Dabbs Greer

Biography

Dabbs Greer was an American character actor whose work in film and television spanned more than sixty years. Born in Fairview, Missouri, and raised in Anderson, he began acting in children's theater at age eight and later attended Drury University. After his 1939 film debut as an extra in Jesse James, he moved to Pasadena in 1943 and worked at the Pasadena Playhouse as an acting instructor and an administrator. He went on to appear in nearly one hundred films and hundreds of television episodes, often in supporting roles. His recurring parts included storekeeper Mr. Jonas on Gunsmoke from 1956 to 1974, Coach Ossie Weiss on Hank, and Reverend Robert Alden on Little House on the Prairie between 1974 and 1983. He appeared in It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958), and his final feature film was The Green Mile (1999), where he played the 108-year-old Paul Edgecomb. He died in 2007.

90years old at death

Born April 2, 1917Fairview
Died April 28, 2007Pasadena
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films: 30
Career span: 48 years1951 to 1999

Genres

Drama53%, 16 films
Comedy30%, 9 films
Crime27%, 8 films
Western23%, 7 films
Horror20%, 6 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Greer made his film debut in Jesse James, a 1939 movie, playing an extra. Most of the filming took place around Pineville, Missouri.
A first
Greer was in three episodes of Adventures of Superman, among them the 1952 first episode, "Superman on Earth," where he played the first person Superman saved.
Early training
Greer moved to Pasadena, California in 1943. There he took a role as an administrator and also taught acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Dabbs Greer movies on Netflix

The Green Mile1999IMDb rating 8.6as Old Paul Edgecomb
Little Giants1994IMDb rating 6.5as Wilbur
House IV1992IMDb rating 4.0as Dad
Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat1989IMDb rating 6.0as Otto
Two Moon Junction1988IMDb rating 5.1as Kyle
Chu Chu and the Philly Flash1981IMDb rating 4.2as Wally
White Lightning1973IMDb rating 6.4as Pa McKlusky
Rage1972IMDb rating 6.3as Dr. Thompson
The Cheyenne Social Club1970IMDb rating 6.8as Jedediah W. Willowby
Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3as Abernathy
Roustabout1964IMDb rating 6.0as Arthur Nielsen
Showdown1963IMDb rating 6.3as Express Man
Day of the Outlaw1959IMDb rating 7.3as Doc Langer, Veterinarian
Edge of Eternity1959IMDb rating 6.5as Gas Station Attendant
I Want to Live!1958IMDb rating 7.5as San Quentin Capt.
It! The Terror from Beyond Space1958IMDb rating 6.0as Eric Royce
Baby Face Nelson1957IMDb rating 6.3as FBI Agent Charles Bonner
My Man Godfrey1957IMDb rating 6.3as Lieutenant O'Connor
Pawnee1957IMDb rating 5.6as John Brewster
The Giant Claw1957IMDb rating 4.6as Fighter Pilot,
The Vampire1957IMDb rating 5.8as Dr. Will Beaumont
D-Day the Sixth of June1956IMDb rating 5.9as Driver
At Gunpoint1955IMDb rating 6.3as Funeral Minister
Private Hell 361954IMDb rating 6.7as Sam Marvin
Riot in Cell Block 111954IMDb rating 7.0as Schuyler
She Couldn't Say No1954IMDb rating 5.9as Dick Jordan
House of Wax1953IMDb rating 7.0as Shane
Trouble Along the Way1953IMDb rating 6.8as Father Peterson
Room for One More1952IMDb rating 7.2as Scoutmaster
Father's Little Dividend1951IMDb rating 6.5as Green Taxicab's Driver

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Green Mile1999 Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mysteryas Old Paul Edgecomb
IMDb rating 8.61.6M votes
House of Wax1953 Crime, Horroras Shane
IMDb rating 7.023K votes
It! The Terror from Beyond Space1958as Eric Royce
IMDb rating 6.06.7K votes
Little Giants1994as Wilbur
IMDb rating 6.533K votes
Two Moon Junction1988as Kyle
IMDb rating 5.17.3K votes
House IV1992as Dad
IMDb rating 4.03.4K votes
The Cheyenne Social Club1970as Jedediah W. Willowby
IMDb rating 6.85.6K votes
White Lightning1973as Pa McKlusky
IMDb rating 6.46.9K votes

Most often with

Don Siegel directed four of these films, André De Toth two and Henry Koster two. Frank Ferguson appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Frank Ferguson

Irving Bacon

James Stewart

Chet Brandenburg

Whit Bissell

Jack Elam

Don SiegelDirector, 4 films

André De TothDirector, 2 films Henry KosterDirector, 2 films

Films together

Frank Ferguson4 films together, 1952 to 1955
Frank Ferguson's page
- At Gunpoint1955IMDb rating 6.3Greer as Funeral MinisterFerguson as Marshal George Henderson
- House of Wax1953IMDb rating 7.0Greer as ShaneFerguson as Medical Examiner
- Trouble Along the Way1953IMDb rating 6.8Greer as Father PetersonFerguson as Mike Edwards
- Room for One More1952IMDb rating 7.2Greer as ScoutmasterFerguson as Steve
Irving Bacon2 films together, 1952 to 1955
Irving Bacon's page
- At Gunpoint1955IMDb rating 6.3Greer as Funeral MinisterBacon as Al Ferguson
- Room for One More1952IMDb rating 7.2Greer as ScoutmasterBacon as Mayor Michael J. Kane
James Stewart2 films together, 1965 to 1970
James Stewart's page
- The Cheyenne Social Club1970IMDb rating 6.8Greer as Jedediah W. WillowbyStewart as John O'Hanlan
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Greer as AbernathyStewart as Charlie
Chet Brandenburg2 films together, 1954 to 1957
Chet Brandenburg's page
- The Vampire1957IMDb rating 5.8Greer as Dr. Will BeaumontBrandenburg as Restaurant Patron
- She Couldn't Say No1954IMDb rating 5.9Greer as Dick JordanBrandenburg as Out-of-Towner
Whit Bissell2 films together, 1954 to 1955
Whit Bissell's page
- At Gunpoint1955IMDb rating 6.3Greer as Funeral MinisterBissell as Clem Clark
- Riot in Cell Block 111954IMDb rating 7.0Greer as SchuylerBissell as Guard Snader
Jack Elam2 films together, 1957 to 1959
Jack Elam's page
- Edge of Eternity1959IMDb rating 6.5Greer as Gas Station AttendantElam as Bill Ward
- Baby Face Nelson1957IMDb rating 6.3Greer as FBI Agent Charles BonnerElam as Fatso Nagel
Don SiegelDirector, 4 films, 1954 to 1959
All films by Don Siegel
- Edge of Eternity1959IMDb rating 6.5Greer as Gas Station Attendant
- Baby Face Nelson1957IMDb rating 6.3Greer as FBI Agent Charles Bonner
- Private Hell 361954IMDb rating 6.7Greer as Sam Marvin
- Riot in Cell Block 111954IMDb rating 7.0Greer as Schuyler
André De TothDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1959
All films by André De Toth
- Day of the Outlaw1959IMDb rating 7.3Greer as Doc Langer, Veterinarian
- House of Wax1953IMDb rating 7.0Greer as Shane
Henry KosterDirector, 2 films, 1956 to 1957
All films by Henry Koster
- My Man Godfrey1957IMDb rating 6.3Greer as Lieutenant O'Connor
- D-Day the Sixth of June1956IMDb rating 5.9Greer as Driver
Also two films together22 more actors
- Elisha Cook Jr.Day of the Outlaw (1959) and Baby Face Nelson (1957)
- Edgar BuchananEdge of Eternity (1959) and She Couldn't Say No (1954)
- William SchallertDay of the Outlaw (1959) and Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
- Leo GordonBaby Face Nelson (1957) and Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
- Kenneth TobeyRage (1972) and The Vampire (1957)
- Dorothy MaloneAt Gunpoint (1955) and Private Hell 36 (1954)
- Leif EricksonRoustabout (1964) and Trouble Along the Way (1953)
- Jack LambertDay of the Outlaw (1959) and At Gunpoint (1955)
- James AndersonPrivate Hell 36 (1954) and Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
- Burl IvesTwo Moon Junction (1988) and Day of the Outlaw (1959)
- Charles HorvathShowdown (1963) and Pawnee (1957)
- Skip HomeierShowdown (1963) and At Gunpoint (1955)
- Carolyn JonesBaby Face Nelson (1957) and House of Wax (1953)
- James GriffithThe Vampire (1957) and At Gunpoint (1955)
- Oliver BlakeHouse of Wax (1953) and Room for One More (1952)
- Robert OsterlohBaby Face Nelson (1957) and Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
- John BartonRoustabout (1964) and Pawnee (1957)
- John SteadmanChu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981) and White Lightning (1973)
- Joel FluellenRoustabout (1964) and Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
- George CisarEdge of Eternity (1959) and The Giant Claw (1957)
- Sue Ane LangdonThe Cheyenne Social Club (1970) and Roustabout (1964)
- Wendell HolmesEdge of Eternity (1959) and I Want to Live! (1958)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.