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. In 1959, he appeared in the Hallmark Hall of Fame NBC television presentation of Ibsen's A Doll's House with Julie Harris, Christopher Plummer, and Hume Cronyn." 'A Doll's House' 1959" tcm.com, retrieved October 25, 2017 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 NewmanWinning Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017 and the coming-of-age story Last Summer (also 1969) with Bruce Davison, Barbara Hershey, and Catherine Burns.Canby, Vincent. "Screen: 'Last Summer':Cinema I Film Brings Trio of Newcomers" The New York Times, June 11, 1969
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,The Homecoming Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017 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.A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion tcm.com, retrieved October 25, 2017 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.You'll Like My Mother Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017 He played the lead roles of Private Henry Fleming in the NBC TV movie The Red Badge of Courage in 1974The Red Badge of Courage Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017 and Paul Bäumer in the 1979 CBS TV movie on All Quiet on the Western Front.All Quiet on the Western Front Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017
In other TV films, he played Col. Warner's younger son Jim in Roots: The Next Generations (the 1979 sequel to 1977's Roots),Roots: The Next Generations Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017 the title role in the biopic Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story in 1983,Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr., Story Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017 Will Mossup in CBS's Hobson's Choice in 1983,Hobson's Choice tcm.com, retrieved October 25, 2017 Henry Durie in The Master of Ballantrae for Hallmark Hall of Fame,The Master of Ballantrae Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017 Martin Campbell in Final Jeopardy,Final Jeopardy Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017 and the adult Bill Denbrough in the 1990 television mini-series It, adapted from Stephen King's horror novel.Stephen King's It Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017
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.Fifth of July Playbill, retrieved October 25, 2017 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.Battle Beyond the Stars Turner Classic Movies, retrieved October 25, 2017
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).Louise Sweeney (1987). "On stage: reliving historic turning points. Howard Fast's 'Citizen Tom Paine'." The Christian Science Monitor. March 12, 1987) 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.Brantley, Ben. "Review/Theater: Richard II; Richard Thomas Puts His Stamp On Giving Up a Throne Vigorously" The New York Times, September 22, 1993
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.McCarthy, John P. "Cbs Sunday Movie 'the Christmas Box' " Variety, December 13, 1995
Thomas appeared in a quartet of performances at the Hartford Stage in Connecticut including Hamlet (1987),Winer, Laurie. "Theater; An Actor's Long Road from Sitcoms to Elsinore" The New York Times, September 27, 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.Paddock, Terri. "Hirsch, Thomas and Morton Return for 19th UK 'Art' Cast, July 31" Playbill, July 18, 2001 He also appeared on the New York stage in The Public Theater's production in Central Park of As You Like It in 2005,Simonson, Robert. "Lynn Collins and Brian Bedford Offer the Bard's 'As You Like It' in Central Park, June 25" Playbill, June 25, 2005 Michael Frayn's Democracy on Broadway in 2004,Simonson, Robert. "Broadway's 'Democracy' to Close on April 17" Playbill, April 1, 2005 and the Primary Stages' off-Broadway production of Terrence McNally's The Stendhal Syndrome in the same year.Hernandez, Ernio. "Rossellini and Thomas Fall Under McNally's 'Stendhal Syndrome', Opens Feb. 16" Playbill, February 16, 2004
He hosted the PAX TV series It's a Miracle." 'It's a Miracle' Cast" TV Guide, retrieved October 26, 2017 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.Higgins, Beau. "Richard Thomas-George Wendt in 'Twelve Angry Men'" broadwayworld.com, May 5, 2007
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.Brantley, Ben. "In Mametland, a Skirmish in Black and White" The New York Times, December 6, 2009 In February and March 2011, he starred at the off-Broadway New York Public Theater in Timon of Athens.Soloski, Alexis. " 'Timon of Athens' Kicks Off Public Lab Shakespeare" The Village Voice, March 2, 2011
Thomas played Frank Gaad in the FX Network period spy drama television series The Americans which debuted in January 2013.
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."Tony Awards 2017: Complete Winners List" Variety, June 11, 2017
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 and Gonzales divorced in 1993.
Thomas married Santa Fe art dealer Georgiana Bischoff on November 20, 1994"Mountains of Love" People, December 5, 1994 and their son was born in 1996. Richard adopted Bischoff's two daughters who were from previous marriages. Thomas and Bischoff currently reside in New York.
Thomas is a Kentucky Colonel. He is an Episcopalian and is on the Advisory Board of the Episcopal Actors Guild.
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