Why Did Richard Thomas Leave ‘The Waltons?’

Richard Thomas was the lead on The Waltons till season 5. He portrayed John-Boy Walton within the CBS drama.

It was a career-defining position for him. He landed the job when he was a junior at Columbia School finding out English and left his research to decide to the position full-time.

So, when Thomas abruptly left the position after simply 5 seasons, everyone was left with a query about why he did so.

Why Did Richard Thomas Go away The Waltons?

Earlier than we get to the why let’s tackle the when. For these of you questioning “when did Richard Thomas depart The Waltons?” the reply is 1978.

After taking part in the present’s lead character for 124 episodes in 5 seasons between 1972 and 1978, he left the present.

As for why he left, Thomas has talked about his choice to half methods with the present on a number of events.

He had a contract for 5 years with the showrunners. And after the paperwork ran its course, he didn’t renew the contract.

Richard Thomas as John-Boy Walton on The Waltons. (Picture: Twitter)

The primary place the place his choice to depart the present is mentioned is on a website about The Waltons. A web page discussing Thomas and Earl Hamner’s ties with the present mentions that Thomas left the present to “pursue different pursuits.”

No different motive is given for his departure.

The actor would later affirm this in an interview with the Tv Academy.

Throughout a sit-down with the academy, he talked about his choice to depart the present and the way his forged members obtained that.

“Within the infinite knowledge of a 26-year-old,” he joked concerning the mindset speaking about how he thought he didn’t have to do the present anymore.

Persevering with along with his reply, Thomas mentioned there was no motive for him to depart apart from as a result of he was able to go.

All people within the forged obtained alongside properly, and the pay was good. Additional, he cherished the half and the present and had no private points with anybody.

Thomas didn’t even have one other job provide when he left the present.

The one concern he had was how individuals would take into consideration his character if he stayed any longer. He concluded that it was time to maneuver on for him and John-Boy Walton.

He additionally didn’t wish to be related to the character for too lengthy as that may create a special picture of him.

No one may imagine his choice. His agent, producers of the present, and he himself had a tough time coming to phrases with what he had left behind.

“It might need been the stupidest factor I ever did in my life,” Thomas quipped however mentioned he didn’t remorse it as a result of it was his selection.

Richard Thomas’s Function in The Waltons Remake

43 years after Thomas’s departure from the beloved CBS drama, he obtained a proposal to develop into part of The Waltons household as soon as extra.

In 2021, he was requested to be part of The Waltons: Homecoming, a TV film.

Regardless of his preliminary reservations concerning the present being remade with an entire new, youthful forged, he later realized that he wanted to be “proud and joyful” for the film and the present have been thought-about classics.

Earlier than The Waltons, he was part of The Waltons: A Christmas Story, which impressed the present.

For the remake, he was a narrator. The film got here out on The CW on November 28, 2021.

Thomas continues to be performing on large tasks. He starred on the hit present Ozark in 2022 and has appeared on three episodes as Nathan Davis as of this writing.