Dabbs Greer
Biography
Robert William Dabbs Greer was an American actor born on April 2, 1917, in Fairview, Missouri, and he died on April 28, 2007, at the age of 90. He performed many diverse supporting roles in film and television over a career lasting more than 50 years. With a distinctive voice and southern accent, Greer was well suited for rustic characters and westerns, and he also portrayed ministers in various television shows. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Reverend Robert Alden in the NBC series Little House on the Prairie. Additionally, earlier in his career, he had a recurring role as Coach Ossie Weiss in the NBC sitcom Hank.
Career overview
Dabbs Greer was an American actor who performed in film and television for over 50 years. He was known for his distinctive voice and southern accent, which made him a good fit for shows featuring rustic characters, particularly westerns. Greer's acting career spanned multiple genres, including westerns and sitcoms.
Greer had a recurring role as Coach Ossie Weiss in the NBC sitcom Hank. He also portrayed a minister in various shows. One of his most notable roles was as a character in NBC's Little House on the Prairie, where he played the Reverend Robert Alden. Greer's versatility as an actor allowed him to take on diverse supporting roles throughout his career.
Greer's extensive body of work includes over 200 acting credits. His performances were featured in a wide range of television shows and films, showcasing his ability to adapt to different roles and genres.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Walking the Mile (2014) as Self (voice) (archive footage)
- Family (2006) as Another Great-Grandfather
- Lizzie McGuire (2001) as Moe
- Maybe It's Me (2001) as Fred Stage
- Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile (2000) as Self (uncredited)
- The Green Mile (1999) as Old Paul Edgecomb
- Family Law (1999) as Frank Watson
- Con Air (1997) as Old Man Under Truck
- Ally McBeal (1997) as Vincent Robbins
- George & Leo (1997)
- Spin City (1996) as Dr. Marsh Laughlin, DDS
- Rebel Highway (1994) as Gary
- Little Giants (1994) as Wilbur
- Runaway Daughters (1994) as Gary
- Diagnosis: Murder (1993) as Danny McNamara
- Picket Fences (1992) as Rev. Henry Novotny
- House IV (1992) as Dad
- The Secret Of Lost Creek (1992)
- The Secret of Lost Creek (1991) as Henry Fogel
- Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1991) as Otto
- Pacific Heights (1990) as Mr. Thayer
- The Bradys (1990)
- Roseanne (1988)
- Two Moon Junction (1988) as Kyle
- Bonanza: The Next Generation (1988) as Sills
- Evil Town (1987) as Lyle Phelps
- L.A. Law (1986) as Chester Mead
- Charles in Charge (1984) as 'Buzz' Powell
- Little House: The Last Farewell (1984) as Rev. Robert Alden
- Little House: Look Back to Yesterday (1983) as Rev. Robert Alden
- Matt Houston (1982)
- The Greatest American Hero (1981) as Supervisor
- Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981) as Wally
- The Winds of Kitty Hawk (1978) as Ace Hutchin
- The Incredible Hulk (1977) as Dr. Malone
- Green Eyes (1977) as Mr. Cousins
- Charlie's Angels (1976) as Bluford Catlin
- Dr. Shagetz (1975) as Lyle Phelps
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as Robert Alden
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Peter Preli
- The Manhunter (1974)
- Paper Moon (1974)
- The Greatest Gift (1974) as Deacon Hurd
- Firehouse (1974)
- Barnaby Jones (1973) as Andy Spake
- White Lightning (1973) as Pa McKlusky
- Ghost Story (1972) as Harry Bell
- The Rookies (1972)
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972) as Watchman
- Rage (1972) as Dr. Thompson
- Cannon (1971)
- Nichols (1971) as Harrigan
- The Cheyenne Social Club (1970) as Jedediah W. Willowby
- The Boy Who Stole the Elephant (1970) as Stilts
- The Brady Bunch (1969) as Minister
- Adam-12 (1968) as Dave Carson
- The Mod Squad (1968) as Store Owner
- Lancer (1968)
- The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968) as Norrie Coolidge
- Ironside (1967)
- Ironside (1967) as Mr. Carew
- Mannix (1967)
- Mannix (1967) as Petey O'Grady (uncredited)
- Mannix (1967) as Dan Turpin
- The Invaders (1967) as The Minister
- The Second Hundred Years (1967) as General Craven
- Rango (1967)
- The Wild Wild West (1965)
- The Big Valley (1965) as Matt Carson
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Paul Leonard
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Van Doyle
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Alvin Van Doyle
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Harry Porter
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Orkin
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Patrick Owens
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Arlie Sessions
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Howard Deal
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Sal Cleary
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Kelsey Waller
- Laredo (1965)
- Hank (1965) as Coach Ossie Weiss
- Shenandoah (1965) as Abernathy
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964) as Policeman
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964) as Harper Caldwell
- Wendy and Me (1964)
- The Cara Williams Show (1964)
- Roustabout (1964) as Arthur Nielsen
- The Fugitive (1963) as Mayor Duncan
- The Fugitive (1963) as Sheriff Claypool
- The Fugitive (1963) as Jensen
- The Fugitive (1963) as Charlie Fletcher
- The Fugitive (1963) as Hotel Clerk Thomas
- The Fugitive (1963) as Sgt. Fairfield (uncredited)
- Petticoat Junction (1963) as Mr. Peck
- The Outer Limits (1963) as Mr. Bishop
- The Outer Limits (1963) as E. F. Larkin
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Newton Yort
- Arrest and Trial (1963) as J. H. Salomon
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1963) as Charles
- Palm Springs Weekend (1963) as Boys' Club Leader (uncredited)
- Showdown (1963) as Express Man
- The Virginian (1962) as Doc
- The Virginian (1962) as Ed Harger
- Stoney Burke (1962)
- Saints and Sinners (1962) as Walter Hines
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) as Chaplain Berger
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) as Mr. Berger
- The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) as Mr. Waring
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Willie Beal
- Ichabod and Me (1961)
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Naylor
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Greendale Councilman Dobbs
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Sales Clerk
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Mr. Sims
- Surfside 6 (1960) as Finney Tate
- Checkmate (1960) as Hokey
- Stagecoach West (1960) as Foster
- Cash McCall (1960) as Bronson (uncredited)
- Bonanza (1959) as Doc Tasker Dunkatt
- Bonanza (1959) as Mercantile Owner
- Bonanza (1959) as Judge
- Bonanza (1959) as Sam
- Bonanza (1959) as Hub Dawes
- Bonanza (1959) as Will Cass
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Scanlan
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Evans
- Rawhide (1959) as Jebidiah Haddlebird
- Rawhide (1959) as Sheriff
- The Untouchables (1959) as Thomas B. Randall
- The Untouchables (1959) as Brower
- The Untouchables (1959) as Agent Ned Ferber
- The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959)
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) as Reverend Forbes
- The Detectives (1959)
- The Detectives (1959) as The Man
- Black Saddle (1959) as Owen Edwards
- Black Saddle (1959) as Denver Pollock
- Johnny Ringo (1959) as Sam
- The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959) as Dr. Meeker
- Tightrope (1959) as Skeet
- Law of the Plainsman (1959) as Wesley
- Wichita Town (1959)
- The Troubleshooters (1959) as Lepage
- Last Train from Gun Hill (1959) as Deputy Andy
- Edge of Eternity (1959) as Gas Station Attendant
- Day of the Outlaw (1959) as Doc Langer, Veterinarian
- Lone Texan (1959) as Doc Jansen
- The Rifleman (1958) as Farley
- The Rifleman (1958) as Marcus Trimble
- The Rifleman (1958) as Bert Taylor
- The Rifleman (1958) as Jack Scully
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Will
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Tom Wade
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Elder Luke Boone
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Bartender
- Lawman (1958) as Les Courtney
- Steve Canyon (1958) as Ben Moore
- It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) as Eric Royce
- I Want to Live! (1958) as San Quentin Capt.
- Perry Mason (1957) as Dave Kirby
- Perry Mason (1957) as Bill Cotton
- Perry Mason (1957) as Hal Kirkwood
- Perry Mason (1957) as Buzz Farrell
- Perry Mason (1957) as Jack Tabor
- Perry Mason (1957) as Larsen Halstead
- Perry Mason (1957) as Dodson
- Perry Mason (1957) as Charles Knudsen
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957) as Scooter Jaffee
- Trackdown (1957) as Ward Barrett
- Trackdown (1957) as Mike Kilroy
- Trackdown (1957) as Sheriff Chet Farrow
- The Thin Man (1957)
- Official Detective (1957)
- My Man Godfrey (1957) as Lieutenant O'Connor
- Baby Face Nelson (1957) as FBI Agent Charles Bonner
- All Mine to Give (1957) as Clendenning
- The Vampire (1957) as Dr. Will Beaumont
- The Spirit of St. Louis (1957) as Goldsborough (uncredited)
- The Hired Man (1957) as Bill Rockwell
- The Giant Claw (1957) as Fighter Pilot, (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Pawnee (1957) as John Brewster
- Johnny Tremain (1957) as Nat Lorne
- Young and Dangerous (1957) as Mr. John Clinton
- Chain of Evidence (1957) as Dr. Ainsley - Psychiatrist
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sam
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Simon Marsh
- State Trooper (1956) as Ed Grimes
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) as Mack Lomax
- Tension at Table Rock (1956) as Doctor (uncredited)
- D-Day the Sixth of June (1956) as Driver
- Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956) as Mr. Smith-Johnson (uncredited)
- Hot Cars (1956) as Det. Davenport
- The Young Guns (1956) as Fred
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) as Marshal Crawford
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Jonas
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Uncle Wesley
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Joe Bean
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Mr. Jonas
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as The Sheriff
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Theodore the Milkman
- Navy Log (1955)
- Frontier (1955) as Ray
- Frontier (1955) as Marshal
- Stranger on Horseback (1955) as Hotel Clerk
- An Annapolis Story (1955) as Cmdr. Halleck (uncredited)
- The Scarlet Coat (1955) as Capt. Brewster
- The Seven Little Foys (1955) as Tutor
- At Gunpoint (1955) as Funeral Minister
- Foxfire (1955) as Bus Driver (uncredited)
- Lassie (1954)
- Father Knows Best (1954)
- Studio 57 (1954) as Sheriff Barton
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Will (uncredited)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Fort Supplier (uncredited)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Stilts
- The Lone Wolf (1954) as Sheriff Ketton
- She Couldn't Say No (1954) as Dick Jordan
- Living It Up (1954) as Leader of the Boy Rangers (uncredited)
- Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) as Schuyler
- Bitter Creek (1954) as Sheriff
- Private Hell 36 (1954) as Sam Marvin (uncredited)
- The Desperado (1954) as U.S. Marshal Jim Langley
- Lucky Me (1954) as Eddie Szczepanski (uncredited)
- Topper (1953) as Jack
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Dewey Mason
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Walter Harrison
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Dr. Baker
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Fred Blanchard
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Dr. Merrill
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Chester Ives
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Dentist
- Letter to Loretta (1953) as Les Shaw
- The Man Behind the Badge (1953)
- House of Wax (1953) as Shane
- Half a Hero (1953) as George Payson
- Julius Caesar (1953) as Citizen of Rome (uncredited)
- Affair with a Stranger (1953) as Happy Murray
- Take the High Ground! (1953) as Shorty (uncredited)
- Remains to Be Seen (1953) as Julius (uncredited)
- China Venture (1953) as Galuppo
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Tom
- A Slight Case of Larceny (1953) as Eddie
- Trouble Along the Way (1953) as Father Peterson
- Mister Scoutmaster (1953) as Fireman (uncredited)
- Mission Over Korea (1953) as Pilot
- Adventures of Superman (1952)
- Adventures of Superman (1952) as Joe Winters
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as John Adams
- Cavalcade of America (1952) as Johann
- Cavalcade of America (1952)
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) as Studio Lighting Technician (uncredited)
- Sally and Saint Anne (1952) as Mr. Parker
- Monkey Business (1952) as Cabbie (uncredited)
- Young Man with Ideas (1952) as Telephone Man (uncredited)
- Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) as Reporter (uncredited)
- Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) as Day Reporter (uncredited)
- We're Not Married! (1952) as Beauty Contest Spectator (uncredited)
- Because of You (1952) as Tijuana Shop Owner (uncredited)
- Room for One More (1952) as Scoutmaster (uncredited)
- Scarlet Angel (1952) as Robbery Victim
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Charlie
- The Unknown Man (1951) as Ambulance Interne Driver (uncredited)
- Father's Little Dividend (1951) as Green Taxicab's Driver (uncredited)
- Storm Warning (1951) as Courtroom Cop (uncredited)
- Week-End with Father (1951) as Minor Role (uncredited)
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as MacGuire
- Dick Tracy (1950) as Shaky
- California Passage (1950) as Dealer (uncredited)
- The Damned Don't Cry (1950) as Reporter (uncredited)
- Devil's Doorway (1950) as Spud Keith (uncredited)
- Reign of Terror (1949) as Bridge Guard (uncredited)