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Post by sdw on Jun 7, 2013 10:29:17 GMT -5
I was looking up about Robert Wightman on IMD website,but I could't find out much about him.Here is what I found out,he was born on December 29,1952,he was born in Los Angles California,his full name is Robert Douglas Wightman. The last movie he made was 2004.Do any of you know anymore about him.Also I wonder how the cast of The Waltons liked working with him.Also has he ever been to any of the reunions.  |
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Post by JeriJet on Jun 7, 2013 13:30:29 GMT -5
Many forum members have tried and tried to find info on Wightman -- so far, no luck..... (that I remember)....
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Post by River on Jun 7, 2013 15:04:23 GMT -5
just watched the episode where John Boy is in the hospital and Rose is fixing Thanksgiving dinner. He does look like Richard Thomas. Can't help with more information about him...Sorry.
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Post by Heather on Jun 18, 2013 17:29:17 GMT -5
sdw, I don't think Robert has done any film work since the late 90s maybe (?) and has pretty much disappeared.
Carolyn told me that she was able to locate him at one point, but alas, it did not work out to have him to the Reunion.
On all of the flyers, posters, etc. at the California events last year, I don't recall many (if any?) mentions or photos of him. Richard is by in large embraced as John-Boy and Robert is kind of forgotten. I think it's sad, because he was cute and earnest and did his best in a very difficult situation.
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Post by carol on Jun 18, 2013 17:47:50 GMT -5
It has to be hard for any actor to take over a part from another actor who has endeared himself in that role Robert Wightman had very big shoes to fill when he assumed the role of John Boy role but I think he did a good job and made it his own. The last thing we would have wanted was for him to try to imitate Richard Thomas because it just wouldn't have worked.
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Post by wmfan/waltonsportwriter on Jun 18, 2013 20:59:24 GMT -5
I noticed Robert Wightman's was never acknowledged as a regular in the credits. He deserved that much at least for his work, besides the endless and hopeless comparisons to Richard Thomas John Boy. WmFan  |
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Post by PLP927 on Jun 19, 2013 1:11:49 GMT -5
I often have wondered what happened to him!
I really didn't mind him too much as the role of John Boy. I did miss Richard Thomas but, I kind of had a heart for him. He didn't do bad with it all!
It really is hard for an actor/acctres to takeover such a loved (or hated) character that's been so well established. But like I said, I didn't/don't mind Robert Wrightman at all. Unlike some TV shows where I really DID mind.
I say hated because I really missed Alice Pearce as Mrs. Gladys Kravitz, I really wasn't too keen on Sandra Gould's performance. But I commend her for taking on the role alone!
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Post by carol on Jun 19, 2013 12:08:44 GMT -5
I often have wondered what happened to him! I really didn't mind him too much as the role of John Boy. I did miss Richard Thomas but, I kind of had a heart for him. He didn't do bad with it all! It really is hard for an actor/acctres to takeover such a loved (or hated) character that's been so well established. But like I said, I didn't/don't mind Robert Wrightman at all. Unlike some TV shows where I really DID mind. I say hated because I really missed Alice Pearce as Mrs. Gladys Kravitz, I really wasn't too keen on Sandra Gould's performance. But I commend her for taking on the role alone! In the case of Bewitched they had to recast the role since Alice Pearce died. Imagine what the show would have been like without Mrs. Kravitz? |
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Post by PLP927 on Jun 19, 2013 12:44:11 GMT -5
I did know she had passed away, I just said that I missed Alice Pearce portraying the character.
Gladys Kravits was a key role in the whole series.
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Post by blueridgemountains on Jun 20, 2013 21:06:29 GMT -5
I agree. Robert Wrightman wasn't a bad John Boy, but I have to admitt I prefer Richard Thomas as John Boy!
As I said in another thread there were some episodes where I wish Richard Thomas would have been in, such as "Day of Infamy" and "The Waiting"
Blue Ridge Mountains
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Post by nedandres on Jun 20, 2013 21:59:45 GMT -5
It must be very difficult to take over a part from another actor, especially one who is as talented as Richard Thomas. Comparisons will always be made. I think it is difficult also to be an understudy in the theatre. I remember at a performance of "Ain't Misbehavin'" the understudy went on for Nell Carter, and people actually booed when the announcement was made. But an understudy has to be excellent to make the audience forget that the "star" is not there, and in that case, she was superb. I saw Nell years later in "Annie" and wasn't all that impressed, except that she kept going when a moving wall bumped into her.
As for "Bewitched", they were wizards in replacing actors (Betty, Darrin's secretary; Aunt Hagatha; Darrin; Gladys Kravitz; and others that I can't recall at the moment). Some were not so successful. The producers approached Alice Ghostley to take over for Alice Pearce as Gladys, but Alice was Alice's friend and declined. She later "replaced" Aunt Clara, in a way, through her role as Esmerelda. Incidentally, Alice Ghostley and Marion Lorne appeared together in the movie "The Graduate", which is a bit of magic in itself. After Dick Sargent replaced Dick York, the series took quite the nosedive, at least in the ratings.
"The Waltons" also replaced actors, Patsy Brimmer, Fanny Tatum, Aimee Godsey, Ashley Longworth, Jr., A.J. Covington, and others, but of course, John Boy is probably the most famous, or infamous, example.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jun 20, 2013 22:10:26 GMT -5
There was even another "Cindy" on The Waltons. She was played by Robin Eisenman in Day of Infamy.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2013 23:23:25 GMT -5
There was even another "Cindy" on The Waltons. She was played by Robin Eisenman in Day of Infamy. I always thought that, that was Morgan Fairchild. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2013 18:03:10 GMT -5
I think it would have been difficult for ANYONE to take over the role of John Boy. Everyone I know associates it with Richard Thomas. So when Robert took over the role, I thought Who the heck is that? It's not John Boy.
For me I would have preferred to not have John Boy at all than have another John Boy. I know I am probably in the minority here, but that's how I feel.
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Post by sdw on Jul 24, 2013 10:26:53 GMT -5
I also think Robert Wightman should have been acknowledge as a regular in the credits.
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