Earl Hamner Jr. Wanted All Of The Waltons To Have The Same Hair Color

Earl Hamner Jr. was the creator and producer of The Waltons. It was recently revealed that there was one thing he wanted to change about the show. If he had his way, all of the Walton children would have had the same hair color. They would have all been redheads.

Judy Norton, who played Mary Ellen in the series, recently talked about the hair color issue. She said, “In terms of hair, the initial thing during ‘The Homecoming’ was because Earl Hamner referred to his family as redheads, based on his father’s red hair they wanted all of the (Walton) children to have red hair.”

Earl Hamner Jr. wanted all of the Waltons to be redheads

the waltons cast — THE WALTONS, top, from left: Eric Scott, Jon Walmsley, Richard Thomas, Will Geer, Ellen Corby, middle row, from left: Kami Cotler, Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, bottom, from left: David W. Harper, Judy Norton-Taylor, Mary Beth McDonough, (1970s), 1971-1981. TV Guide / © CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

However, Judy, Richard Thomas, and David Harper didn’t have naturally red hair. They got their hair colored but ultimately, Judy’s hair was colored back to its original color. At one point, she was asked to cut her hair but her agent said no. She was happy because she loved her long hair!

THE WALTONS, from left: Kami Cotler (front), Judy Norton, Mary Elizabeth McDonough, (1970s), 1971-1981. © CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection

Judy continued, “And they did ask me about my willingness to have my hair cut, kind of almost like a bowl cut for ‘The Homecoming.’ And, my agent on my behalf and for me too said no and, I was happy about that because I was rather attached to my long hair.”