Richard Thomas would’ve been 20 at the time in the tv movie.
Geer was not only a fag (bi, since he was married and had a daughter, actress Ellen Geer, who was in an episode of ST: TNG where she tricked Picard and the Enterprise and destroyed a crystalline entity lifeform in retaliation), but was a big old-school Communist. About the only productive thing he did was he had a habit of going around spreading wildflower seeds where he walked. Most Commies would just trample the stuff since they have an aversion to beauty.
I know young adults are better actors than kids but I’m in favor of age appropriate acting, more authentic. Gabrielle Cartieres was in her late 30’s on 90210.
Geer, yes I know he has a daughter (actually 3 kids, I guess a vagina will do when their are no dude butts around), I remember that Star Trek ep, she also played a widow who started slutting it up after her husband died on an episode of “NYPD Blue”, she was excepting all comers. A desperate Detective Medavoy took her up on her offer of nookie.
And yeah I know his BF was communist Harry Hay (and HE’s the one who made Hay a commie?). Just, so gross. Grandma was supposedly a dyke too, like WTF.