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Will Geer

Will Geer

Actor · Died April 22, 1978, aged 76 · Frankfort, Indiana, USA

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 9, 1902
Died
April 22, 1978 (aged 76)
From
Frankfort, Indiana, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
51 on Motif · 100 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 30% in 30 days

What are Will Geer's films like?

Across their 35 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama17 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
29%
Self
20%
Power
16%
Society
14%
Bonds
12%
Survival
7%
Ideas
2%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 35 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 12 · Serious 10 · Dark 13

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 23 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 16 · Intense 11

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 15 · Engaged 16 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 14 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 12

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 27 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

18 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 8 of 18 analyzed roles.

Mentor
8 of 18
Threshold guardian
5 of 18
Ally
3 of 18
Shadow
2 of 18
Show the 18 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Contemplative
11
Melancholic
10
Dread
6
Hopeful
8
Other
28

How their films linger

Hopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous3
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Will Geer's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 51 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Will Geer's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

100 credits, 51 with a Motif page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Will Geer: America's Grandpa (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Woody Guthrie All-Star Tribute Concert 1970 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as Narrator

  • Mysterious Miracles: World Beyond Death (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    as Host

  • The Man Who Loved Bears (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    as Narrator

  • A Woman Called Moses(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Thomas Garrett

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Rip Van Winkle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Mafu Cage(1978)

    as Zom

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Unknown Powers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Host

  • The Billion Dollar Hobo(1977)

    as Choo-Choo Trayne

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Franklyn Bootherstone

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Bunco (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • Moving Violation (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Rockfield

  • Law and Order (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    as Pat Crowley

  • The Blue Bird(1976)

    as Grandfather

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Night That Panicked America(1975)

    as Reverend Davis

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 2 episodes · as Commodore Atwater

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery(1975)

    as Dr. Simpson

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Lives of Benjamin Franklin (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Hurricane (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Dr. McCutcheon

  • Memory of Us (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Motel Manager

  • Silence (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Crazy Jack

  • Honky Tonk (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Judge Cotton

  • The Hanged Man(1974)

    as Nameless

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Executive Action(1973)

    as Ferguson

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Doc Elliot (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Bartlett

  • Isn't It Shocking?(1973)

    as Lemuel Lovell

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • A Gift of Terror (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Ben

  • Savage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Joel Ryker

  • Such Dust as Dreams Are Made On (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Len McNeil

  • Brock's Last Case (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as J. Smiley Krenshaw

  • The ABC Afternoon Playbreak (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben

  • Kung Fu(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Emmitt Marcus

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 142 episodes · as Grandfather Walton

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Jeremiah Johnson(1972)

    as Bear Claw

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Napoleon and Samantha(1972)

    as Grandpa

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Rowdyman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Stan

  • Dear Dead Delilah (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Roy Jurroe

  • The Sixth Sense (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Scarecrow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Justice Gilead Merton

  • Columbo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Edmund Hidemann

  • Brother John(1971)

    as Doc Thomas

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster?(1971)

    as Simon Anderson

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Seth

  • Pieces of Dreams(1970)

    as The Bishop

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Brotherhood of the Bell(1970)

    as Mike Patterson

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Bold Ones: The Senator (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Senator Homer Bryant Wydell

  • The Moonshine War(1970)

    as Mr. Baylor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Reivers(1969)

    as Boss

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Medical Center (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Courtship of Eddie's Father(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry I. Madison

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Then Came Bronson (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Oliver Hidemann

  • The Bill Cosby Show (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Kane

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Professor Harold Lochner

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Mayberry R.F.D.(1968)

    Show 2 episodes · as Captain Charles Wolford

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Certain Honorable Men (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Malcolm Stoddard

  • Bandolero!(1968)

    as Pop Chaney

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Of Mice and Men(1968)

    as Candy

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The President's Analyst(1967)

    as Dr. Lee-Evan

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • In Cold Blood(1967)

    as Prosecutor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Garrison's Gorillas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Crucible (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Giles Corey

  • The Invaders (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Hank Willis

  • Seconds(1966)

    as Old Man

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Mission: Impossible(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Doc

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Trials of O'Brien (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Lindemann

  • Run for Your Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge David P. Andrews

  • Daniel Boone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Jarrett

  • Bewitched(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as George Washington

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Black Like Me(1964)

    as Truckdriver

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Advise & Consent(1962)

    as Senate Minority Leader

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Calvin Butler · as Ferris Callahan · as Zach Randolph

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Mobs, Inc. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Harry Robinson

  • Gunsmoke (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Slocum

  • Salt of the Earth(1954)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Barefoot Mailman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    as Dan Paget - Miami Mayor / Postmaster

  • The Tall Target(1951)

    as Homer Crowley

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Bright Victory(1951)

    as Mr. Nevins

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Racket Squad (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Double Crossbones(1951)

    as Tom Botts

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • To Please a Lady(1950)

    as Jack Mackay

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Convicted (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    as Convict Mapes

  • Broken Arrow(1950)

    as Ben Slade

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Winchester '73(1950)

    as Wyatt Earp

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • It's a Small World(1950)

    as William Musk - Father

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Comanche Territory(1950)

    as Dan'l Seeger

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Kid from Texas(1950)

    as O'Fallon

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Intruder in the Dust(1949)

    as Sheriff Hampton

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Anna Lucasta (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    as Noah

  • Lust for Gold(1949)

    as Deputy Ray Covin

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Allegro (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    as Schultzy

  • Deep Waters (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    as Nick Driver

  • Men and Dust (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Fight for Life(1940)

    as Ballou

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Union Pacific(1939)

    as Foreman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Becky Sharp(1935)

    as Spectator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Mystery of Edwin Drood(1935)

    as Village Lamplighter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Wild Gold (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Poker Player (uncredited)

  • Spitfire (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as West Fry

  • The Misleading Lady (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    as McMahon - Asylum Guard

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 100 titles from 1932 to 2019; peak year 1972.

Biggest box office

Broken Arrow (1950)

$10K worldwide

Highest rated

In Cold Blood (1967)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Film career

19322019

Peak 1972 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting100 of 100: 100 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1930s6 · acting1940s7 · acting1950s16 · acting1960s23 · acting1970s45 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
356070

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Will Geer's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Midcredits score across 51 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

26 of their 51 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser26
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

Who Killed the Mysterious Mr. Foster? (1971)

86th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

In Cold Blood (1967)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 33 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Will Geer's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 Motif titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 61 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles6–54 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 59 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Will Geer work with?

People who share at least 2 of Will Geer's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; James Stewart shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers