Will Geer, best known for playing the beloved grandpa Zebulon “Zeb” Walton on The Waltons from 1972 to 1978, led a life that was vastly different from the wholesome, family-oriented character he portrayed on TV. While his role as the warm, loving grandfather endeared him to millions, off-screen, Geer lived a much more complex and secretive life, one that involved political activism, a hidden relationship with a pioneer of gay rights, and a carefully guarded sexuality.

Born in 1902 in Indiana, Will Geer’s early years were marked by a deep passion for the arts. He eventually became a well-known actor in both stage and film. However, despite his on-screen success, Geer’s personal life was far from conventional. One of the most surprising aspects of his life was his relationship with Harry Hay, a groundbreaking figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Harry Hay, born in 1912, co-founded the first gay rights organization in the United States. Hay and Geer’s romantic relationship began in 1934, when Geer was a young actor working in the theater. Hay spoke candidly about his feelings for Geer, calling him “madly in love” with the actor. The two men’s relationship blossomed, despite the social stigma of the time, especially in an era when homosexuality was considered a “degeneracy” by society at large.

This relationship unfolded during a time when Geer was married to Herta Ware, his wife from 1934 until their divorce in 1954. Together, they had three children, but Geer’s affair with Hay persisted, all while he maintained a public image as a devoted husband and father. Geer’s relationship with Hay remained hidden from the public, in part because Geer was involved in another secretive endeavor—the Communist Party.

Geer was not only an actor, but also a committed political activist, with a deep involvement in the Communist Party during the 1930s and 1940s. This connection would ultimately lead to his blacklisting during the Red Scare in the late 1940s and 1950s. The Hollywood blacklist, a product of McCarthyism, was a response to growing fears of Communist infiltration in the entertainment industry. As a result, Geer found himself without work for several years, despite his protests that he was not a Communist sympathizer.

During this difficult time, Geer turned to gardening as a means of supporting his family. He rediscovered his passion for horticulture, which became a form of self-sufficiency for his family. Geer also stayed connected to his fellow blacklisted artists, organizing outdoor plays on his land in Topanga Canyon, inviting other artists like Woody Guthrie, who was also labeled a Communist, to perform.

Geer’s time away from Hollywood was long and challenging, but it was also a period of growth and resilience. His eventual return to the screen came in the form of his iconic role as Grandpa Zeb on The Waltons. This role, which he played until his death in 1978, earned him widespread acclaim, including an Emmy Award. Geer’s portrayal of the loving grandfather resonated deeply with audiences, but the public had no idea about the complexity of his personal life.

When Geer passed away in 1978, The Waltons mourned the loss of Grandpa Zeb in the first episode of the following season. At his funeral, Harry Hay, Geer’s former lover, paid his respects. According to Sexual Borderlands: Constructing an American Sexual Past, Hay approached Geer’s ex-wife, Herta, and said, “I had him first.” To which Herta replied, “I had him longest.”

Despite his death, Will Geer’s legacy as an actor, political activist, and LGBTQ+ ally continued to influence both the entertainment industry and the gay rights movement. His secrecy about his personal life was likely a strategic decision—audiences of The Waltons would have been shocked to learn that the man who portrayed the warm, grandfatherly figure was living a much different reality.

Geer’s story is a powerful reminder that the public personas we see on screen often mask a much deeper, more complicated reality. Will Geer’s life was one of courage, secrecy, and self-discovery, and his contributions to both the entertainment world and the LGBTQ+ community should never be forgotten.

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