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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2013 6:08:46 GMT -5
An actor has to make a lot of judgement calls when it comes to their careers. You don't want to fall into a stereotype because you'll have a hard time getting people in the business to see you as any other character. If the choice was yours, would you have stayed for the entire run of the show?
By the way... Did anyone see him in Barefoot in the Park with Bess Armstrong in the 80's? I loved that version SO much better than the Redford/Fonda movie!
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Post by JeriJet on May 23, 2013 7:52:25 GMT -5
I think it was definitely the right decision for Richard.... a young person who wants to thoroughly immerse himself in acting simply cannot tie himself into a role for more than five years.... he would have been forever thought of only as John-Boy, and he certainly has much more to bring to his audiences. Today, only strong Walton fans and folks who have not followed his career think primarily of the John-Boy role. Although he appreciated the opportunity -- and it certainly gave him a leg-up -- it must irritate the heck out of Richard when he sees "best known as...."
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2013 7:59:32 GMT -5
I believe Richard made the right decision for himself. 'Best known for' that will always be no matter what an actor does. For example, for me Johnny Depp will always be Jack Sparrow - "Captain Jack Sparrow fi you don't mind love" well that's what Capt. Jack'd say.
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Post by JeriJet on May 23, 2013 8:28:21 GMT -5
I believe Richard made the right decision for himself. 'Best known for' that will always be no matter what an actor does. For example, for me Johnny Depp will always be Jack Sparrow - "Captain Jack Sparrow fi you don't mind love" well that's what Capt. Jack'd say. I've seen Depp a couple of times, but don't even know who Jack Sparrow is !! ..... I don't think I agree that "Best known for will always be".... think Lawrence Olivier, Clark Gable, Kathryn Hepburn, Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Tom Hanks, et al.... the list is long. It's true that it happens all the time, but all actors want to be remembered for their body of work, not any one role.... unless of course they've had only one good performance!! |
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2013 9:40:11 GMT -5
I think it was definitely the right decision for Richard.... a young person who wants to thoroughly immerse himself in acting simply cannot tie himself into a role for more than five years.... he would have been forever thought of only as John-Boy, and he certainly has much more to bring to his audiences. Today, only strong Walton fans and folks who have not followed his career think primarily of the John-Boy role. Although he appreciated the opportunity -- and it certainly gave him a leg-up -- it must irritate the heck out of Richard when he sees "best known as...." All of the actors who return for reunions, interviews, etc are such good sports about some of the same questions they get asked. I bet they get tired of hearing the theme music from the show. |
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Post by PLP927 on May 23, 2013 10:13:24 GMT -5
I do think he made the right decision. Some actors and actresses completely devote themselves to a TV show and enjoy it, but I think Richard Thomas needed to get away from it and explore new opportunities.
I know it was sad for the Waltons fanbase to see him leave and they bring in a new actor, but it may be a little selfish of us to want him to stay on. I know I was sad to see him go!
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Post by wmfan/waltonsportwriter on May 23, 2013 12:10:56 GMT -5
He made the right decision for Richard Thomas. As much as it inconveninced us fans excuse us lol it's his life. They decided to recast and brought Richard back for the movies later. It's funny sometimes you remember an actor for your favorite role movie or tv appearance and that may be different from their most famous one This has happened with me before, but its what you the viewer likes. Best wishes WmFan  |
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Post by ForeverWaltons on May 23, 2013 14:57:21 GMT -5
It is always a gamble when you have a good acting role & you decide to leave it. It pays off for some actors but not always. Richard was "lucky" & also has the talent for such an outstanding career after leaving The Waltons. Gary Burghoff (Radar O'Reilly) on M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1979. He never really done much else. He could have had 4 more years on M*A*S*H - 1972 to 1983. Same with Larry Linville (Major Frank Burns) was on M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1977. NYPD Blue was a big hit when it came on the air in 1993. David Caruso thought if he left at the end of the first season that big things would happen for him. He had to wait from 1994 to 2002 to get the role of Lt. Horatio Caine on CSI Miami. Hopefully after 10 seasons on that show, he built himself a nice little nest egg. Shannen Doherty was Prue Halliwell on Charmed from 1998 to 2001. Thought she would leave for better things. It's never happened for her. Charmed did not go off the air until 2006. So she could not only have received a check for 5 more years but she could have had an additional 5 years of residual checks from those shows. Pernell Roberts (Adam Cartwright) on Bonanza. It first aired in 1959 & he left in 1965. He just mainly guest starred here & there until he got the role of Trapper John, M.D. from 1979 to 1986. Bonanza was on the air for 8 more years after he left - 1959 to 1973. Sometimes lightning strikes twice, but most of the time it doesn't. Personally, I think that if I definitely had something in concrete (a hit show that is), I would ride that horse till it collapsed from exhaustion!  |
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Post by PLP927 on May 23, 2013 15:00:55 GMT -5
It is always a gamble when you have a good acting role & you decide to leave it. It pays off for some actors but not always. Richard was "lucky" that he has had an outstanding career after leaving The Waltons. I agree, it was definitely a gamble to leave! I was always sad that Pernell Roberts left Bonanza.  But I think he was the best character to leave as he didn't have quite the chemistry all his other costars had. |
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Post by bucky on May 23, 2013 16:38:38 GMT -5
I wonder if Richard would have left the show had the writing for his character not been so repetitious and had more interesting storylines? There were too many girlfriend and big brother stories which probably was pretty tedious for an actor. We were fortunate that Richard's innate acting skills and on-screen charisma lifted the character above some pretty weak writing. Just my thoughts though.
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Post by JeriJet on May 24, 2013 3:57:23 GMT -5
From scuttlebut at the time, I'm quite sure Richard made his professional decision up-front....
When he signed the five-year contract, he felt it would not be in his best interest to participate any longer than that, having sought advice from many -- both in the business and not.... I don't think he would have continued in the role even if the scripts had been brilliant. Other fish to fry....
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 11:06:01 GMT -5
He made the right decision for Richard Thomas. As much as it inconveninced us fans excuse us lol it's his life. They decided to recast and brought Richard back for the movies later. It's funny sometimes you remember an actor for your favorite role movie or tv appearance and that may be different from their most famous one This has happened with me before, but its what you the viewer likes. Best wishes WmFan I'm not someone who believes R.T. was the whole show or anything... I was just wondering if it was you---and knowing what he's done since the show-- would YOU have left the show if the decision had been yours. More of a curiosity question rather than a whiney one about not having John Boy on the show anymore. (I'm not much of a gambler and probably would have stayed.) |
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Post by carol on May 24, 2013 15:32:59 GMT -5
It is always a gamble when you have a good acting role & you decide to leave it. It pays off for some actors but not always. Richard was "lucky" & also has the talent for such an outstanding career after leaving The Waltons. Gary Burghoff (Radar O'Reilly) on M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1979. He never really done much else. He could have had 4 more years on M*A*S*H - 1972 to 1983. Same with Larry Linville (Major Frank Burns) was on M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1977. NYPD Blue was a big hit when it came on the air in 1993. David Caruso thought if he left at the end of the first season that big things would happen for him. He had to wait from 1994 to 2002 to get the role of Lt. Horatio Caine on CSI Miami. Hopefully after 10 seasons on that show, he built himself a nice little nest egg. Shannen Doherty was Prue Halliwell on Charmed from 1998 to 2001. Thought she would leave for better things. It's never happened for her. Charmed did not go off the air until 2006. So she could not only have received a check for 5 more years but she could have had an additional 5 years of residual checks from those shows. Pernell Roberts (Adam Cartwright) on Bonanza. It first aired in 1959 & he left in 1965. He just mainly guest starred here & there until he got the role of Trapper John, M.D. from 1979 to 1986. Bonanza was on the air for 8 more years after he left - 1959 to 1973. Sometimes lightning strikes twice, but most of the time it doesn't. Personally, I think that if I definitely had something in concrete (a hit show that is), I would ride that horse till it collapsed from exhaustion! McLean Stevenson also didn't do much after he left M*A*S*H. He had a few failed comedies but that was it. |
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Post by blueridgemountains on May 24, 2013 19:15:03 GMT -5
I talked about this in another thread. There are some episodes I wish Richard Thomas would have been in. Such as Day of Infamy and the one where John Boy is found after being missing is action. It was so touching when John Boy, played by Robert Wright reached out and took his moma and daddy's hand there in the hospital. I was glad that Richard Thomas returned in the 90's for the last 3 movies
BlueRidgeMountains
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Post by wmfan/waltonsportwriter on May 24, 2013 20:02:17 GMT -5
I thought the cruelest bit of fate was in 1978 when Richard returned for the return about the mining disaster and then the episode where he almost married Daisy. That was his last series episode on the Walton's. The next episode was Grandma Comes Home and then sadly Will Geer ded that summer. The decision to eave was Richards as a man and actor and even though s fans want him, he isn't John Boy first WmFan
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But I think he was the best character to leave as he didn't have quite the chemistry all his other costars had.
