The actor Dabbs Greer was best known on American television and in American film for playing “everyman” characters. Born Robert William Greer on April 2, 1917 in Fairview, Missouri, Dabbs grew up in nearby Anderson, Missouri. The only child of a pharmacist father and a speech therapist mother, Dabbs’ journey to becoming one of Hollywood’s most familiar faces began on stage in children’s theater when he was just eight years old.

He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drury University and taught drama there. His love for acting led him to the Pasadena Playhouse in California, where he served as an actor, teacher, and administrator in the 1940s. His stage name “Dabbs” came from his maternal grandmother’s maiden name.

A Career of Many Faces

Dabbs Greer’s career as a character actor was marked by an incredible breadth of roles, appearing in over 100 films and nearly 600 television episodes. He had the unique ability to embody roles that ranged from small-town businessmen to ministers, sheriffs, and even villains.

Over the course of 41 episodes, Dabbs brought the character of storekeeper Wilbur Jonas to life in Gunsmoke. He also played Coach Ossie Weiss in Hank and appeared in such iconic series as Perry Mason, Bonanza, The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and many others. However, it was his portrayal of Reverend Robert Alden in nearly 80 episodes of “Little House on the Prairie” that endeared him to generations of fans._[1]

Reverend Alden: An Anchor of Walnut Grove

From 1974 to 1983, Dabbs Greer portrayed the kind-hearted Reverend Alden, serving as a spiritual counselor to the people of Walnut Grove. The Reverend officiated weddings, counseled families, and gave heartfelt sermons, often bringing together the moral lessons of the show. His quiet strength, distinctive voice, and warm personality helped enshrine him as one of the most memorable figures in the show.

On a recent episode of the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Podcast, Dabbs Greer’s co-stars Dean Butler and Alison Arngrim shared their memories of the actor’s wonderful sense of humor. Alison reflected on the joy she and Melissa Gilbert felt watching him appear on a “Saturday Night Live” episode alongside Candice Bergen. Dean described Dabbs as embodying “a level of goodness and decency.”_[2]

A Lasting Final Chapter

Dabbs Greer kept acting late in life, making his final film appearance in 1999 as the elderly Paul Edgecomb in The Green Mile with Tom Hanks as the younger Edgecomb. Dabbs’ character delivered the story’s narrative through poignant flashbacks.

He last appeared on television in 2003 for an episode of Lizzie McGuire.

Although Dabbs mostly appeared in supporting roles throughout his career, he felt that “every character actor, in their little sphere, is the lead.”_[3]

A Life Well-Lived

Dabbs Greer died on April 28, 2007, at age 90 in Pasadena, California, of kidney failure and heart disease. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Though Greer never married and left no immediate relatives, he left behind a lasting legacy through his extensive body of work.[4]

For fans of “Little House on the Prairie,” Dabbs Greer’s performance as Reverend Alden remains an enduring part of the series’ legacy. His work continues to resonate with audiences, a testament to his ability to bring authenticity and humanity to every role he played. Whether ministering to the folks of Walnut Grove or narrating the story of a magical death row inmate in The Green Mile, Dabbs was a master of his craft and a cherished part of television history.

[1] https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339428/
[2] https://youtu.be/v6ttdxu1j-c?si=h5_pJmZ9rIQ0ZyCF
[3] Albany N.Y. Times Union, 2000
[4] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-01-me-greer1-story.html