Will Geer (born William Aughe Ghere; March 9, 1902 – April 22, 1978) was an American actor, musician, and activist. He was best known for his roles in Winchester '73, Jeremiah Johnson, and The Waltons, co-starring in the latter for six seasons until his death during hiatus.
Geer was frequently the center of controversy. He was a member of the Communist Party and was blacklisted during the 1950s Red Scare for not naming others who had attended meetings. An active bisexual, he had an affair with pioneering gay rights activist Harry Hay.
Geer was married to actress Herta Ware, with whom he had three children including actress Ellen Geer. He died of respiratory illness at the age of 76.
Will Geer filmography:
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Film roles
- 1932 The Misleading Lady: McMahon – Asylum Guard
- 1934 Spitfire: West Fry
- 1934 Wild Gold: Poker Player (
Uncredited Role) - 1935 The Mystery Of Edwin Drood: Village Lamplighter (Uncredited)
- 1935 Becky Sharp: Spectator (Uncredited)
- 1939 Union Pacific: Foreman (Uncredited)
- 1940 The Fight For Life: 2nd Teacher
- 1948 Deep Waters: Nick Driver
- 1949 Johnny Allegro: Schultzy
- 1949 Lust for Gold: Deputy Ray Covin
- 1949 Anna Lucasta: Noah
- 1949 Intruder In The Dust: Sheriff Hampton
- 1950 The Kid From Texas: O’Fallon
- 1950 Comanche Territory: Dan’l Seeger
- 1950 Winchester '73: Marshal Wyatt Earp
- 1950 Its A Small World: William Musk – Father
- 1950 Broken Arrow (1950): Ben Slade
- 1950 Convicted: Mapes – Convict
- 1950 To Please A Lady: Jack Mackay
- 1951 Double Crossbones: Tom Botts
- 1951 Bright Victory: Mr. Nevins
- 1951 The Tall Target: Homer Crowley – Train Conductor
- 1951 FBI Girl: McAllister – Police Identification Department
- 1951 The Barefoot Mailman: Dan Paget – Miami Mayor – Postmaster
- 1954 Salt of the Earth: Sheriff
- 1962 Advise & Consent: Senate Minority Leader
- 1964 Black Like Me: Truckdriver
- 1966 Seconds (1966): Old Man
- 1967 The Crucible: Giles Corey (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1967 In Cold Blood: Prosecutor
- 1967 The President's Analyst: Dr. Lee-Evan
- 1967 Of Mice and Men: Candy (TV Movie)
- 1968 Bandolero: Pop Chaney
- 1968 Certain Honorable Men: Malcolm Stoddard (TV Movie)
- 1969 The Reivers: Boss McCaslin
- 1970 The Moonshine War: Mr. Baylor
- 1970 The Brotherhood Of The Bell: Mike Patterson (TV Movie)
- 1970 Pieces Of Dreams: The Bishop
- 1971 Who Killed The Mysterious Mr Foster: Simon Anderson (TV Movie)
- 1971 Brother John: Doc Thomas
- 1972 The Scarecrow: Justice Gilead Merton (TV Movie)
- 1972 Jeremiah Johnson: Bear Claw
- 1972 The Rowdyman: Stan
- 1972 Napoleon And Samantha: Grandpa
- 1972 Dear Dead Delilah: Roy Jurroe
- 1973 Brocks Last Case: J. Smiley Krenshaw (TV Movie)
- 1973 Savage: Joel Ryker (TV Movie)
- 1973 Isn't It Shocking?: Lemuel Lovell (TV Movie)
- 1973 Executive Action: Ferguson
- 1974 The Hanged Man: Nameless (TV Movie)
- 1974 Honky Tonk: Judge Cotton
- 1974 Silence: Crazy Jack
- 1974 The Memory Of Us: Motel Manager
- 1974 Hurricane: Dr. McCutcheon (TV Movie)
- 1975 The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery: Dr. Simpson
- 1975 The Night That Panicked America: Reverend Davis (TV Movie)
- 1976 The Blue Bird: Grandfather
- 1976 Law and Order: Pat Crowley (TV Movie)
- 1976 Moving Violation: Rockfield
- 1976 The Sad And Lonely Sundays: Lucas Wembley (TV Movie)
- 1977 The Billion Dollar Hobo: Choo-Choo Trayne
- 1978 The Mafu Cage: Zom
Short film roles
- 1940 Natures Nursery: Narrator
- 1978 Rip Van Winkle: Narrator
Television roles
- 1948 The Chevrolet Tele Theatre: Sam Hobbs (1 episode)
- 1951 Racket Squad: Harry Robinson (1 episode)
- 1964 East Side West Side: Brian Lincoln (1 episode)
- 1966 The Trials Of O Brien: Sheldon/Judge Lindemann (2 episodes)
- 1967 Garrison's Gorillas: Laski (1 episode)
- 1968 I Spy: Uncle Harry (1 episode)
- 1968 Run For Your Life: Judge David P. Andrews (1 episode)
- 1968 Mission: Impossible: Doc (1 episode)
- 1968 The Invaders (1967): Hank Willis (1 episode)
- 1968 Gunsmoke: Slocum (1 episode)
- 1969 Mayberry R.F.D.: Captain Wolford (2 episodes)
- 1969 Here Come the Brides: Benjamin Pruitt (1 episode)
- 1969 Hawaii Five-O: Professor Lochner (1 episode)
- 1969 Then Came Bronson: Oliver Hidemann (1 episode)
- 1969 Daniel Boone: Adam Jarrett (1 episode)
- 1969–71 Bonanza: Calvin Butler/Zach Randolph/Ferris Callahan (3 episodes)
- 1970 The Name Of The Game: Mac (1 episode)
- 1970 The Bold Ones The Senator: Senator Homer Bryant Wydell (1 episode)
- 1970 The Bill Cosby Show: Mr. Kane (1 episode)
- 1970 The Young Rebels: Mayor Larkin (3 episodes)
- 1970 The Courtship of Eddie's Father: Harry I. Madison (1 episode)
- 1970–71 The Bold Ones The Lawyers: Ralph Turner/Judge Scanlon/Elliot Leveridge (3 episodes)
- 1970–74 Medical Center: Jess Calhoun/Coughlin/Loriss (3 episodes)
- 1971 Love, American Style: Desk Clerk (1 episode)
- 1971 Cade's County: Hurley Gaines (1 episode)
- 1971 Alias Smith and Jones: Seth (1 episode)
- 1971 The Jimmy Stewart Show: Uncle Everett (1 episode)
- 1971 Owen Marshall Counselor At Law: Ben Hale (1 episode)
- 1971 O Hara US Treasury: Singlefoot (1 episode)
- 1972 Bewitched: George Washington (2 episodes)
- 1972 The Sixth Sense: Rev. Jordan (2 episodes)
- 1972–78 The Waltons: Grandpa Zebulon “Zeb” Walton
- 1973 Columbo: Dr. Edmund Hidemann (1 episode)
- 1973 Harry O: Len McNeil (1 episode)
- 1973 The ABC Afternoon Playbreak: Ben (1 episode)
- 1973 Kung Fu (1972): Judge Emmitt Marcus (1 episode)
- 1973 Night Gallery: Walt Peckinpah (1 episode)
- 1973 Doc Elliot: Paul Bartlett (1 episode)
- 1976 Starsky & Hutch: Commander Atwater (2 episodes)
- 1977 Eight is Enough: Sam (1 episode)
- 1977 The Love Boat: Franklyn Bootherstone (1 episode)
- 1978 A Woman Called Moses: Thomas Garrett
