“The Waltons” star Richard Thomas knew it wouldn’t be easy to prove to audiences that he could play more than just John Boy Walton once the show was over.
“I thought I’d been on this show for five years,” the actor exclusively tells Page Six in a new interview. “It will take at least five years to do enough work to start to balance the scales.”
Thomas, who left the hit 70s TV series after five seasons, was quick to stress that he “loved” the show.
“I have nothing but incredible gratitude, love and fond memories. This was a great piece of television for its time,” he enthused, noting that the series aired at a time when there were only three broadcast networks and a huge television audience.
“The scope was staggering,” he continued, “and difficult for people today to understand.”
The success of “The Waltons” drew attention, especially from female fans.
“It was awesome!” Thomas enthuses, “It was the ’70s.”
The CBS series, which aired from 1972 to 1981, centered around a rural family during the Great Depression and World War II.
Thomas played the beloved role of John Boy Walton, the oldest member of the family who dreamed of one day becoming a writer.
The actor, who was born and raised in New York City, went on to appear on shows such as “It” and guest star on many other series. Thomas eventually returned to his first love, the Broadway stage, making his debut in Sunrise at Campobello at just seven years old.
He was nominated for his role in “Little Foxes” in 2017 and later played Atticus Finch in the 2022-2024 “A Tale of Alabama” tour.
Thomas also had a great role as the head of FBI counterintelligence in The Americans, which he praised on Page Six.
“I loved it because it was a counterintuitive casting for me,” he explained. “[It]gave me a great opportunity to play a pretty enigmatic character who is sometimes thought to be okay and sometimes just a villain.”
Thomas is currently starring in The Balusters, a raucous comedy about a neighborhood association thrown into turmoil by a newcomer’s proposal to install a stop sign on the enclave’s prettiest block.
Johnny Oleksinski of the Post praised the show, calling it “an absorbing and fun watch.”
In another part of the interview, Thomas joked to Page Six about celebrating his 75th birthday on June 13th. He still looks decades younger, but he swears he’s not doing any work.
“Come on!” he exclaimed, noting that the forehead is “one of the most expressive parts” of the face.
“I don’t want any of it to freeze,” he continued, “I mean, it’s falling apart, but what does that mean?”
When Page Six suggested she launch a skincare line, Thomas laughed and replied, “You’re so kind of me. You made my day!”
