Richard Thomas

Richard Earl Thomas (born June 13, 1951) is an American actor. He is best known for his leading role as budding author "John-Boy" Walton on the CBS historical drama series The Waltons (1972–1977), for which he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, in addition to two Golden Globe Award nominations.

Thomas later starred as Bill Denbrough in the television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's It (1990), played Special Agent Frank Gaad on FX's spy thriller series The Americans (2013–2016), and appeared as Nathan Davis on the Netflix crime drama series Ozark (2022). On stage, Thomas portrayed Atticus Finch in the 2022–2024 national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his work as Elliot Emerson in The Balusters (Broadway, 2026). His feature film credits include Last Summer (1969), You'll Like My Mother (1972), Battle Beyond the Stars (1980), and Wonder Boys (2000).

Early life and education Thomas was born on June 13, 1951, in Manhattan, the son of Barbara Fallis and Richard S. Thomas. His parents were dancers with the New York City Ballet and owned the New York School of Ballet.

Thomas has a birthmark on his left cheek. He has stated that this led to his rejection for a role in a television commercial in his youth.

Thomas was educated at two private day schools for boys, first at Allen-Stevenson School, and then at the now-defunct McBurney School, both in his home district of Manhattan, New York City.

He was a student at Columbia College, the undergraduate college of Columbia University, where he majored in Chinese before switching to the English department. After he landed the role in The Waltons, he left Columbia during his junior year to commit to the role full-time in Los Angeles.

Acting career

In 1958, at age seven, Thomas made his Broadway debut in Sunrise at Campobello. He then began acting in daytime TV, appearing in soap operas such as The Edge of Night (as Ben Schultz, 1961), A Flame in the Wind and As the World Turns (as Tom Hughes, 1966–67) which were broadcast from his native Manhattan. In 1970, he guest starred in NBC's Bonanza ("The Weary Willies").

Thomas's first major film roles were in the auto racing drama Winning (1969) with Paul Newman and the coming-of-age story Last Summer (also 1969) with Bruce Davison, Barbara Hershey, and Catherine Burns.

In 1971 Thomas appeared in The Todd Killings, a psychological thriller released by National General Pictures, directed by Barry Shear, and co-starring Robert F. Lyons, Belinda Montgomery and Barbara Bel Geddes, based on the true crimes of serial killer Charles Schmid. Also in 1971, he starred in Red Sky at Morning, reuniting him with Last Summer co-star Catherine Burns, and played the lead in the independent production Cactus in the Snow.

Beginning in 1972, Thomas became recognized worldwide for his portrayal of John-Boy Walton in the TV series The Waltons, based on the life story of writer Earl Hamner, Jr. He appeared in the original CBS television film The Homecoming: A Christmas Story in 1971, which inspired the commissioning of the otherwise largely recast series, The Waltons, and then played the role of John-Boy Walton continuously in 122 episodes. In March 1977, Thomas left the series and his role was taken over by Robert Wightman. However, Thomas returned to the role in three Waltons TV movies in the 1990s, including A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion in 1993. Thomas won an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1973.

Thomas played against type as murderer and rapist Kenneth Kinsolving in You'll Like My Mother in 1972 with Patty Duke. He played the lead roles of Private Henry Fleming in the NBC TV movie The Red Badge of Courage in 1974 and Paul Bäumer in the 1979 CBS TV movie on All Quiet on the Western Front.

In other TV films, he played Col. Warner's younger son Jim in Roots: The Next Generations (the 1979 sequel to 1977's Roots), the title role in the biopic Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story in 1983, Will Mossup in CBS's Hobson's Choice in 1983, Henry Durie in The Master of Ballantrae for Hallmark Hall of Fame, Martin Campbell in Final Jeopardy, and the adult Bill Denbrough in the 1990 television mini-series It, adapted from Stephen King's horror novel.

In 1980, Thomas made his first Broadway appearance in more than 12 years when he was a replacement in Lanford Wilson's Fifth of July. In the same year, he appeared as Shad (the young farmer entrusted to employ mercenaries to save his planet from Sador and his invading forces) in Battle Beyond the Stars.

In 1987, he appeared on stage in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., in the one-man tour-de-force Citizen Tom Paine (playing Paine "like a star-spangled tiger, ferocious about freedom and ready to savage anyone who stands in his way," in a staging of Howard Fast's play set in the bicentennial year of the United States Constitution). In 1990, he joined with Nathan Lane at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles for Terrence McNally's The Lisbon Traviata in the role of Stephan. In 1992 he played the role of Gary Brown on the film A Thousand Heroes the disaster of United Airlines flight 232, in 1993, he played the title role in a Shakespeare Theater stage production of Richard II in Washington, D.C.

Thomas starred in the ABC TV movie Death in Small Doses, directed by Sondra Locke. He starred with Maureen O'Hara and his It co-star Annette O'Toole in the Hallmark Channel movie The Christmas Box in 1995.

Thomas appeared in a quartet of performances at the Hartford Stage in Connecticut including Hamlet (1987), Peer Gynt (1989), Richard III (1994) and Tiny Alice (1996). In 1997 and 1998, he played degenerate Joe Greene in two episodes of Touched by an Angel and four episodes of Promised Land.

In 2001, he appeared in London's West End in a theatre production of Yasmina Reza's Art with Judd Hirsch. He also appeared on the New York stage in The Public Theater's production in Central Park of As You Like It in 2005, Michael Frayn's Democracy on Broadway in 2004, and the Primary Stages' off-Broadway production of Terrence McNally's The Stendhal Syndrome in the same year.

He hosted the PAX TV series It's a Miracle. He starred in the series Just Cause in 2003 for the PAX TV network.

In 2005, he appeared in the Richard Greenburg Broadway debut of A Naked Girl on the Appian Way.

In 2006, Thomas began an American theater tour of Reginald Rose's play Twelve Angry Men along with Cheers star George Wendt at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, Connecticut, playing the pivotal role of Juror Eight opposite Wendt's Juror One.

In 2009 and 2010, Thomas was featured on Broadway in Race, a play by David Mamet. The production was directed by Mamet and included James Spader, David Alan Grier, and Kerry Washington. In February and March 2011, he starred at the off-Broadway New York Public Theater in Timon of Athens.

Thomas played Frank Gaad

Thomas appeared in the 2017 Broadway revival of The Little Foxes and was nominated for a 2017 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

In December 2018, Thomas portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in Pittsburgh CLO's production of A Musical Christmas Carol.

In February 2021, Thomas portrayed Bodie Lord in the Amazon thriller drama television series Tell Me Your Secrets, appearing in episode 5.

In January 2022, Thomas portrayed Wendy Byrde's estranged father, Nathan Davis, in three episodes of season 4 of the Netflix series Ozark.

Starting in April 2022, Thomas starred as Atticus Finch in a National Broadway tour of a stage production of Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

In 2024, Thomas played Professor Webb in Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, with Jim Parsons and Katie Holmes.

In 2025, Richard Thomas played Mark Twain in a national touring revival of Hal Holbrook's Mark Twain Tonight.

Personal life Thomas married Alma Gonzales in 1975. In 1976, they had a son. Triplet daughters were born in 1981.

Thomas married Santa Fe art dealer Georgiana Bischoff on November 20, 1994 and their son was born in 1996. Richard adopted Bischoff's two daughters who were from previous marriages.

Thomas is a Kentucky Colonel.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1969 Winning Charley Last Summer Peter1971 Red Sky at Morning Joshua Arnold The Todd Killings Billy Roy Cactus in the Snow Harley MacIntosh aka You Can't Have Everything or Soldier Story 1972 You'll Like My Mother Kenny Kinsolving 1974 Sisters of the Space Age Narrator Short film 1977 September 30, 1955 Jimmy J. 1980 Battle Beyond the Stars Shad 1999 Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder Charles Ingalls Video2000 The Million Dollar Kid Ted Hunter Wonder Boys Walter Gaskell Bloodhounds Inc. Robert Hunter Video 2009 Taking Woodstock Reverend Don Darren Pettie 2015 Anesthesia Mr. Werth2021 Christmas vs. the Walters Roger The Unforgivable Michael Malcolm Pennywise: The Story of It Himself Documentary film

Television films Year Title Role Notes 1959 A Doll's House Ivor 1971 The Homecoming: A Christmas Story John-Boy Walton 1974 The Red Badge of Courage Pvt. Henry Fleming 1975 The Silence Cadet James Pelosi 1978 Getting Married Michael Carboni 1979 No Other Love Andrew Madison All Quiet on the Western Front Paul Bäumer 1980 To Find My Son David Benjamin 1981 Berlin Tunnel 21 Lieutenant Sandy Mueller Barefoot in the Park Paul Bratter 1982 Pavarotti & Friends Himself Johnny Belinda William Richmond Fifth of July Kenneth Talley Jr. Christmas at Kennedy Center with Leontyne Price Himself 1983 Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story Hank Williams Jr. Hobson's Choice Will Mossup 1984 The Master of Ballantrae Henry Durie 1985 Final Jeopardy Marty Campbell 1988 Go Toward the Light Greg Madison 1989 Glory! Glory! Rev. Bobby Joe 1990 Andre's Mother Cal Porter – Andre's Lover Common Ground Colin Diver 1991 Mission of the Shark Lieutenant Steven Scott Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus James O'Hanlan 1992A Thousand Heroes Gary Brown aka Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232 Lincoln John Hay Voice role 1993 I Can Make You Love Me Richard Farley aka Stalking Laura Precious Victims Don Weber Linda Paul Cowley A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion John-Boy Walton 1994 To Save the Children David Young 1995 Death in Small Doses Richard Lyon A Walton Wedding John-Boy Walton Down, Out & Dangerous Tim Willows The Christmas Box Richard Evans1996 West Virginia: A Film History Narrator Voice role What Love Sees Gordon Holly Timepiece Richard Evans 1997 A Walton Easter John-Boy Walton A Thousand Men and a Baby Dr. Hugh 'Bud' Keenan aka Narrow Escape Flood: A River's Rampage Herb Dellenbach 1998 Big and Hairy Victor Dewlap 2000 In the Name of the People Jack Murphy The Christmas Secret Jerry McNeil 2001 The Miracle of the Cards Dr. Neal Kassell 2002 Beyond the Prairie, Part 2 Charles Ingalls Anna's Dream Rod Morgan 2005 Annie's Point Richard Eason 2006 Wild Hearts Bob 2011 Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Dick aka Time after Time 2021 The Waltons' Homecoming John-Boy Walton (voice) / Host 2022 A Waltons Thanksgiving John-Boy Walton (voice) / Host

Television series Year Title Role Notes1961 Way Out Jeremy Keeler Episode: "The Croaker" Great Ghost Tales Conradin Episode: "Srendhi Vashtar" The Defenders Johnny Remington Episode: "The Boy Between" From These Roots Richard Unknown episodes The Edge of Night Ben Schultz, Jr. 1961–1962 1, 2, 3 Go! Himself 5 episodes 1964 A Flame in the Wind Chris Austin Episode: "#1.1" 1965 Seaway Martin Anderson Episode: "Last Voyage" 1966–1967 As the World Turns Thomas Christopher Hughes #4 Unknown episodes 1969–1970 Marcus Welby, M.D. Dennis Alan Graham 2 episodes1970 Medical Center Toby Tavormina Episode: "Runaway" Bracken's World Alan Episode: "Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon" Bonanza Billy Episode: "The Weary Willies" 1971 The F.B.I. John "Chill" Chilton Episode: "The Game of Terror" 1972 Night Gallery Ian Evans Episode: "The Sins of the Fathers" 1972–1977 The Waltons John-Boy Walton 124 episodes 1973 Match Game 73 Himself 5 episodes 1979 Roots: The Next Generations Jim Warner 3 episodes 1989 The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible Mark Episode: "The Easter Story"1990 Tales from the Crypt Dr. Trask Episode: "Mute Witness to Murder" It Bill Denbrough 2 episodes1995 The Outer Limits Dr. Stephen Ledbetter Episode: "The New Breed" The Invaders Jerry Thayer 2 episodes 1996 Dave's World Himself Episode: "L.A. Times" 1997–1998 Promised LandJoe Greene 4 episodes Touched by an Angel 2 episodes 1997 Riding the Rails Narrator TV documentary 1998 The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson David Robinson 30 episodes 1999 The Practice Walter Arens Episode: "Committed" 1999–2001 It's a Miracle Host24 episodes 2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Daniel Varney Episode: "Scourge" 2002–2003 Just Cause Hamilton Whitney III 22 episodes 2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes Howard Cottrell Episode: "Autopsy Room Four" 2009 Law & Order Roger Jenkins Episode: "Dignity" 2011 Rizzoli & Isles Professor Dwayne Cravitz Episode: "Rebel Without a Pause" 2013–2016 The Americans Frank Gaad 41 episodes2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Nat Randolph Episode: "Brief Interlude" White Collar William Wolcott Episode: "Master Plan" 2014 The Good Wife Ed Pratt Episode: "Dear God"2016 Chicago P.D. Adam Ames Episode: "A Night Owl" Elementary Mitch Barrett Episode: "Henny Penny the Sky is Falling" Conviction Earl Slavitt Episode: "A Different Kind of Death" 2017, 2019 Billions Sanford Bensinger 3 episodes 2017 Blue Bloods Congressman Richard Walters Episode: "Ghosts of the Past" 2019 The Blacklist David Foy Episode: "The Third Estate" 2019–2020 NCIS: New Orleans Deputy Director Van Cleef 2 episodes 2020 The Comey Rule Chuck Rosenberg 2 episodes 2021 Tell Me Your Secrets Bodie Lord 5 episodes 2022 Ozark Nathan Davis 9 episodes

Stage Year Title Role Notes 1958 Sunrise at Campobello John Roosevelt Cort Theatre, Broadway 1963 Strange Interlude Gordon Evans Hudson Theatre, Broadway 1964 Richard III Young Prince Edward New York Shakespeare Festival, Off-Broadway 1965 The Playroom Eric Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway 1966 Richard III Duke of York New York Shakespeare Festival, Off-Broadway 1967 Everything in the Garden Roger Plymouth Theatre, Broadway 1980 Fifth of July Kenneth Talley Jr. (Replacement) New Apollo Theatre, Broadway 1985 Citizen Tom Paine Tom Paine Williamstown Theatre Festival 1986 The Front Page Hildy Johnson Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway 1987 Hamlet Prince Hamlet Hartford Stage 1989 Peer Gynt Peer Gynt Hartford Stage 1989 Love Letters Andre Makepiece Ladd II (Replacement) Edison Theatre, Broadway 1990 The Lisbon Traviata Stephen Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles 1994 Richard III Richard III Hartford Stage 2001 Art Yvan Wyndham's Theatre, London 2004 The Stendhal Syndrome The Conductor Primary Stages, Off-Broadway 2004 Democracy Gunter Guillaume Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Broadway 2005 A Naked Girl on the Appian Way Jeffrey Lapin American Airlines Theatre, Broadway 2005 As You Like It Touchstone Public Theatre, Off-Broadway 2006 Twelve Angry Men Juror Eight National Tour 2009 Race Charles Strickland Ethel Barrymore Theater, Broadway 2011 Timon of Athens Timon Public Theater, Off-Broadway 2012 An Enemy of the People Peter Stockmann Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway 2012 Camp David Jimmy Carter Arena Stage, Washington DC 2014 Camp David Jimmy Carter Old Globe Theatre, San Diego 2015 You Can't Take It With You Paul Sycamore (Replacement) Longacre Theatre, Broadway 2015 Incident at Vichy Von Berg Signautre Center, Off-Broadway 2017 The Little Foxes Horace Giddens Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway 2017 The Humans Erik Blake National Tour 2018 A Musical Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera 2019 The Great Society Hubert Humphrey Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway 2022 To Kill A Mockingbird Atticus Finch National Tour 2024 Our Town Mr. Webb Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway 2025 Mark Twain Tonight! Mark Twain National Tour 2026 The Balusters Elliot Emerson Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway

Producer Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story (1983) (executive producer) What Love Sees (1996) (co-producer) Summer of Fear (1996) (co-executive producer) For All Time (2000) (co-executive producer) Camping with Camus (2000) (producer)

Director The Waltons (5 episodes; 1975–1977)

Awards and nominations