Which actor can you not separate from their most iconic role? Who embodied their character so perfectly that you can’t see them as anyone else? Richard Thomas still gets greeted with “Hi, John-Boy” when he walks down the street. His work on The Waltons was just that iconic.
▬Contents of this video▬ 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - Who’s John-Boy? 01:40 - Leaving The Waltons 03:12 - John-Boy’s Back 04:34 - Working After The Waltons 06:31 - The Real Richard 07:54 - Outro
His bookish character was a major fan favorite. He shocked the world when he left and was replaced. He only returned for a few episodes and TV movies later on. Richard didn’t take the decision to leave the show lightly. He didn’t want to leave his Waltons family, but he did have to leave the John-Boy role behind if he ever wanted to have a full career. He eventually managed to do just that. He wasn’t the type of actor who only wanted to play one type of character, and he hasn’t. He’s had hundreds of roles, from TV shows to touring stage productions.
It took years of discipline for Richard to keep from stalling. That, combined with a willingness to follow his own path, helped him avoid being pigeonholed. Nothing could keep him from being recognized as John-Boy, but he doesn’t mind. He’s proud of what the show did and how it made others feel. He was simply ready to leave it behind after so many years. The ironic part is that Richard was never like his character behind the scenes. Even his costars will tell you that he’s boisterous, funny, and loud thanks to his city upbringing. It only goes to show his talent that the world believed he was such an introverted loner raised in the country.
Like and subscribe to FactsVerse for more on other actors who had to struggle to escape their most iconic performances. Watch our video as Richard Thomas confirms the truth about His John-Boy role.
Richard Thomas Confirms the Truth About His John-Boy Role
By: Facts Verse Title: Richard Thomas Confirms the Truth About His John-Boy Role Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVQlXfOnOWs
