Jump to content

Will Geer: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
True? Yep. Reliably sourced? Yep? Important part of subject's life? Yep. Revert. Again, stow the hissy fit and disrupting WP to make some kind of point; i.e.,.your lack of self-control.
TruthCrusader (talk | contribs)
1,250 edits
r/v. Not sourced, not verified. Please stop the personal attacks in edit summary. Duly reported again.
Line 20: Line 20:
He began his career touring in tent shows and on river boats. He eventually made his way to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], and in [[1964]] received a nomination for the [[Tony Award]] for [[Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical]] for ''[[110 in the Shade]]''.
He began his career touring in tent shows and on river boats. He eventually made his way to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], and in [[1964]] received a nomination for the [[Tony Award]] for [[Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical]] for ''[[110 in the Shade]]''.


He was married to the actress [[Herta Ware]], best known for her poignant performance as the wife of [[Jack Gilford]] in the film ''[[Cocoon (film)|Cocoon]]'' (1985). Geer and Ware had 3 children, including actress [[Ellen Geer]]. Although they eventually divorced, they remained close. Ware also had a daughter, actress [[Melora Marshall]], by another marriage. Geer was also a [[bisexual]]<ref>"Will [Geer] suffered enough during his lifetime during the [political] witch hunts. So I didn't [[Coming out|out]] him during his lifetime. Much of America wasn't ready to hear that Grandpa on ''The Waltons'' was bisexual. But Will's wife Herta and I used to joke that although she had him longest, I had him first." - Harry Hay, quoted in ''Celebrity Diss and Tell: Stars Talk about Each Other'' by Boze Hadleigh (2005), page 135.</ref>, a one-time lover and close friend of [[Harry Hay]], an early gay activist and founder of the [[Mattachine Society]], the U.S.'s first men's [[homosexual rights]] group. <ref>Judith Lowder Newton, ''From Panthers to Promise Keepers: Rethinking the Men's Movement'' (2005), page 81.</ref>
He was married to the actress [[Herta Ware]], best known for her poignant performance as the wife of [[Jack Gilford]] in [[Cocoon (film)|Cocoon]]. Geer and Ware had 3 children, including actress [[Ellen Geer]]. Although they eventually divorced they remained close. Ware also had a daughter, actress [[Melora Marshall]], by another marriage.


Geer was also a [[social activism|social activist]], touring government work camps in the 1930s with [[folk singer]]s like [[Burl Ives]] and [[Woody Guthrie]], and participating in the [[1934]] [[San Francisco General Strike|1934 West Coast waterfront strike]].<ref>Michael Bronski, "The real Harry Hay", ''Boston Phoenix'', [[31 October]] [[2002]] [http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/02511115.htm]</ref> In fact, he is credited with introducing Guthrie to [[Pete Seeger]] at the Grapes of Wrath benefit Geer organized in 1940 for migrant farm workers. He worked on several left-oriented documentaries, including narrating [[Sheldon Dick]]'s ''Men and Dust'', about [[silicosis]] among miners. In the [[1950s]] he was [[blacklist]]ed for refusing to testify before the [[House Committee on Un-American Activities]]. During that period, he built the Will Geer [[Theatricum Botanicum]] in [[Topanga, California|Topanga Canyon]], [[California]], which he and Herta Ware helped to found. He combined his acting and botanical careers at the Theatricum, by making sure that every plant mentioned in [[Shakespeare]] was grown there.
Geer was also a [[social activism|social activist]], touring government work camps in the 1930s with [[folk singer]]s like [[Burl Ives]] and [[Woody Guthrie]]. In fact, he is credited with introducing Guthrie to [[Pete Seeger]] at the Grapes of Wrath benefit Geer organized in 1940 for migrant farm workers. He worked on several left-oriented documentaries, including narrating [[Sheldon Dick]]'s ''Men and Dust'', about [[silicosis]] among miners. In the [[1950s]] he was [[blacklist]]ed for refusing to testify before the [[House Committee on Un-American Activities]]. During that period, he built the Will Geer [[Theatricum Botanicum]] in [[Topanga, California|Topanga Canyon]], [[California]], which he and Herta Ware helped to found. He combined his acting and botanical careers at the Theatricum, by making sure that every plant mentioned in [[Shakespeare]] was grown there.


As Will Geer was dying on [[April 22]], [[1978]], of a [[respiratory failure]] at the age of 76, his family sang Guthrie's ''[[This Land Is Your Land]]'' at his deathbed, and recited poems by [[Robert Frost]]. Geer was [[cremation|cremated]], and his ashes buried at the Theatricum Botanicum in the "Shakespeare Garden."
As Will Geer was dying on [[April 22]], [[1978]], of a [[respiratory failure]] at the age of 76, his family sang Guthrie's ''[[This Land Is Your Land]]'' at his deathbed, and recited poems by [[Robert Frost]]. Geer was [[cremation|cremated]], and his ashes buried at the Theatricum Botanicum in the "Shakespeare Garden."
Line 28: Line 28:
==Filmography==
==Filmography==
===1930s===
===1930s===

*''[[Misleading Lady]]'' (1932)
*''[[Misleading Lady]]'' (1932)
*''[[Wild Gold]]'' (1934)
*''[[Wild Gold]]'' (1934)
Line 35: Line 36:


===1940s===
===1940s===

*''[[The Fight for Life]]'' (1940)
*''[[The Fight for Life]]'' (1940)
*''[[Deep Waters (film)|Deep Waters]]'' (1948)
*''[[Deep Waters (film)|Deep Waters]]'' (1948)
Line 44: Line 46:


===1950s===
===1950s===

*''[[To Please a Lady]]'' (1950)
*''[[To Please a Lady]]'' (1950)
*''[[Convicted (film)|Convicted]]'' (1950)
*''[[Convicted (film)|Convicted]]'' (1950)
Line 60: Line 63:


===1960s===
===1960s===

*''[[Advise and Consent (film)|Advise and Consent]]'' (1962)
*''[[Advise and Consent (film)|Advise and Consent]]'' (1962)
*''[[Black Like Me]]'' (1964)
*''[[Black Like Me]]'' (1964)
Line 85: Line 89:


===1970s===
===1970s===

*''[[The Moonshine War]]'' (1970)
*''[[The Moonshine War]]'' (1970)
*''[[Shooting the Moonshine War]]'' (1970)
*''[[Shooting the Moonshine War]]'' (1970)
Line 140: Line 145:
*''[[The Mafu Cage]]'' (1979)
*''[[The Mafu Cage]]'' (1979)


==References==
==Trivia==
In the [[German language|German]] dubbed version of ''The Waltons'', the first name of Geer's character, Zeb Walton, was altered to Samuel "Sam" Walton because "Zeb" sounded too similar to "Sepp", a [[Bavaria]]n short form of the name "Joseph", which was considered a cliché for an older man. The real [[Sam Walton]] was the founder of [[Wal-Mart]].
<references />


==External link==
==External link==

Revision as of 16:53, 26 October 2007

Will Geer
File:Tvg82176.jpg
Will Geer (center) with Waltons costars Richard Thomas and Ellen Corby (TV Guide, August 21, 1976)
Born
William Auge Ghere
SpouseHerta Ware (1934-1954)

Will Geer (born 9 March 1902 in Frankfort, Indiana – died 22 April 1978 in Los Angeles) was an American actor. Geer's real name was William Auge Ghere. He is best known for his portrayal of the character Grandpa Walton, in the popular 1970s TV series The Waltons.

Geer was heavily influenced by his grandfather, who taught him the botanical names of the plants in his native Indiana. He started out to become a botanist, studying the subject and obtaining a master's degree from the University of Chicago. But he eventually succumbed to the allure of acting.

He began his career touring in tent shows and on river boats. He eventually made his way to Broadway, and in 1964 received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for 110 in the Shade.

He was married to the actress Herta Ware, best known for her poignant performance as the wife of Jack Gilford in Cocoon. Geer and Ware had 3 children, including actress Ellen Geer. Although they eventually divorced they remained close. Ware also had a daughter, actress Melora Marshall, by another marriage.

Geer was also a social activist, touring government work camps in the 1930s with folk singers like Burl Ives and Woody Guthrie. In fact, he is credited with introducing Guthrie to Pete Seeger at the Grapes of Wrath benefit Geer organized in 1940 for migrant farm workers. He worked on several left-oriented documentaries, including narrating Sheldon Dick's Men and Dust, about silicosis among miners. In the 1950s he was blacklisted for refusing to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. During that period, he built the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon, California, which he and Herta Ware helped to found. He combined his acting and botanical careers at the Theatricum, by making sure that every plant mentioned in Shakespeare was grown there.

As Will Geer was dying on April 22, 1978, of a respiratory failure at the age of 76, his family sang Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land at his deathbed, and recited poems by Robert Frost. Geer was cremated, and his ashes buried at the Theatricum Botanicum in the "Shakespeare Garden."

Filmography

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

Trivia

In the German dubbed version of The Waltons, the first name of Geer's character, Zeb Walton, was altered to Samuel "Sam" Walton because "Zeb" sounded too similar to "Sepp", a Bavarian short form of the name "Joseph", which was considered a cliché for an older man. The real Sam Walton was the founder of Wal-Mart.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Will_Geer&oldid=167246870"