Will Geer net worth in 2025 is around $6.4 million. Geer was born on March 9, 1902, and died in 1978. He was 76 years old. He was an actor, musician, and social activist from the United States. Will Geer was best known for his part as Grandpa Zebulon “Zeb” Walton on the TV show The Waltons, which he played from 1972 until his death. After a long career that started with traveling tent shows and riverboats, Geer went on to work on Broadway, in movies, and on TV. He was also known for being politically active, which got him put on a hit list during the McCarthy era. Will Geer has made a lot of money through acting, music, and stage performances over the course of his life.
He got married and started the California variety theater Theatricum Botanicum, which is still around today. Will Geer was married to actor Herta Ware and had three children with her. Their daughters are Kate Geer and Ellen Geer, and their son is Thad Geer. One of his children, Ellen Geer, also became an actor and is known for carrying on the family theater tradition. Will Geer and Herta Ware got a split in 1954, but they stayed close ever after.
Social Profiles
Quick Bio
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Will Geer |
| Birth Date | March 9, 1902 |
| Death | 1978 |
| Profession | Actor, Musician, Social Activist |
| Notable Role | Grandpa Zebulon “Zeb” Walton on The Waltons |
| Career Highlights | Stage, film, TV; Founded Theatricum Botanicum |
| Political Activity | Blacklisted during McCarthy era |
| Net Worth (2025 est.) | $6.4 million |
| Spouse | Herta Ware (divorced 1954) |
| Children | Kate Geer, Ellen Geer, Thad Geer |
| Legacy | Theatricum Botanicum theater; family active in theater |
Will Geer Net Worth in 2025
As of 2025, Will Geer is thought to have a net worth of about $6.4 million, mostly from his many jobs as an actor, singer, and social activist. He is best known for playing Grandpa Zebulon “Zeb” Walton on the TV show The Waltons. He has also worked in theater and been active in politics. Geer had a great career in entertainment, even though he faced problems like being blacklisted during the McCarthy era. He also started the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in California, which added to his legacy and wealth.
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Business Ventures and Income Sources
Business Ventures
- Theatricum Botanicum is Will Geer’s main business. It puts on Shakespearean and modern plays, concerts, and educational events in a natural outdoor amphitheater. Geer’s love of theater, music, and botanical heritage lives on through the theater, which is a cultural and educational treasure for the community.
Income Distribution and Family Role
- Donations and contributions: Theatricum Botanicum gets most of its money from donations and contributions from the public and private sectors. In recent years, these sources have made up between 28.9% and 65% of the total income.
- For program services, hosting theater performances, workshops, concerts, and educational events brings in about 27.5% to 60% of the total income.
- Other Income: A small amount comes from other sources of income, such as the sale of items linked to the theater’s activities.
- The theater has a budget of about $1 million, which comes from donations, community support, and ticket sales. However, it keeps arts events affordable for communities that don’t have access to them otherwise.
Income Sources of Theatricum Botanicum
- Members of the Geer family work for the organization. Ellen Geer, Will Geer’s daughter, is a director and gets paid for her job. Other family members who work for the organization are artists and managers.
- Most of Theatricum Botanicum’s money goes toward artistic events, salaries, and upkeep for the venue, not making a profit. This is because it is a nonprofit organization with a mission-driven operation.
Real State Ownership and Properties
Will Geer owned the land in Topanga Canyon, California, where he set up the open-air theater and charity repertory company called the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. Geer bought the land at 1419 N Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Santa Monica Mountains after he was put on a blacklist in the 1950s and had to move his family out of Santa Monica. The Geer Family Trust still owns and runs the theater, which is still owned by the Geer family.
The outdoor theater space, gardens, and buildings that are connected to the theater’s educational and cultural events are all on the site. Geer’s family still runs and takes care of the land as a nonprofit that supports theater, education, and community arts.
Personal Life
Early Life and Family Background
- Will Geer was born in Frankfort, Indiana, on March 9, 1902. His full name was William Aughe Ghere.
- Roy Aaron Ghere worked as a mail worker and his mother was Katherine Aughe.
- Will was 11 years old when his dad left the family.
- Will’s grandfather had a big impact on him. He taught him the names of plants and used money from the California gold rush to build Frankfort’s first opera house.
- Will went to college and got a master’s degree in botany from the University of Chicago before he decided to focus on playing and performing full-time.
Spouse and Marriage
- An actor named Herta Ware was married to Will Geer. On October 14, 1938, they got married.
- Even though they got split in 1954, they stayed close.
Children
- Will Geer and Herta Ware had three children together:
- Ellen Geer is a professor, actress, and theater director who is known for carrying on her family’s artistic tradition.
- In the past, Kate Geer was married to actor Larry Linville.
- Thad Geer.
Grandchildren
Ellen Geer has a son named Ian Geer Flanders and two girls named Megan and Willow. All three of them have been involved in acting and the arts.
Personal Interests and Legacy
- Will had been interested in plants all his life and loved Shakespearean plants. He grew many of them at home and at the theater.
- In the 1930s and 1940s, he was active in the labor and communist groups and was a well-known social activist.
- In the 1950s, during the McCarthy era, he was put on a “blacklist” because he refused to speak about his ties to the Communist Party.
- started the Theatricum Botanicum community theater in Topanga Canyon, California. It is still open and run by his family.
Career Journey
- Early Years (1920s–1930s): Geer started out as an actor by going on tour with tent shows and playing on riverboats. His first show on Broadway was “The Merry Wives of Windsor” in 1928. In his early years, he also acted in politically charged shows, such as Marc Blitzstein’s 1937 film The Cradle Will Rock.
- In the 1940s: Geer became well-known on the stage with roles in well-reviewed plays like “Of Mice and Men” and “Tobacco Road.” He also did revues and radio plays, such as playing Mephistopheles in Norman Corwin’s “The Plot to Overthrow Christmas.” He worked to organize workers and was politically active, and he often mixed performance with advocacy.
- In the late 1940s and early 1950s: Geer was in a lot of movies, mostly westerns and comedies. He played Wyatt Earp in Winchester ’73 (1950), and he was in Bright Victory (1951). He had also been in Cecil B. DeMille’s Union Pacific (1939) before this.
- In the 1950s: Geer was put on a “blacklist” because he supported left-wing politics and refused to work with the House Un-American Activities Committee. This happened during the McCarthy era. His success in Hollywood was cut short, and he turned to the stage and activism.
- Comeback and Continued Work in the 1960s: Geer slowly got back into movies and TV shows, playing supporting parts in movies like “In Cold Blood” (1967) and “Jeremiah Johnson” (1972).
- 1970s: Geer became well-known and praised for his role as Grandpa Zebulon “Zeb” Walton on the TV show The Waltons, which ran from 1972 to 1978. In 1975, he won an Emmy for this part. During this time, he kept playing in different TV movies and shows.
Physical Measurements
- Height: 6 feet 2½ inches (1.89 meters)
- Weight: Approximately 176 pounds (80 kilograms)
- Nationality: American
Current Status
As of 2025, Will Geer’s heritage lives on through the renowned outdoor theater and nonprofit repertory company in Topanga Canyon, California, known as the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. The 52nd season of Theatricum is now starting, and it’s called “2025 Season of Resilience.” It runs from June 7 to October 12. It has a season of both old and new plays, acting classes all year, live music concerts, and educational outreach programs.
These all help Geer’s goal to keep live theater alive for future generations. Ellen Geer, Will Geer’s daughter, is in charge of the theater’s artistic direction. Despite problems like the recent wildfires in California, the theater is still an important cultural institution known for its creative work and involvement in the community.
The venue often hosts community events and performances that help people heal and bounce back, which shows that it has both historical and contemporary social importance. Auditions are now open for roles in the 2025 season, and tickets and subscriptions are still available, which shows that the group and artists are still working hard.
Public Perception & Media Coverage
Public Perception
- People loved Will Geer when he played Grandpa Zebulon “Zeb” Walton on The Waltons in the 1970s. He became a well-known and adored actor. People saw the character as a wise, kind, and down-to-earth patriarch who embodied traditional American ideals with fun and warmth.
- Complex Legacy: Geer’s life was much more complicated than he seemed on screen. In public, people often downplay or ignore how politically active he was, including the fact that he was a communist and was put on a blacklist during the McCarthy era. Part of what makes his memory complex is the contrast between how he was portrayed on TV and how he really felt about politics.
- Important Cultural Figure: Both audiences and co-actors said that Geer gave his parts depth, warmth, and authenticity. Behind the sets of The Waltons, he was seen as a good role model and mentor by other cast members, which showed how genuine he was.
Media Coverage
- (1970s to Present): During the height of The Waltons, the media mostly talked about his part as Grandpa Walton, his sense of humor, and his wisdom. But retrospectives and biographies have pointed out how active he was all his life and how he contributed to folk music, theater, and social issues.
- Media and academic sources on activism and blacklisting Geer was put on a blacklist in the 1950s because he refused to speak about his membership in the Communist Party. This had a big effect on his career.
- Legacy Through Theater and Family: The news stories also talk about how Geer started the Theatricum Botanicum, a charity repertory theater that supports education and the arts. This is a big part of his lasting legacy and is closely linked to his family.
Public and Scholarly Reflections
- People respect Geer’s courage and conviction, and they admire how she balances a real, politically active life with a successful acting job. People think that his bravery during times of political oppression is an important part of his life.
FAQs
What was the cause of death for Will Geer?
Will Geer passed away on April 22, 1978,. He was 76 years old.
Where was Will Geer buried?
He started a theater and park in California called the Theatricum Botanicum, where his ashes were buried.
How old was Will Geer when he started The Waltons?
Will Geer was born in 1902 and started playing The Waltons in 1972. For those of you who don’t know his age, that makes him about 70 years old now.
Did Will Geer have grandchildren?
Will Geer did have grandkids because he had children who lived past him.
How much did Will Geer earn from The Waltons?
The exact amount of money he made from The Waltons is not known to the public, but his salary, residuals, and licensing income made a big dent in his net worth.
Conclusion
Will Geer is still a well-known and liked figure in American entertainment. He is remembered for his famous role as Grandpa Walton and for his lifelong dedication to arts and activism. His stated net worth of $6.4 million comes from a long career in theater, movies, and TV, as well as from residual income and a lasting cultural legacy. Geer’s efforts continue to inspire both viewers and performers, solidifying his place in the history of TV and in social activism.
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