Rural settings make for comforting classic
TV. The Waltons were a classic example of this. The family lived through the Depression, but
their tenacity and togetherness were an encouragement to viewers. John-Boy was one of the standout members. His dedication to his dream of becoming a
writer was inspiring. The actor who played him did such a great
job that he’ll always be associated with the role. Everyone from casting directors and fans on
the street knows him, and he’s had to work to have a career that stretches beyond The
Waltons. Keep watching as Richard Thomas confirms the
truth about his John-Boy role. Who’s John-Boy? The Waltons was a show that ran for nine seasons
from 1972 to 1981. There were also three TV film sequels in 1982
and three more in the 90s. The show followed the Walton family and their
struggles in Virginia during the Great Depression. The eldest son, John-Boy, became a standout
character. He was an idealistic young writer and a fan
favorite. His story throughout the series showed his
growth from a child with a dream to a man who was beginning to achieve his dreams. He enroles in Boatright College in seasons
three and four. He then starts his own newspaper in the next
episodes. Richard stopped playing the character at the
end of season five. The in-show explanation was that he moved
to New York to become a writer. The character reappears in three episodes
of season six. That’s when he joined the WWII effort in
Europe. John-Boy returns home from WWII in season
eight. He’s in a coma with mild amnesia but recovers,
goes back into the newspaper business, and marries Janet Gilchrist. They have twins Jade and John. It was a satisfying and complete way to end
John-Boy’s story. Leaving The Waltons
Richard said that he quickly became tired of playing the same character over and over. John-Boy’s arc was complete by season five,
and sending him off for a career as a writer was the right way to end it. That didn’t mean he didn’t have reservations. Choosing to leave the family he’d found
on the set was difficult. He was so affected emotionally that he even
felt ill for weeks after filming the final episode. Richard also worried about where his career
would go after The Waltons. He believed it would take at least ten years
of influence to get past the influence of playing such an iconic character for five
years. It turned out that he was right. He was ready to leave John-Boy behind, but
not everyone else was. He believed the fans would understand, but
the rest of Hollywood took a bit more convincing. Casting directors couldn’t see him as anyone
other than John-Boy. There were also other actors who only wanted
to work with him because of his recognizability. There was also a surprising lack of safety
that he noticed when he tried to take on other parts. He had to create new personas after spending
years in one. He needed to study scripts more than he ever
had before, but he managed to do it. Richard told The Urbana Daily Citizen that,
overall, he doesn’t mind being associated with John-Boy. He loves the character and the positive feelings
he gives to audiences. All he ever wanted was to have it not be the
only thing people knew him for. That, as it is for most actors who have iconic
roles, was the most difficult part. John-Boy’s Back
Robert Wightman replaced Richard in Season eight of The Waltons. He played the role for a total of 16 episodes. There were a few times, though, that the original
came back. Richard appeared in three episodes of seasons
six and seven. He didn’t want anyone to think he’d left
on negative terms. He was also part of three TV movies, including
1993’s A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, 1995’s A Walton Wedding, and 1997’s A Walton Easter. Fans who loved his voice could enjoy his narration
in a few more pieces of Waltons media. He hosted and narrated the 2021 TV movie The
Waltons: Homecoming. It was a special 50th-anniversary remake of
the original Waltons TV movie. He also played himself in the 2022’s A Waltons
Thanksgiving. Taking on Earl Hammer’s iconic original
narration was intimidating. He still hoped to come back and tell the story
as the older John-Boy, and that’s the way it happened. When he wasn’t playing him, it was understandably
strange to see anyone else in the role. Richard and Robert already knew each other
after working on the TV movie No Other Love together. He was fine with the casting choice, but it
must have felt like someone else stepping into his skin. He also pitied Robert because he knew that
the audience might not accept him. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy to do
when John-Boy had become such an iconic character. Like and subscribe to FactsVerse for more
on the most iconic classic sitcoms. Keep watching to learn more secrets about
Richard Thomas and his John-Boy role. Working After The Waltons
Richard realized the difficulty of escaping his John-Boy image early on. He said in an interview with the Knight-Ridder
News Service that “there’s no way you can do that” and called it a “fool’s
errand.” At the same time, he was grateful for the
opportunity to play such an iconic character. He also finds it entertaining when he gets
to play a completely different character. Viewers will be impressed by his range but
no doubt still recognize him as John-Boy. One of his most recent roles was in season
four of the TV show Ozark. He’s also guest starred on other shows such
as Chicago P.D., Elementary, Blue Bloods, Billions, The Blacklist, and It. His most significant credit is a leading role
for four seasons in the show The Americans. Richard has made a film appearance in 2021’s
The Unforgivable. He’s also an accomplished theater actor
in shows such as The Little Foxes, 12 Angry Men, and Race. His most recent stage part was a starring
role as Atticus Finch in the 2022 production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Richard first read the book it’s based on
in school. He remembers loving it but, since he always
reads source text before a role, he read it again and was surprised at how mature it is. He also watched the famous 1965 film adaptation
again and, while he enjoyed it, hopes to take the character of Atticus Finch in a new direction
with more humor and relatability. There are also changes to other characters
such as Calournia. He became interested in taking the play on
tour when he heard who was involved. Aaron Sorkin was adapting it, and his friend
Jeff Daniels was also in it. He believes that there was no better story
to tell across the country at the moment. He’s also said that the stage helps him
avoid being seen only as John-Boy. He told The Dispatch in 2023 that it doesn’t
spark the same stereotypes. It allows him to spread his wings and choose
more varied roles. He’s managed to land over 122 credits in
a career that’s spanned over 65 years. It’s not only because of his career-defining
role, because he was working before that, but it is because of his willingness to stretch
himself beyond it. He knows how to choose roles that work for
him, whether or not they’re like what he’s done before. The Real Richard
Richard jokingly says that John-Boy will be on his tombstone. Fans shout it at him all the time, and he
even hears “Goodnight John-Boy” during curtain calls on stage. He’s grateful for the recognition, but he’s
certainly being called by the wrong name. Judy Norton worked with Richard for years. She played the younger Walton sister Mary-Ellen. She got to know him personally and says he
was nothing like his introspective, bookish character. She shared the truth in a YouTube video published
in September 2020. Judy said that one of the first major differences
was their upbringing. John-Boy grew up in rural Virginia, while
Richard grew up in New York. He was a self-identified “backstage baby”
because he’d often follow his parents, Barbara Fallis and Richard Thomas, to their dance
performances. Judy also says that his attitude wasn’t
as serious or “angst-ridden” as the character he played. She praised his sense of humor. Richard also admits that he wasn’t the same
as John-Boy and didn’t love what fans assumed about him. They expected him to be calm and mild-mannered,
but he called himself the “farthest thing from that kid.” In reality, he was a “misbehaving young
actor who’d cuss like a sailor” backstage. A Little Advice from John-Boy
The world looks to shows like The Waltons for comfort in trying times. Creative souls can also get inspiration from
John-Boy. He serves as a sign that they can achieve
their dreams, too. Richard has a bit of advice for those who
want to follow in his footsteps. The first piece is that actors should never
try to follow in anyone else’s footsteps. Their careers are their own, and they have
to focus on who they are. Think about your career and the people around
you and not anyone else's. He also says they should remember that creative
work is still work that requires discipline. He learned the importance of that from his
parents. They spent hours dancing to get it right. It’s the love of the craft that they share
that makes it worth it. He also encourages them not to be afraid to
do what he did when he left the Waltons. Don’t waste your time in roles that aren’t
serving you or ignore ones that may be better for you. Advice from Richard is a bit of a luxury because
he doesn’t give it very often. He didn’t give any tips to Logan Shryoyer
when he played John-Boy in 2021’s The Waltons Homecoming. He called him a “terrific actor” with
his own way of playing the part. He didn’t feel like he needed any help,
but he would have given it if asked. Which actor can you not separate from their
most iconic role? Let us know in the comments below.
