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 and Hay gave support to a labor strike of the port of San Francisco; the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which lasted 83 days. Though marred by violence, it was an organizing triumph, one that became a model for future union strikes Geer became a reader of the West Coast Communist newspaper People's World. Geer became a dedicated activist, touring government work camps in the 1930s with folk singers like Burl Ives and Woody Guthrie (whom he introduced to the People's World and the Daily Worker; Guthrie would go on to write a column for the latter paper). In 1956, the duo released an album together on Folkways Records, titled Bound for Glory: Songs and Stories of Woody Guthrie. In his biography, fellow organizer and homosexual rights pioneer Harry Hay described Geer's activism and outlined their activities while organizing for the strike. Geer is credited with introducing Guthrie to Pete Seeger at the 'Grapes of Wrath' benefit Geer organized in 1940 for migrant farm workers. Geer acted with the Group Theatre (New York) studying under Harold Clurman, Cheryl Crawford and Lee Strasberg. Geer also acted in radio, appearing as Mephistopheles (the Devil) in the 1938 and 1944 productions of Norman Corwin's The Plot to Overthrow Christmas. He also acted in the radio soap opera Bright Horizon. Geer was blacklisted in the early 1950s for refusing to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. As a result, Geer appeared in very few films over the next decade. Among them was Salt of the Earth (1954) which was produced, directed, written, and starring blacklisted Hollywood personnel and 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.

Filmografie 32

Alles Films 31Series 1

Sorteren op Populairst Nieuwste eerst Oudste eerst

Winchester '73 1950Film als Wyatt Earp

Broken Arrow 1950Film als Ben Slade

Jeremiah Johnson 1972Film +1 als Bear Claw

Intruder in the Dust 1949Film als Sheriff Hampton

In Cold Blood 1967Film als Prosecutor

Bandolero! 1968Film als Pop Chaney

Double Crossbones 1951Film als Tom Botts

A Woman Called Moses 1978Serie als Thomas Garrett

Seconds 1966Film als Old Man

The President's Analyst 1967Film als Dr. Lee-Evan

Executive Action 1973Film als Ferguson

The Mafu Cage 1978Film als Zom

The Reivers 1969Film als Boss

Advise & Consent 1962Film als Senate Minority Leader

The Blue Bird 1976Film als Grandfather

The Kid from Texas 1950Film als O'Fallon

The Night That Panicked America 1975Film als Reverend Davis

Lust for Gold 1949Film als Deputy Ray Covin

Salt of the Earth 1954Film +2 als Sheriff

Comanche Territory 1950Film als Dan'l Seeger

Napoleon and Samantha 1972Film als Grandpa

Unknown Powers 1978Film als Host

It's a Small World 1950Film als William Musk - Father

To Please a Lady 1950Film als Jack Mackay

Bright Victory 1951Film als Mr. Nevins

The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery 1975Film als Dr. Simpson

The Hanged Man 1974Film als Nameless

The Crucible 1967Film als Giles Corey

Brother John 1971Film als Doc Thomas

The Billion Dollar Hobo 1977Film als Choo-Choo Trayne

Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970 2019Film als Narrator

Black Like Me 1964Film als Truckdriver