Ellen Geer

Ellen Geer
Geer in 1975
BornAugust 29, 1941. (Age 83).
New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, professor, director
Years active1961–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1963; div. 1968)​

Peter Alsop
(m. 1975)[1]
Children3, including Willow Geer
Parent(s)Herta Ware
Will Geer

Ellen Geer is an American actress, professor, and theatre director.

Personal life

Geer was born in New York City, the daughter of actors Herta Ware and Will Geer. Her father was best-known for playing Grandpa Zebulon "Zeb" Walton on The Waltons.[2]

She is married to children's musician Peter Alsop, and was previously married to actor Ed Flanders. She and Flanders had a son, Ian Geer Flanders. She and Alsop have two daughters, Megan and Willow.[citation needed]

Career

In 1963, Geer joined the Minnesota Theatre Company for the opening seasons of the original Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis,[3] where, among other roles, she played the lead in Guthrie's production of Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan.

Geer began her film career appearing as a nun in the 1968 Richard Lester drama Petulia. She followed this with an appearance in 1969's The Reivers with her father, Will Geer.

In 1971, Geer played the deceased wife of the lead character in Kotch, appearing throughout the movie in flashbacks. That same year, she became a regular on The Jimmy Stewart Show (which aired until the following year) and had a supporting role in the acclaimed comedy Harold and Maude.[4] In 1974, she starred in two films which she also wrote: Silence and Memory of Us, both of which featured her father.

The remainder of Geer's 1970s career consisted primarily of guest appearances and made-for-television movies. Television series on which she appeared during this time included Police Story, The Streets of San Francisco, Baretta,[5] Barnaby Jones, Charlie's Angels, CHiPs and two episodes of Fantasy Island.

Her television movie credits during this time included Babe (1975),[6] The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case (1976), The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (1977) and A Shining Season (1979). The only theatrical film on which she worked in the late 1970s was Jonathan Kaplan's Over the Edge in 1979.

The remainder of her television credits include guest appearances in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Silicon Avatar", The Waltons,[7] Quincy, M.E., Dallas, The Practice, Stingray, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, ER, NYPD Blue and Cold Case. She also had recurring roles on Falcon Crest and Beauty and the Beast. She played elderly Piper Halliwell on the WB series Charmed in the series finale. In October 2007, the actress returned briefly to Desperate Housewives which she briefly appeared in before. She appeared in the fourth season of Castle in the episode called "The Blue Butterfly".

Geer has served since 1978 as artistic director of the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, a professional repertory, open-air theater in Topanga Canyon, California.[8] Geer has also served as a visiting associate professor, teaching acting, at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater for 12 years.[9]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Petulia Nun
1969 The Reivers Sally
1971 Kotch Vera Kotcher
1971 Harold and Maude Sunshine Doré
1974 Silence Barbara
1974 The Memory of Us Betty
1979 Over the Edge Sandra Willat
1980 On the Nickel Louise
1981 Bloody Birthday Madge
1983 Heart Like a Wheel Marianne Kalitta
1983 Something Wicked This Way Comes Mrs. Halloway
1985 Creator Mrs. Spencer
1986 Hard Traveling Norah Sloan
1987 The Wild Pair Fern Willis
1987 Big Shots Bar Waitress
1989 Satan's Princess Mary Kulik
1991 Lonely Hearts Martha
1992 Patriot Games Rose
1993 Midnight Witness Valerie
1994 Clear and Present Danger Rose
1996 Phenomenon Bonnie
1998 Practical Magic Pharmacist
1998 The Odd Couple II Frances Unger Melnick
2005 Me and You and Everyone We Know Ellen
2006 The Visitation Mrs. Macon
2006 The Gold Bracelet Miss Hanson
2007 Man in the Chair Mrs. Erskine
2012 The Misadventures of the Dunderheads Vernice
2014 House at the End of the Drive Eunice Sequoia
2018 Unlovable Nana

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1961 Play of the Week Susan Episode: "The Wooden Dish"
1970 The Name of the Game Sally Henderson Episode: "The King of Denmark"
1971–1972 The Jimmy Stewart Show Wendy Howard Regular role
1972 Ghost Story Marian Episode: "Bad Connection"
1972, 1980 The Waltons Eva Mann, Ronie Cotter Episodes: "The Ceremony", "The Pledge"
1973 Medical Center Rose Sachs Episode: "No Margin for Error"
1973 The New Perry Mason Maria Findley Episode: "The Case of the Deadly Deeds"
1974, 1980–1982 Insight Mary Louise, Sally Carlin, Cathy, Iris Episodes: "Eddie", "God in the Dock", "A Decision to Love", "A Gun for Mandy"
1975 Archer Marsha Episode: "The Arsonist"
1975 Babe Lilly Didrikson TV film
1975, 1979 Barnaby Jones Mary Wiley, Ruth Parks Episodes: "Beware the Dog", "Man on Fire"
1976 Police Story Jenny Benson Episode: "The Other Side of the Fence"
1976 The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case Myra Condon TV film
1976 Delvecchio Edie Parker Episode: "The Silent Prey"
1976 The Bionic Woman Sister Barbara Episode: "Sister Jaime"
1977 The Streets of San Francisco Betty Rollins Episode: "Who Killed Helen French?"
1977 Westside Medical Susan MacAllister Episode: "Pressure Cook"
1977 Baretta Susan Foster Episode: "Buddy"
1978 Night Cries Mrs. Whitney TV film
1978, 1980, 1982 CHiPs Martha, Margo Adams, Julie Barris, Mrs. Williams Episodes: "Vintage '54", "E.M.T.", "The Great 5K Star Race & Boulder Wrap Party", "Return to Death's Door"
1978, 1979 Fantasy Island Doris Greer, Sylvia Episodes: "Carnival", "Nobody's There"
1979 Charlie's Angels Hutton Episode: "Caged Angel"
1979 Paris Marie Castle Episode: "Burnout"
1979 A Shining Season Veta Mercer TV film
1979, 1989 Dallas Anita Krane, Mrs. Bouleris Episodes: "John Ewing III: Parts 1 & 2", "Hell's Fury"
1980 My Kidnapper, My Love Paula Stanley TV film
1981 Dynasty Charlotte Episode: "Oil: Part 1"
1981 The Princess and the Cabbie Nellie TV film
1981 Strike Force Mrs. Wilcox Episode: "Magic Man"
1982 Code Red Mrs. Meyers Episode: "No Escape"
1982 Quincy, M.E. Dr. Solomon, Sarah Markham Episodes: "For Love of Joshua", "Ghost of a Chance"
1982 Trapper John, M.D. Roberta Episode: "You Pays Your Money"
1983 Deadly Lessons Mrs. Grant TV film
1983 Voyagers! Eleanor Roosevelt Episode: "Destiny's Choice"
1983 I Want to Live Mrs. Cooley TV film
1983 Tales of the Unexpected Stella Archer Episode: "Youth from Vienna"
1984 Call to Glory Natalie Episode: "Call It Courage"
1984 Buchanan High Mrs. Dolen Episode: "The Loyal Opposition"
1985 Stingray Sybil Rosenberg TV film
1985 Too Close for Comfort Loraine Dockery Episode: "The British Are Coming, the British Are Coming"
1985–1987 Falcon Crest Doris Recurring role (seasons 5–6)
1986 Hunter Mrs. Dudleigh Episode: "Scrap Metal"
1986 Moonlighting Amy Everette Episode: "Witness for the Execution"
1986, 1990 Santa Barbara Dorothy, Norma Flannery Episodes: "1.470", "1.1603"
1988 The Town Bully Bea King TV film
1988–1990 Beauty and the Beast Mary Recurring role
1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation Kila Marr Episode: "Silicon Avatar"
1993 Sirens Mrs. Croft Episode: "Looks Like Christmas"
1994 Diagnosis: Murder Lily Episode: "Lily"
1997 JAG Gail Sanders Episode: "The Guardian"
1997 The Practice G. Warner Episode: "Search and Seizure"
1999–2000 Once and Again Celeste Episodes: "The Past Is Prologue", "Strangers and Brothers"
2001 Philly Carol Vaughn Episode: "Light My Fire"
2002 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Ruth Elliott Episode: "Cats in the Cradle..."
2003 ER Mrs. Ferguson Episode: "Now What?"
2003 Nip/Tuck Annalise Anderson Episode: "Adelle Coffin"
2003–2004 Girlfriends Elizabeth Bickle Episodes: "The Fast Track & the Furious", "New York Unbound"
2004 NYPD Blue Veronica Lewis Episode: "Old Yeller"
2004 Cold Case Kay Lang Episode: "Red Glare"
2004 June Grandma P. TV film
2005 American Dreams Dorothy Day Episode: "Home Again"
2005 Carnivàle The Crone Episode: "Old Cherry Blossom Road"
2006 Charmed Piper (elderly) Episode: "Forever Charmed"
2006 Our House Rose TV film
2006 7th Heaven Joyce Episode: "You Don't Know What You've Got 'Til He's Gone"
2006, 2010 Medium Grandma Benoit Episodes: "Twice Upon a Time", "Allison Rolen Got Married"
2007 Supernatural Gert Case Episode: "Red Sky at Morning"
2007–08, 2012 Desperate Housewives Lillian Sims Episodes: "What Would We Do Without You?", "If There's Anything I Can't Stand", "Free", "Finishing the Hat"
2009 Bones Anne Reilly Episode: "The Double Death of the Dearly Departed"
2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Mary Ellen Stahl Episode: "Death by a Thousand Cuts"
2012 Castle Viola Maddox Episode: "The Blue Butterfly"
2015 The Middle Cynthia Episode: "Halloween VI: Tick Tock Death"
2017 Room 104 Lorraine Episode: "My Love"
2019 NCIS Esther Daniels Episode: "Going Mobile"

References

  1. ^ Donkin, Annemarie (August 24, 2018). "Peter Alsop's Kid Koncerts and Reunion". M'Online. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  2. ^ Breslauer, Jan. "Ellen Geer's Latest Play Explores the Pain of Her Actor Father's Blacklisting: Not Your Typical Family Affair." Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles Times, August 12, 1995.
  3. ^ Morris, Steven Leigh. "First and Second Geer (and Beyond) at Theatricum Botanicum", in American Theatre. New York, New York: Theatre Communications Group, August 12, 2016.
  4. ^ Phillips, Michael. "'Harold and Maude' Takes On Established Cult and Conceits." Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles Times, July 14, 2000.
  5. ^ "Sentinel TV Log: Evening: 10:00: Baretta." Santa Cruz, California: Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 16, 1977.
  6. ^ "TV Best Bets: Thursday: 9 p.m." Cambridge, Ohio: Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian, October 23, 1975.
  7. ^ Person, James E., Jr. Earl Hamner: From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow, pp. 87, 243. Nashville, Tennessee: Cumberland House, 2005.
  8. ^ "Theatricum Botanicum". Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
  9. ^ UCLA School of Theater Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine, accessed on June 6, 2008.