Will Geer
Biography
Will Geer, born William Aughe Ghere on March 9, 1902, in Frankfort, Indiana, was an American actor, musician, and social activist. He was active in labor organizing and communist movements in New York City and Southern California during the 1930s. Geer is remembered for his portrayal of Grandpa Zebulon Tyler Walton in the 1970s television series The Waltons. His career included appearances in numerous films and theatrical productions, such as Winchester '73, in which he played Wyatt Earp, Broken Arrow, and Comanche Territory. He 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, and played Candy in John Steinbeck's theatrical adaptation of Of Mice and Men. Geer died on April 22, 1978, in Los Angeles, California.
Career overview
Will Geer was born William Aughe Ghere on March 9, 1902, in Frankfort, Indiana, and passed away on April 22, 1978, at the age of 76 in Los Angeles, California. He was an American actor, musician, and social activist who was active in labor organizing and communist movements in New York City and Southern California during the 1930s.
In his theatrical career, Geer made his Broadway debut as Pistol in a 1928 production of Much Ado About Nothing. He went on to create 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.
Transitioning to film, Geer appeared in more than a dozen movies between 1948 and 1951. His film credits include Winchester '73, in which he portrayed Wyatt Earp, as well as Broken Arrow and Comanche Territory, all released in 1950. On television, he is remembered for his portrayal of Grandpa Zebulon Tyler Walton in the 1970s television series The Waltons. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 109 known acting credits.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
112 titles- Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970 (2019) as Narrator
- Will Geer: America's Grandpa (2019)
- In Hollywood's Backyard: Topanga in the 1970s (2017) as Self
- Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death (2005) as Host
- James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987) as Self (archive footage)
- The New Deal for Artists (1981) as Self
- The Man Who Loved Bears (1979) as Narrator
- Unknown Powers (1978) as Host
- The Mafu Cage (1978) as Zom
- A Woman Called Moses (1978) as Thomas Garrett
- Rip Van Winkle (1978) as Narrator (voice)
- The Love Boat (1977) as Franklyn Bootherstone
- Eight Is Enough (1977)
- The Billion Dollar Hobo (1977) as Choo-Choo Trayne
- Bunco (1977)
- The Blue Bird (1976) as Grandfather
- Moving Violation (1976) as Rockfield
- Law and Order (1976) as Pat Crowley
- Starsky & Hutch (1975) as Commodore Atwater
- The Night That Panicked America (1975) as Reverend Davis
- The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery (1975) as Dr. Simpson
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Tony Orlando and Dawn (1974) as Self
- Silence (1974) as Crazy Jack
- The Lives of Benjamin Franklin (1974)
- The Hanged Man (1974) as Nameless
- Honky Tonk (1974) as Judge Cotton
- Hurricane (1974) as Dr. McCutcheon
- Memory of Us (1974) as Motel Manager
- Executive Action (1973) as Ferguson
- Doc Elliot (1973) as Paul Bartlett
- Savage! (1973) as Joel Ryker
- Isn't It Shocking? (1973) as Lemuel Lovell
- A Gift of Terror (1973) as Ben
- Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On (1973) as Len McNeil
- Brock's Last Case (1973) as J. Smiley Krenshaw
- The Waltons (1972) as Grandfather Walton
- The Sixth Sense (1972)
- Jeremiah Johnson (1972) as Bear Claw
- Napoleon and Samantha (1972) as Grandpa
- The ABC Afternoon Playbreak (1972) as Ben
- Kung Fu (1972) as Judge Emmitt Marcus
- Dear Dead Delilah (1972) as Roy Jurroe
- Scarecrow (1972) as Justice Gilead Merton
- The Rowdyman (1972) as Stan
- Columbo (1971) as Edmund Hidemann
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971) as Seth
- Brother John (1971) as Doc Thomas
- Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster? (1971) as Simon Anderson
- The Bold Ones: The Senator (1970) as Senator Homer Bryant Wydell
- The Moonshine War (1970) as Mr. Baylor
- Pieces of Dreams (1970) as The Bishop
- The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970) as Mike Patterson
- Medical Center (1969)
- The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969) as Harry I. Madison
- The Bill Cosby Show (1969) as Mr. Kane
- Then Came Bronson (1969) as Oliver Hidemann
- The Reivers (1969) as Boss
- Hawaii Five-O (1968) as Professor Harold Lochner
- Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) as Captain Charles Wolford
- Bandolero! (1968) as Pop Chaney
- Certain Honorable Men (1968) as Malcolm Stoddard
- Of Mice and Men (1968) as Candy
- The Invaders (1967) as Hank Willis
- Garrison's Gorillas (1967)
- In Cold Blood (1967) as Prosecutor
- The President's Analyst (1967) as Dr. Lee-Evan
- The Crucible (1967) as Giles Corey
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Doc
- Seconds (1966) as Old Man
- Run for Your Life (1965) as Judge David P. Andrews
- The Trials of O'Brien (1965) as Judge Lindemann
- Bewitched (1964)
- Bewitched (1964) as George Washington
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Adam Jarrett
- Black Like Me (1964) as Truckdriver
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Advise & Consent (1962) as Senate Minority Leader
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Bonanza (1959) as Zach Randolph
- Bonanza (1959) as Ferris Callahan
- Bonanza (1959) as Calvin Butler
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer
- Mobs, Inc. (1956) as Harry Robinson
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Slocum
- Salt of the Earth (1954) as Sheriff
- Racket Squad (1951)
- Bright Victory (1951) as Mr. Nevins
- The Tall Target (1951) as Homer Crowley
- Double Crossbones (1951) as Tom Botts
- The Barefoot Mailman (1951) as Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster
- Broken Arrow (1950) as Ben Slade
- Winchester '73 (1950) as Wyatt Earp
- The Kid from Texas (1950) as O'Fallon
- Convicted (1950) as Convict Mapes
- Comanche Territory (1950) as Dan'l Seeger
- It's a Small World (1950) as William Musk - Father
- To Please a Lady (1950) as Jack Mackay
- Lust for Gold (1949) as Deputy Ray Covin
- Intruder in the Dust (1949) as Sheriff Hampton
- Johnny Allegro (1949) as Schultzy
- Anna Lucasta (1949) as Noah
- Deep Waters (1948) as Nick Driver
- Men and Dust (1940) as Narrator (voice)
- The Fight for Life (1940) as Ballou
- Tall Tales (1940) as Self
- Union Pacific (1939) as Foreman (uncredited)
- The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935) as Village Lamplighter (uncredited)
- Becky Sharp (1935) as Spectator (uncredited)
- Spitfire (1934) as West Fry
- Wild Gold (1934) as Poker Player (uncredited)
- The Misleading Lady (1932) as McMahon - Asylum Guard
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Will Geer best known for?
Will Geer is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Unknown Powers (1978), The Mafu Cage (1978), A Woman Called Moses (1978), The Love Boat (1977).
When and where was Will Geer born?
Will Geer was born on March 9, 1902 in Frankfort, Indiana, USA. They passed away on April 22, 1978.
How many credits does Will Geer have?
Will Geer has accumulated over 112 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1932 to 2019.
What is Will Geer's background in cinema and television?
Will Geer, born William Aughe Ghere on March 9, 1902, in Frankfort, Indiana, was an American actor, musician, and social activist. He was active in labor organizing and communist movements in New York City and Southern California during the 1930s. Geer is remembered for his portrayal of Grandpa Zebulon Tyler Walton in ...