Richard Thomas Knew He Would Leave ‘The Waltons’ Since He Started

The future isn’t set in stone, but decisions can be made long before they’re even brought up. Richard Thomas was known as the John-Boy Walton on CBS’s The Waltons before he left ahead of season eight. It was a jarring choice, one that might have shocked his fans but not Thomas, who had this planned out from the start.

The Waltons was based on Earl Hamner Jr.’s book Spencer’s Mountain along with the film of the same name. It ran for nine seasons and half a dozen made-for-TV movies. Thomas, despite becoming the face of John-Boy and, in part, the show itself, was not there for every bit of the show, which was by design from the start.

Richard Thomas knew he would leave ‘The Waltons’ from the beginning

Following the titular Walton family, the CBS classic would always, to an extent, be reliant upon the diverse age of its core cast. So, the sands in the hourglass were always draining. But Thomas had a timer with even fewer years than all the rest, which is exactly how he wanted it.

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“When I signed my contract I decided then that I would remain with the series no longer than five years,” Thomas explained. This was settled right when he first signed onto the show. In an interview with The Montreal Star, Thomas further explained, “That’s long enough to be tied up with one project and I want to go on to other things.”

He was always comfortable with his decision but did not resent ‘The Waltons’

If there were one way to describe Thomas in relation to The Waltons, it would be devoted. While some TV watchers would criticize the show for being too sugary-sweet, Thomas lauded the program for being an uplifting moral compass that life ought to imitate more, and that it sometimes did with great effect.

“They’re not supercops or superstars and I think the success of the series proves that the public can identify with them just as easily as they can fantasize with the larger-than-life heroes in most shows,” he asserted.

Additionally, Thomas was grateful that “working in television gave me the opportunity to be in front of the camera every day practicing my craft.” Ultimately, though, the theatre called to him more powerfully than the small or large screen would and he found continued success as a stage actor. An artist as well, of the pen and paper, John-Boy would surely be proud.