

1940 · Narrator (voice)

The Fight for Life

The Fight for Life

1940 · Ballou

Tall Tales

1940 · Self

Union Pacific

1939 · Foreman (uncredited)

Becky Sharp

1935 · Spectator (uncredited)

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

1935 · Village Lamplighter (uncredited)

Wild Gold

1934 · Poker Player (uncredited)

Spitfire

1934 · West Fry

The Misleading Lady

1932 · McMahon - Asylum Guard

Will Geer · Virelixia