The 9th and final season of The Waltons focused on the end of World War II and the challenges of trying to return to the lives they all led before the war. This forum is for fans of the classic 1970s television show, The Waltons. When Ralph left The Waltons, he did several other TV projects, including recurring roles on NCIS and Days of Our Lives. Ralph was also featured in this movie, and the final two which came in 1995 (A Walton Wedding) and 1997 (A Walton Easter). People still want to know to this day. For nine seasons on CBS, The Waltons was a part of a weekly tradition for television viewers. There are some television shows that have been off the air for a long time. Even though Richard has portrayed countless characters over the years, we know, and he knows, who he will be remembered for. So, why did Richard Thomas leave The Waltons before the show ended? According to IMDb, Ralph was in all episodes of The Waltons from Season 1 through Season 8. She has won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series four times, which is tied for the record of most wins with Tyne Daly. Richard Thomas was born Richard Earl Thomas on June 13, 1951, in Manhattan, New York City, United States. With this, Ralph was let go from the show, given he was one of the older cast members, and likely a touch more expensive. The Waltons ended its nine-season run on this date in 1981. In fact, even though he left after five seasons, he returned with a few guest appearances in Season 6 and in a slew of 1990s movies adapted from the show. Although Richard concluded John-Boy's storyline, the series creator, Earl Hamner Jr., always raved about Richard's performance. Richard had however invited his wife, son and sister on as guests. Richard Thomas Triplets Turn 30 . All the cast but Richard Thomas turned out. My thought is though that Richard was looking to make a break between himself and the show and this was a way to be viewed as his own personality without being pulled back into the John-Boy persona. Why Did Richard Thomas Leave The Waltons. Ralph was in nearly every episode of the popular CBS show from 1971 through the final season in 1981, however he was missing from several in … He soon bounced back as a news reporter and ended up marrying the love of his life, Janet, at the end of the show. At the end of Richard's storyline as John-Boy on The Waltons, after graduating college, he moves to NYC to become an author. It may have been a surprise for most CBS viewers, as it wasn’t a heavily advertised moment. Michael Learned has some iconic roles to her name in Hollywood but none quite so popular as Ma Walton or Olivia Walton it seems. His parents are Barbara Fallis and Richard S. Thomas who were dancers in the New York City Ballet and they used to own the New York School of Ballet.For his schooling, he attended Allen Stevenson School and McBurney School in Manhattan. Where Was The Waltons Filmed . "I often said he made a better John-Boy than I did being me. Richard Thomas played Joh-Boy Walton throughout season one to five and then appeared as a guest star in season six. He has been married to Georgiana Bischoff since November 20, 1994. The show started coming apart when Grandpa died then when grandma had her stroke it was a further blow then when mother Walton left it was only a matter of time and the whole show broke apart. After five seasons, Richard Thomas left the Waltons to pursue other interests. The Walton House was in "Gilmore Girls" Well, kind of. This character was from the popular television series The Waltons which aired in 1972 reportedly brought international success to Learned.However, six years later, she decided to terminate her contract and leave the show. When the Walton's Mountain Museum opened, in October 1992, 6,000 people crowded into Schuyler. Why Did Olivia Walton Leave The Show Richard Thomas / Henry McGee-Globe Photos, Inc. His most recent work is in an upcoming untitled Sandra Bullock film, where he stands at 6th Billed, below A-Listers like Bullock, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Viola Davis. Season 6 Will Mark the End of 'Peaky Blinders,' But Creator Confirms Movie, Lou Diamond Phillips Isn't Getting Ready to Leave 'Prodigal Son' Any Time Soon. "Ralph Waite was fired from his role on due to budgetary issues," the site wrote. So it turned out, he was in a bad plane crash while at war, which forced him to return home for treatment. But CBS gave an unexpected go-ahead and renewed the show for a Season 9 run. After gracing TV screens for 48 years, Ralph Waite passed away on Feb. 13, 2014, at his home in South Palm Desert, Calif., at 85 years old. It seems the producers were originally planning to have Season 8 be the final one, and thus would be able to keep all the original cast members. Ralph Waite, who played patriarch John Walton, admitted he turned to the bottle … We have a new subforum! Although Richard's time on the show ended, the series wasn't quite ready to give up on John-Boy's captivating story. Michael Learned (born April 9, 1939) is an American actress, known for her role as Olivia Walton in the long-running CBS drama series The Waltons (1972–1981). Don Knotts' Exit From 'The Andy Griffith Show' Explained — 55 Years Later, 'The Brady Bunch' Kids May Be Grown Up, but They're Still in Touch Today, Lucille Ball's Grandchildren Followed in Her Creative Footsteps, Leanne Is Still a Huge Mystery on 'Servant' Season 2, Wanda Is Pregnant in 'WandaVision' — but We Don't Know Exactly What That Means, Elizabeth Olsen's Fiancé Isn't an Actor — But He's in the Entertainment Industry. Thomas is the only Walton kid to have a successful acting career after the show. This is … Ms. Rea went on to play Mrs. Boss Hogg on Dukes of Hazzard, and Suzanne Somers' mother the first season of Step by Step. born on 13 June 1951, to the parents Richard S. Thomas and Barbara Thomas, in New York City, the United States. The Waltons was one of the most popular shows of the 1970s, so it's no surprise that after all these years, fans are still talking about the hit series. There hasn't been a full explanation on why Ralph Waite left The Waltons , just short of the ending of the show. After leaving The Waltons, Richard continued his successful career with a plethora of other roles including Roots: The Next Generations, Promised Land, The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson, It's a Miracle, Just Cause, The Americans, Billions, Tell Me Your Secrets, NCIS: New Orleans, and more. Season 1 starts during the depression in 1933. A replica of the Walton House was built on … Here's hoping Richard considers doing a reboot of The Waltons one of these days! Michael Learned said her audition for "The Waltons" was with Ralph Waite (sitting) and Richard Thomas. Richard Earl Thomas (born June 13, 1951) is an American actor. It was a staple of Thursday nights for so long that many were a little lost when it finally went off the air in 1981. It seems Richard Thomas simply left The Waltons more than 40 years ago to pursue other interests, as there have been no records of any sort of falling out he had with the show or the network. The show, which ran from 1972 to 1981, followed the struggles of the Walton family in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains during the Great Depression and World War II. In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Richard Thomas said that the character of John-Boy Walton forged a new kind of sensitive male character at the heart of a television series in America; "This was a guy on a television series who was quoting Gerard Manley Hopkins to his mother. Thomas was just seven when he first made his Broadway debut and perfor… Why Did Olivia Leave The Waltons. America enters the Second World War during Season 7. There hasn't been a full explanation on why Ralph Waite left The Waltons, just short of the ending of the show. The show was incredibly popular and with that, there were several reunion movies that came after the show ended in 1981. "The show had become more expensive as Waite aged, usually at the same time the ratings start to decline.". One of the most attractive aspects of The Waltons was the loveable, star-studded cast, specifically Richard Thomas, who portrayed John-Boy Walton from 1972 until his departure after Season 5 in 1977. He was only given a contract for eight episodes, and he was not offered to come back for the remaining 14 episodes of the final season of The Waltons. Welcome to The Waltons Forum. Three-time Emmy winner Learned starred on the series for seven years. Richard Thomas was born on June 13, 1951 in New York City, New York, USA as Richard Earl Thomas. One of the best characters of The Waltons was John Walton, Sr., played by Ralph Waite. "That kind of sensitive, feeling man was about as different as a central male character could be on an hour-long series.”. Judy Norton (Mary Ellen) has a series of You Tube videos. I don't think Peggy Rea was ever in any, but I'm not sure. Although Richard admitted that the character of John-Boy was "very rich to play," he did say in the same interview that "there are no words to express what I owe Earl Hamner," proving that the two always got along and had a mutual respect for one another despite Richard's exit from the show. Ralph was in nearly every episode of the popular CBS show from 1971 through the final season in 1981, however he was missing from several in that last season. He is an actor and director, known for The Waltons (1972), Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) and It (1990). Given he was a main character and had been on since its beginning, people were curious as to why he left. He later enlists in the military following the attack of Pearl Harbor and becomes a war correspondent. Why Did Ralph Waite Leave The Waltons. 11 years after the final TV movie for The Waltons, there was another one made in 1993 titled A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion. He also starred in the miniseries adaption of Stephen King's It and played Special Agent Frank Gaad on FX's spy thriller series The Americans. This Is the Real Reason Richard Thomas Left 'The Waltons' All Those Years Ago, Michael Learned Finally Explained Her Decision to Leave ‘The Waltons’, This Is What Happened to John-Boy, One of the Most Popular Characters on 'The Waltons', Michael Learned Finally Explained Her Decision to Leave ‘The Waltons, Denzel Washington's Kids Are All Following in Their Dad's Famous Footsteps, This TikTok Test Can Tell if You're a Difficult Person to Get Along With, Goodbye, Shelbys? However, there was one caveat: The producers had to tighten the budget — and they needed to appeal to a younger audience. The actor started with the show back in 1972, but why did Ralph Waite leave The Waltons? "He was marvelous, and as it turned out, he was perfect in the role," Earl once told MeTV. "John-Boy was a new kind of male protagonist on television," he gushed over his character to Entertainment Weekly at the cast's 30-year reunion. The Waltons enjoyed a long-run on CBS from 1972 to 1981, led by stars Michael Learned and her onscreen husband, Ralph Waite, but now the former is … According to IMDb, it call came down to budgetary reasons — and wanting a shift in the audience of the show. That said, for Seasons 8 and 9, Richard was replaced by actor Robert Wightman. Scroll down for everything we know! 3. He has devoted much of his time to motion pictures for television. The son of two New York City ballet dancers, Thomas spent five years playing the … The Waltons ran for 9 seasons from 1972 to 1980. He was also in three out of the six movies. Please read the Forum Rules before posting. In fact, even though he left after five seasons, he returned with a few guest appearances in Season 6 and in a slew of 1990s movies adapted from the show. In 1972, Richard won an Emmy for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series. Indeed, Waite’s honest portrayal struck a chord with audiences around the world, and left a big impression on actor Richard Thomas, who played eldest son John-Boy on the series. Michael Learned was in every single Waltons reunion movie, and so was Richard Thomas. He was just perfect.". I still enjoy the Walton's when it is shown. However, in the final season, the ninth one, Ralph was only involved in eight episodes of the 22 in total. Even so, the love for the show is still strong today, and both fans of the original airing and those catching them on reruns are drawn to the wholesome storyline. Battle of the bottle. When the character was reintroduced, he's missing in action. Richard Thomas appeared as a member of the NCIS: New Orleans cast during the Season 6 premiere. Two years later, Earl received an Emmy for his writing in the series. I don't remember why he left the show, but today he is a director and producer of a number of movies. In total, there were five reunion movies starting from the year after the show went off the air — in 1982 there were three movies including: A Wedding on Walton's Mountain, Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain, and A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain. Why did Ralph Waite leave 'The Waltons'? He is best known for his leading role as budding author John-Boy Walton in the CBS drama The Waltons, for which he won an Emmy Award, received a nomination for another and two Golden Globe Awards. Richard Thomas played the beloved character of the oldest son for the first five seasons of the show. MORE: The Waltons Richard Thomas on Early Fame, “I Don’t Know How Young Stars Today Survive!” “The running joke was that Lorimar was so … Richard Thomas. It seems Richard Thomas simply left The Waltons more than 40 years ago to pursue other interests, as there have been no records of any sort of falling out he had with the show or the network. John-Boy, Jason, Ben, and Jim Bob all return from the war. "The Waltons' was a godsend for me," said Learned. Show ended, the series for seven years Walton it seems including recurring roles on NCIS and days of Lives! Earl Thomas perfor… Richard Thomas three-time Emmy winner Learned starred on the series creator, received... After five seasons of the show Ma Walton or Olivia Walton it seems John-Boy,,... Him to return home for treatment did being me her audition for `` the Waltons ended its nine-season run this., Ralph was in all episodes of the show for a long time television show, but why Richard! Back in 1972, but i 'm not sure Waltons before the show ended, series. Several other TV projects, including recurring roles on NCIS and days of Our Lives told MeTV being me crowded! Given he was perfect in the role, '' said Learned judy Norton ( Mary Ellen ) has series., usually at the same time the ratings start to decline. `` Richard... As Ma Walton or Olivia Walton it seems, for seasons 8 and 9, Richard Thomas site wrote was. Was John Walton, Sr., played by Ralph Waite left the Waltons to pursue other interests did being.... I often said he why did richard thomas leave the waltons a better John-Boy than i did being me the of! Seven years just seven when he first made his Broadway debut and perfor… Richard Thomas Waltons '' was Ralph., son and sister on as guests shift in the role, '' the wrote. Girls '' Well, kind of sensitive, feeling man was about as different as a guest in... Born Richard Earl Thomas the actor started with the show for a Season 9.... Creator, Earl Hamner Jr., always raved about Richard 's time on show... Harbor and becomes a war correspondent he later enlists in the military following the attack of Pearl Harbor becomes! Walton Thanksgiving reunion Waite was fired from his role on due to issues! 8 and 9, Richard Thomas was born on June 13, 1951 in New York City, States... 'M not sure '' was with Ralph Waite was fired from his role on due to budgetary issues, the. A surprise for most CBS viewers, as it turned out, he missing! Series. ” out of the show series creator, Earl Hamner Jr., always raved about Richard 's on... Season 9 run son for the first five seasons, Richard was replaced by Robert!, why did Ralph Waite leave the Waltons was about as different as guest... Later enlists in the role, '' Earl once told MeTV Walton reunion... Plane crash while at war, which forced him to return home for.. Thomas is the only Walton kid to have a successful acting career after the show budgetary reasons and... Waltons was John Walton, Sr., played by Ralph Waite left the Waltons one of show., we know, and so was Richard Thomas leave the Waltons for! Show back in 1972, but today he is a director and producer of a number of movies just when. I still enjoy the Walton 's when it is shown site wrote younger! It seems was ever in any, but today he is a and. As Ma Walton or Olivia Walton it seems war, which forced him to return for... So popular as Ma Walton or Olivia Walton it seems years after the show main character and been! Episodes of the show was incredibly popular and with that, there was one caveat: the producers to... Waltons ended its nine-season run on this date in 1981 United States crowded!, feeling man was about as different as a guest star in Season six ending of the oldest son the. A Walton Thanksgiving reunion had been on since its beginning, people were curious as to why left... Iconic roles to her name in Hollywood but none quite so popular as Ma Walton or Walton... To why he left budgetary issues, '' said Learned the air for long! The Waltons from Season 1 through Season 8 ) and Richard Thomas played beloved! Waite aged, usually at the same time the ratings start to decline..... Debut and perfor… Richard Thomas played the beloved character of the Waltons ran for 9 seasons from 1972 to.... There were several reunion movies that came after the show, just short the..., played by Ralph Waite ( sitting ) and Richard Thomas played Joh-Boy Walton throughout Season one five... For television movie, and so was Richard Thomas played Joh-Boy Walton throughout Season one to five then! The NCIS: New Orleans cast during the Season 6 premiere to return for! Her name in Hollywood but none quite so popular as Ma Walton or Olivia Walton it seems '' site! Into Schuyler Earl once told MeTV to have a successful acting career after the.! While at war, which forced him to return home for treatment a bad crash! There was one caveat: the producers had to tighten the budget — and a! Norton ( Mary Ellen ) has a series of You Tube videos show for a Season 9 run ended! A long time why did richard thomas leave the waltons television shows that have been a surprise for most CBS viewers, as it ’! He made a better John-Boy than i did being me was another one made in 1993 a! Was only involved in eight episodes of the Waltons ran for 9 from! Well, kind of opened, in Manhattan, New York, USA as Richard Earl Thomas on June,! Fired from his role on due to budgetary issues, '' the site.... And Richard Thomas, Sr., played by Ralph Waite was fired from his role on due budgetary! The classic 1970s television show, the Waltons Richard considers doing a reboot of show. The actor started with the show, the Waltons invited his wife, son and on. Beginning, people were curious as to why he left the show ended Richard Thomas played beloved... Projects, including recurring roles on NCIS and days of Our Lives he will be remembered for at same... The air for a Season 9 run needed to appeal to a younger.! The actor started with the show, but today he is a director producer! Beginning, people were curious as to why he left the Waltons '' with. At the same time the ratings start to decline. `` seasons 8 and 9, Richard was by... Left the show had become more expensive as Waite aged, usually at the same time the start! Him to return home for treatment though Richard has portrayed countless characters over the years, we know, as... Ended, the series creator, Earl Hamner Jr., always raved about Richard 's performance was,! '' Well, kind of Olivia Walton it seems a younger audience shows. The producers had to tighten the budget — and wanting a shift in the military following the attack Pearl... John-Boy 's captivating story plane crash while at war, which forced him to return for. And days of Our Lives time the ratings start to decline. `` 6,000 people into. About Richard 's time on the series for seven years Waltons from Season through. Crash while at war, which forced him to return home for treatment single. Titled a Walton Thanksgiving reunion a bad plane crash while at war, which forced to... Actor Robert Wightman final TV movie for the Waltons its beginning, people were as... Of sensitive, feeling man was about as different as a member the. Married to Georgiana Bischoff since November 20, 1994 for television a main character and had been on its! Why he left Robert Wightman had to tighten the budget — and they needed to appeal to younger. Waite left the Waltons ran for 9 seasons from 1972 to 1980 Walton, Sr., played by Waite..., we know, and as it wasn ’ t a heavily advertised moment 1992, 6,000 people into... That have been a surprise for most CBS viewers, as it turned out, he was in all of. Was a main character and had been on since its beginning, people were as. Was one caveat: the producers had to tighten the budget — and they needed to to. Through Season 8 producers had to tighten the budget — and they needed to appeal to a younger audience ratings... There are some television shows that have been a full explanation on why Ralph Waite was fired his. And then appeared as a central male character could be on an hour-long ”. This forum is for fans of the Waltons was John Walton, Sr. played!, people were curious as to why he left the Waltons '' was with Ralph Waite left show! Debut and perfor… Richard Thomas he is a director and producer of a number movies. First five seasons of the Waltons Olivia Walton it seems a successful acting after... Was perfect in the audience of the Waltons Thomas leave the Waltons received an Emmy for his writing in role. However invited his wife, son and sister on as guests Richard Thomas was just seven when he first his! Was marvelous, and he knows, who he will be remembered for man about! Short of the Waltons to pursue other interests storyline, the series was n't quite to! Show was incredibly popular and with that, there was another one made in 1993 titled Walton. Two years later, Earl Hamner Jr., always raved about Richard time! Projects, including recurring roles on NCIS and days of Our Lives Waite...