Character Actor Dabbs Greer Dies at 90

[Zoneboy]

A veteran character actor from the Neosho area - best known for his roles in film's “The Green Mile” and television's “Little House on the Prairie” - has died.

Dabbs Greer, 90, died at a California hospital Saturday evening, B.J. Goodwin, owner of Ozark Funeral Home and the McDonald County coroner, confirmed this morning. The cause of death was not immediately known this morning. A memorial service is pending, Goodwin said.

Greer was born April 2, 1917, in Fairview and moved to Anderson with his family as an infant. His father operated a drug store in Anderson, while his mother was a speech therapist.

Greer got his first acting experience on the stage of a Children's Theater production at age 8. After graduating from Anderson High School, he attended Drury College in Springfield, earning a bachelor's degree. He was head of the drama department at Mountain Grove High School from 1940 to 1943.

Greer made his film debut as an extra in the 1938 20th Century Fox production of “Jesse James,” which was filmed primarily in Pineville.

“Just like everybody else in the county,” he joked during a 2002 interview with the Neosho Daily News. “The folks at 20th Century Fox didn't realize this, but that picture really put McDonald County on the map. And they were paying $5 a day - a day! - to local people for being extras. That was really good money in those days, more money than we had seen in a long time. That picture was beneficial for the whole area.”

Greer played several parts in the production, including a man on the street, a well-dressed young man, and a Confederate soldier.

After teaching at Mountain Grove, Greer went to Pasadena, where he was offered a job at the community playhouse. He left the position after seven years for a career in film, including “Father's Little Dividend” with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor; “Monkey Business” with Cary Grant; and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” More recent roles have included such films as “Con Air” and “The Green Mile,” a film based on a Stephen King serial novel. In the latter film, Greer portrayed the elderly Paul Edgecomb.

Television appearances have included “The Brady Bunch” pilot episode, where he portrayed the minister who married Mike and Carol Brady. He also had roles in series such as “Gunsmoke,” “Gomer Pyle USMC,” “How to Marry a Millionaire,” and “Picket Fences.” He was perhaps best known for his portrayal of Rev. Alden in “Little House on the Prairie.”

In 2002, Anderson paid tribute to Greer as the community renamed the Town Hole Park in his honor. In an interview that year, Greer recalled growing up in Anderson.

“I still have some good memories of the place, and I've never called any other place home, although I've lived in California for 50 years. One thing about a small town like Anderson is you get to know people intimately. You can't do that in a big city. It was a beautiful city then, and it's still beautiful. We would fish, have adventures, just do the things that boys do in a rural community.”

Goodwin said Greer's caretaker in California would be contacting the funeral home this afternoon about arrangements. More information will be in upcoming editions of the Neosho Daily News.

[catlover79]

Mr. Greer...you were so great as Rev. Alden, and also in The Green Mile. God bless you friend...

[Scoobiedoo30]

rest in peace

[80s_Fan]

He was very good in "Little House On The Prairie" and also in the one episode of "The Brady Bunch" (pilot one).

[comedyfreak]

RIP Dabbs, he had a long life and made TV history.