All you should know about the real reason why Will Geer was blacklisted in the 1950s is explained in detail.
Will Geer is an American actor, journalist, and social activist who was born on March 9, 1902, in Frankfort, Indiana. His mother was a teacher, and his father was a postal worker.
He was abandoned by his father when he was 11 years old. He became a botanist and completed his degree at the University of Chicago. He started his acting career at a very young age in tent shows and riverboats.
He starred in movies such as Winchester’73, Broken Arrow, Comanche Territory, and Bright Victory. In 1956, he released an album on Folkway Records titled Bound for Glory: Songs and Stories of Woody Guthrie.
He acted with group theaters and radios and also acted in the radio soap opera Bright Horizon. Let us take a deep dive into why the man was blacklisted and what happened to him.
Why was Will Geer blacklisted?
Will Geer was blacklisted for his political beliefs. He was a member of the communist party, but he did not identify communists during a ceremony before the Hour Committee on activities against Americans.
He lost a lot of work and spent a major chunk of his time with no jobs. He did not testify in front of the committee that he shared political beliefs with the committee of socialists, communists, liberals, and secular people.
Will Geer was extremely supportive of other stars who were going through the same situation and stood by everyone. He was recognized as the biggest supporter of those who had been blacklisted, and he would feed people, lodge them, and take care of them.
Despite being blacklisted, Will fought back and did not give in. He learned gardening and fed his wife and children. He did not give up and fought back till the day he died.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Will Geer, the American actor, journalist, and social activist, was blacklisted due to his political beliefs, particularly his association with the communist party, which resulted in a loss of work opportunities. Despite this, he remained a staunch supporter of others facing similar situations and continued to stand by his principles.
Read More:
