Ellen Geer
{{short description|American actress and director}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ellen Geer
| image = Ellen Geer 1975.JPG
| caption = Geer in 1975
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|08|29}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| occupation = Actress, professor, director
| years_active = 1961–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Ed Flanders|1963|1968|end=divorced}}
Peter Alsop
({{abbr|m.|married}} 1975){{cite web |last1=Donkin |first1=Annemarie |title=Peter Alsop's Kid Koncerts and Reunion |url=https://messengermountainnews.com/peter-alsop/ |website=M'Online |date=August 24, 2018 |access-date=18 July 2020}}
| children = 3, including Willow Geer
| parents = 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.Breslauer, Jan. "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-12-ca-34280-story.html 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.
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|date=October 2022}}
Career
{{BLP sources section|date=December 2017}}
In 1963, Geer joined the Minnesota Theatre Company for the opening seasons of the original Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis,Morris, Steven Leigh. "[https://www.americantheatre.org/2016/08/12/first-and-second-geer-and-beyond-at-theatricum-botanicum/ First and Second Geer (and Beyond) at Theatricum Botanicum]", in American Theatre. New York, New York: Theatre Communications Group, August 12, 2016. where, among other roles, she played the lead in Douglas Campbell’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.Phillips, Michael. "'[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-14-ca-52657-story.html Harold and Maude' Takes On Established Cult and Conceits]." Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles Times, July 14, 2000. 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,"[https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SCS19771116&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 Sentinel TV Log: Evening: 10:00: Baretta]." Santa Cruz, California: Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 16, 1977. Barnaby Jones, Charlie's Angels, CHiPs and two episodes of Fantasy Island.
Her television movie credits during this time included Babe (1975),"[https://newspaperarchive.com/cambridge-daily-jeffersonian-oct-23-1975-p-27/ TV Best Bets: Thursday: 9 p.m.]" Cambridge, Ohio: Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian, October 23, 1975. 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;Person, James E., Jr. [https://books.google.com/books?id=QHMXZ9C0QxIC&dq=%22Ellen+Geer%22&pg=PA243 Earl Hamner: From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow], pp. 87, 243. Nashville, Tennessee: Cumberland House, 2005. 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.{{Cite web |url=http://theatricum.com/index.html |title=Theatricum Botanicum |access-date=2008-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526203508/http://www.theatricum.com/index.html |archive-date=2008-05-26 |url-status=dead }} Geer has also served as a visiting associate professor, teaching acting, at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater for 12 years.[http://beta.tft.ucla.edu/faculty/ellen-geer/ UCLA School of Theater] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720072953/http://beta.tft.ucla.edu/faculty/ellen-geer/ |date=2011-07-20 }}, accessed on June 6, 2008.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1968
|Nun | |
| 1969
|{{sortname|The|Reivers|The Reivers (film)}} |Sally | |
| 1971
|Vera Kotcher | |
| 1971
|Sunshine Doré | |
| 1974
|Silence |Barbara | |
| 1974
|{{sortname|The|Memory of Us|nolink=1}} |Betty | |
| 1979
|Sandra Willat | |
| 1980
|Louise | |
| 1981
|Madge | |
| 1983
|Marianne Kalitta | |
| 1983
|Something Wicked This Way Comes |Mrs. Halloway | |
| 1985
|Mrs. Spencer | |
| 1986
|Norah Sloan | |
| 1987
|Fern Willis | |
| 1987
|Bar Waitress | |
| 1989
|Mary Kulik | |
| 1991
|Martha | |
| 1992
|Rose | |
| 1993
|Midnight Witness |Valerie | |
| 1994
|Rose | |
| 1996
|Bonnie | |
| 1998
|Pharmacist | |
| 1998
|''{{sortname|The|Odd Couple II}} |Frances Unger Melnick | |
| 2005
|Me and You and Everyone We Know |Ellen | |
| 2006
|{{sortname|The|Visitation|The Visitation (film)}} |Mrs. Macon | |
| 2006
|Miss Hanson | |
| 2007
|Mrs. Erskine | |
| 2012
|{{sortname|The|Misadventures of the Dunderheads}} |Vernice | |
| 2014
|House at the End of the Drive |Eunice Sequoia | |
| 2018
|Nana | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1961
|Susan |Episode: "The Wooden Dish" |
| 1970
|{{sortname|The|Name of the Game|The Name of the Game (TV series)}} |Sally Henderson |Episode: "The King of Denmark" |
| 1971–1972
|{{sortname|The|Jimmy Stewart Show}} |Wendy Howard |Regular role |
| 1972
|Marian |Episode: "Bad Connection" |
| 1972, 1980
|{{sortname|The|Waltons}} |Eva Mann, Ronie Cotter |Episodes: "The Ceremony", "The Pledge" |
| 1973
|Rose Sachs |Episode: "No Margin for Error" |
| 1973
|{{sortname|The|New Perry Mason}} |Maria Findley |Episode: "The Case of the Deadly Deeds" |
| 1974, 1980–1982
|Mary Louise, Sally Carlin, Cathy, Iris |Episodes: "Eddie", "God in the Dock", "A Decision to Love", "A Gun for Mandy" |
| 1975
|Marsha |Episode: "The Arsonist" |
| 1975
|Babe |Lilly Didrikson |TV film |
| 1975, 1979
|Mary Wiley, Ruth Parks |Episodes: "Beware the Dog", "Man on Fire" |
| 1976
|Jenny Benson |Episode: "The Other Side of the Fence" |
| 1976
|{{sortname|The|Lindbergh Kidnapping Case}} |Myra Condon |TV film |
| 1976
|Edie Parker |Episode: "The Silent Prey" |
| 1976
|{{sortname|The|Bionic Woman}} |Sister Barbara |Episode: "Sister Jaime" |
| 1977
|{{sortname|The|Streets of San Francisco}} |Betty Rollins |Episode: "Who Killed Helen French?" |
| 1977
|Susan MacAllister |Episode: "Pressure Cook" |
| 1977
|Susan Foster |Episode: "Buddy" |
| 1978
|Night Cries |Mrs. Whitney |TV film |
| 1978, 1980, 1982
|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
|Doris Greer, Sylvia |Episodes: "Carnival", "Nobody's There" |
| 1979
|Hutton |Episode: "Caged Angel" |
| 1979
|Marie Castle |Episode: "Burnout" |
| 1979
|{{sortname|A|Shining Season|John_Baker_(runner)#A_Shining_Season}} |Veta Mercer |TV film |
| 1979, 1989
|Anita Krane, Mrs. Bouleris |Episodes: "John Ewing III: Parts 1 & 2", "Hell's Fury" |
| 1980
|Paula Stanley |TV film |
| 1981
|Charlotte |Episode: "Oil: Part 1" |
| 1981
|{{sortname|The|Princess and the Cabbie}} |Nellie |TV film |
| 1981
|Mrs. Wilcox |Episode: "Magic Man" |
| 1982
|Mrs. Meyers |Episode: "No Escape" |
| 1982
|Dr. Solomon, Sarah Markham |Episodes: "For Love of Joshua", "Ghost of a Chance" |
| 1982
|Roberta |Episode: "You Pays Your Money" |
| 1983
|Mrs. Grant |TV film |
| 1983
|Eleanor Roosevelt |Episode: "Destiny's Choice" |
| 1983
|Mrs. Cooley |TV film |
| 1983
|Stella Archer |Episode: "Youth from Vienna" |
| 1984
|Natalie |Episode: "Call It Courage" |
| 1984
|Buchanan High |Mrs. Dolen |Episode: "The Loyal Opposition" |
| 1985
|Sybil Rosenberg |TV film |
| 1985
|Loraine Dockery |Episode: "The British Are Coming, the British Are Coming" |
| 1985–1987
|Doris |Recurring role (seasons 5–6) |
| 1986
|Mrs. Dudleigh |Episode: "Scrap Metal" |
| 1986
|Amy Everette |Episode: "Witness for the Execution" |
| 1986, 1990
|Dorothy, Norma Flannery |Episodes: "1.470", "1.1603" |
| 1988
|{{sortname|The|Town Bully|nolink=1}} |Bea King |TV film |
| 1988–1990
|Mary |Recurring role |
| 1991
|Star Trek: The Next Generation |Kila Marr |Episode: "Silicon Avatar" |
| 1993
|Mrs. Croft |Episode: "Looks Like Christmas" |
| 1994
|Lily |Episode: "Lily" |
| 1997
|JAG |Gail Sanders |Episode: "The Guardian" |
| 1997
|{{sortname|The|Practice}} |G. Warner |Episode: "Search and Seizure" |
| 1999–2000
|Celeste |Episodes: "The Past Is Prologue", "Strangers and Brothers" |
| 2001
|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
|Annalise Anderson |Episode: "Adelle Coffin" |
| 2003–2004
|Elizabeth Bickle |Episodes: "The Fast Track & the Furious", "New York Unbound" |
| 2004
|Veronica Lewis |Episode: "Old Yeller" |
| 2004
|Kay Lang |Episode: "Red Glare" |
| 2004
|June |Grandma P. |TV film |
| 2005
|Dorothy Day |Episode: "Home Again" |
| 2005
|The Crone |Episode: "Old Cherry Blossom Road" |
| 2006
|Piper (elderly) |Episode: "Forever Charmed" |
| 2006
|Rose |TV film |
| 2006
|Joyce |Episode: "You Don't Know What You've Got 'Til He's Gone" |
| 2006, 2010
|Grandma Benoit |Episodes: "Twice Upon a Time", "Allison Rolen Got Married" |
| 2007
|Gert Case |Episode: "Red Sky at Morning" |
| 2007–08, 2012
|Lillian Sims |Episodes: "What Would We Do Without You?", "If There's Anything I Can't Stand", "Free", "Finishing the Hat" |
| 2009
|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
|Viola Maddox |Episode: "The Blue Butterfly" |
| 2015
|{{sortname|The|Middle|The Middle (TV series)}} |Cynthia |Episode: "Halloween VI: Tick Tock Death" |
| 2017
|Lorraine |Episode: "My Love" |
| 2019
|NCIS |Esther Daniels |Episode: "Going Mobile" |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|311619|Ellen Geer}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geer, Ellen}}
Category:20th-century American actresses
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from New York City
Category:American film actresses
Category:Film directors from New York City
Category:American television actresses
Category:American theatre directors
Category:American women theatre directors
Category:Educators from New York City
Category:American women educators
Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)
Category:American women film directors
Category:American women screenwriters
Category:UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television faculty