Richard Thomas (actor)
Encyclopedia
Richard Earl Thomas is an American actor, best known for his role as budding author
John-Boy Walton in the CBS
drama
The Waltons
.
the son of Barbara (née Fallis) and Richard S. Thomas. His parents were dancers with the New York City Ballet
and owned the New York School of Ballet. He attended The Allen Stevenson School and The McBurney School
in Manhattan. Thomas was seven when he made his Broadway
debut in Sunrise at Campobello (1958) playing John Roosevelt
, son of future U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
career
. In 1959, he appeared in the presentation of Ibsen's A Doll's House
with Julie Harris
, Christopher Plummer
and Hume Cronyn
. He then began acting in daytime TV, appearing in soap opera
s such as The Edge of Night
(as Ben Schultz, 1961) and As the World Turns
(as Tom Hughes
, 1966–67), which were broadcast
from his native Manhattan
.
Thomas received his first major roles in film
, appearing in the 1969 motion pictures Winning
with Paul Newman
, about auto racing, and Last Summer
with Barbara Hershey
, a summer coming-of-age movie.
He became nationally recognized for his portrayal of John "John-Boy" Walton, Jr., in the 1970s TV series The Waltons
, which was based on the real life of writer
Earl Hamner, Jr. He appeared in the 1971 pilot, The Homecoming, and then played the role continuously in 122 episodes until March 17, 1977. Thomas left the series and his role was taken over by Robert Wightman
, but Thomas returned to the role in three Waltons TV movies, 1993-97. Thomas won an Emmy for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1972. He enrolled in Columbia College of Columbia University
as a member of the class of 1973 but left after his junior year.
In 1972 he played against type as murderer and rapist Kenneth Kinsolving in You'll Like My Mother
opposite Patty Duke
. He played the lead roles of Private Henry Fleming in the 1974 TV movie, The Red Badge of Courage
, and Paul Baumer in the 1979 TV movie, All Quiet on the Western Front
. In further TV movies, he played the title role in the biopic Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story (1983), Will Mossup in Hobson’s Choice (1983), Henry Durrie in The Master of Ballantrae (1984), Martin Campbell in Final Jeopardy (1985) and William Denbrough in Stephen King’s It
(1990).
's Fifth of July
. In 1993, he played the title role in a stage production of Richard II
.
Thomas has appeared in a quartet of performances at Hartford Stage
in Connecticut: Hamlet
(1987), Peer Gynt
(1989),
Richard II
(1994), and Tiny Alice
(1996).
In 1990 he played the older version of Bill Denbrough, In Stephen King's "It".
In 1997 and 1998 he appeared on Touched by an Angel
.
In the 2000s he appeared in a London production of Yasmina Reza
's "Art" with Judd Hirsch
(2001), on the New York stage in The Public Theater's production of As You Like It
(2005), Michael Frayn
's Democracy on Broadway (2004) and the Primary Stages' production of Terrence McNally
's The Stendhal Syndrome (2004).
He has served as national chairman of the Better Hearing Institute and hosted the PAX TV series, It's a Miracle
and starred in the series Just Cause
for the same network.
In 2006 Thomas began a national tour of Reginald Rose's acclaimed play, Twelve Angry Men, along with George Wendt
at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, Connecticut, playing the pivotal role of Juror Eight opposite Wendt's Juror One.
Thomas provided the voiceover
in Mercedes-Benz
, BB&T
and Aleve commercials. In the summer of 2008, Thomas made commercials for the Zaxby's
restaurant chain.
In 2009-2010 Richard 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 will star at the New York Public Theater in Timon of Athens
.
He and Gonzales had one son, Richard Francisco, born in 1976 and triplet daughters Barbara Ayala, Gweneth Gonzales and Pilar Alma, born August 26, 1981. Thomas and Georgiana have one son, Montana James Thomas, born July 28, 1996. At the time she married Thomas, Bischoff had two daughters from previous marriages, Brooke Murphy and Kendra Kneifel. Daughter Kendra Kneifel has since changed her name to Kendra Thomas.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
John-Boy Walton in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
The Waltons
The Waltons
The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
.
Early life
Thomas was born Richard Earl Thomas in New York,the son of Barbara (née Fallis) and Richard S. Thomas. His parents were dancers with the New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
and owned the New York School of Ballet. He attended The Allen Stevenson School and The McBurney School
McBurney School
McBurney School was a college preparatory school in Manhattan run by the YMCA of Greater New York. Among its alumni are actors Henry Winkler and Richard Thomas , novelist J. D...
in Manhattan. Thomas was seven when he made his Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut in Sunrise at Campobello (1958) playing John Roosevelt
John Aspinwall Roosevelt
John Aspinwall Roosevelt was the sixth and last child of the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and his wife, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the only Roosevelt son who never sought political office....
, son of future U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Career
Thomas soon began his televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
. In 1959, he appeared in the presentation of Ibsen's A Doll's House
A Doll's House (1959 film)
A Doll's House is a 1959 made for television movie, directed by George Schaefer. It is based on Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play A Doll's House.-Cast:* Julie Harris — Nora Helmer* Christopher Plummer — Torvald Helmer* Hume Cronyn — Nils Krogstad...
with Julie Harris
Julie Harris
Julia Ann "Julie" Harris is an American stage, screen, and television actress. She has won five Tony Awards, three Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1994, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts. She is a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame...
, Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer
Arthur Christopher Orne Plummer, CC is a Canadian theatre, film and television actor. He made his film debut in 1957's Stage Struck, and notable early film performances include Night of the Generals, The Return of the Pink Panther and The Man Who Would Be King.In a career that spans over five...
and Hume Cronyn
Hume Cronyn
Hume Blake Cronyn, OC was a Canadian actor of stage and screen, who enjoyed a long career, often appearing professionally alongside his second wife, Jessica Tandy.-Early life:...
. He then began acting in daytime TV, appearing in soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s such as The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
(as Ben Schultz, 1961) and As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
(as Tom Hughes
Tom Hughes (ATWT)
Thomas Christopher "Tom" Hughes is a fictional character on the American soap opera As the World Turns. He was played by a number of actors during the character's 49-year tenure on the show, the longest-running actor being Scott Holmes, who took over the role July 3, 1987, and remained until...
, 1966–67), which were broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
from his native Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Thomas received his first major roles in film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, appearing in the 1969 motion pictures Winning
Winning
Winning is a 1969 American motion picture starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. A number of racecar drivers and people associated with racing appear in the film, including Bobby Unser, Tony Hulman, Bobby Grim, Dan Gurney, Roger McCluskey, and Bruce Walkup.-Plot summary:The film centers on...
with Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
, about auto racing, and Last Summer
Last Summer
Last Summer is a 1969 coming-of-age movie about adolescent sexuality. Director Frank Perry filmed at Fire Island locations: the stars of the film are Catherine Burns, Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison and Richard Thomas. The memorable performance by Burns brought her an Academy Award nomination for...
with Barbara Hershey
Barbara Hershey
Barbara Hershey , also known as Barbara Seagull, is an American actress. In a career spanning nearly 50 years, she has played a variety of roles on television and in cinema, in several genres including westerns and comedies...
, a summer coming-of-age movie.
He became nationally recognized for his portrayal of John "John-Boy" Walton, Jr., in the 1970s TV series The Waltons
The Waltons
The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
, which was based on the real life of writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Earl Hamner, Jr. He appeared in the 1971 pilot, The Homecoming, and then played the role continuously in 122 episodes until March 17, 1977. Thomas left the series and his role was taken over by Robert Wightman
Robert Wightman
Robert Wightman is an American actor, who took over the role of "John-Boy Walton," in the 8th season of The Waltons. He played this role from 1979-1982...
, but Thomas returned to the role in three Waltons TV movies, 1993-97. Thomas won an Emmy for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1972. He enrolled in Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
as a member of the class of 1973 but left after his junior year.
In 1972 he played against type as murderer and rapist Kenneth Kinsolving in You'll Like My Mother
You'll Like My Mother
You'll Like My Mother is a 1972 film based on the Naomi A. Hintze novel and directed by Lamont Johnson. It stars Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy and Richard Thomas, and was filmed in Duluth, Minnesota at the Glensheen Historic Estate...
opposite Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
. He played the lead roles of Private Henry Fleming in the 1974 TV movie, The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Courage is a war novel by American author Stephen Crane . Taking place during the American Civil War, the story is about a young private of the Union Army, Henry Fleming, who flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame, he longs for a wound—a "red badge of courage"—to...
, and Paul Baumer in the 1979 TV movie, All Quiet on the Western Front
All Quiet on the Western Front (1979 film)
All Quiet on the Western Front is a television movie produced by ITC Entertainment, released on November 14, 1979, starring actors Richard Thomas from The Waltons fame as Paul Baumer, and Ernest Borgnine as Katczinsky...
. In further TV movies, he played the title role in the biopic Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story (1983), Will Mossup in Hobson’s Choice (1983), Henry Durrie in The Master of Ballantrae (1984), Martin Campbell in Final Jeopardy (1985) and William Denbrough in Stephen King’s It
It (1990 film)
It is a 1990 horror television miniseries based on the novel of the same name. The story revolves around an inter-dimensional predatory life-form that is simply referred to as "It", which has the ability to transform itself into its prey's worst fears allowing it to exploit the fears and phobias...
(1990).
Later career
In 1980, Thomas made his first Broadway appearance in more than twelve years when he stepped in as a replacement in Lanford WilsonLanford Wilson
Lanford Wilson was an American playwright who helped to advance the Off-Off-Broadway theater movement. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1980, was elected in 2001 to the Theater Hall of Fame, and in 2004 was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters...
's Fifth of July
Fifth of July
Fifth of July is a 1978 play by American playwright Lanford Wilson. Set in rural Missouri in 1977, it revolves around the Talley family and their friends, and focuses on the disillusionment with America in the wake of the Vietnam War...
. In 1993, he played the title role in a stage production of Richard II
Richard II (play)
King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by some scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's...
.
Thomas has appeared in a quartet of performances at Hartford Stage
Hartford Stage
Hartford Stage, located in Hartford, Connecticut, is one of the leading resident theatres in the United States, known internationally for entertaining and enlightening audiences with a wide range of the best of world drama, from classics to provocative new plays and musicals and neglected works...
in Connecticut: Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
(1987), Peer Gynt
Peer Gynt
Peer Gynt is a five-act play in verse by the Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen, loosely based on the fairy tale Per Gynt. It is the most widely performed Norwegian play. According to Klaus Van Den Berg, the "cinematic script blends poetry with social satire and realistic scenes with surreal ones"...
(1989),
Richard II
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
(1994), and Tiny Alice
Tiny Alice
Tiny Alice, a three act play written by Edward Albee, premiered on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theatre on December 29, 1964.- Billy Rose Theatre production :...
(1996).
In 1990 he played the older version of Bill Denbrough, In Stephen King's "It".
In 1997 and 1998 he appeared on Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
.
In the 2000s he appeared in a London production of Yasmina Reza
Yasmina Reza
Yasmina Reza is a French playwright, actress, novelist and screenwriter. Her parents were both of Jewish origin, her father Iranian, her mother Hungarian.-Career:...
's "Art" with Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch
Judd Hirsch is an American actor most known for playing Alex Rieger on the television comedy series Taxi, John Lacey on the NBC series Dear John, and Alan Eppes on the CBS series Numb3rs.-Early life and education:...
(2001), on the New York stage in The Public Theater's production of As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
(2005), Michael Frayn
Michael Frayn
Michael J. Frayn is an English playwright and novelist. He is best known as the author of the farce Noises Off and the dramas Copenhagen and Democracy...
's Democracy on Broadway (2004) and the Primary Stages' production of Terrence McNally
Terrence McNally
Terrence McNally is an American playwright who has received four Tony Awards, an Emmy, two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, the Lucille Lortel Award, the Hull-Warriner Award, and a citation from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has been a member of the Council of the...
's The Stendhal Syndrome (2004).
He has served as national chairman of the Better Hearing Institute and hosted the PAX TV series, It's a Miracle
It's a Miracle
It's a Miracle is a television show that aired on PAX-TV between September 6, 1998 and September 1, 2004. Initially hosted by Billy Dean and Nia Peeples and then Richard Thomas, and later by Roma Downey, , it explored case studies of people who experienced perceived miracles during their...
and starred in the series Just Cause
Just Cause (TV series)
Just Cause is an award-winning Canadian legal drama television series produced by Mind's Eye Entertainment. Filming was done in Vancouver, British Columbia but the series is set in San Francisco, California.-Plot:...
for the same network.
In 2006 Thomas began a national tour of Reginald Rose's acclaimed play, Twelve Angry Men, along with George Wendt
George Wendt
George Robert Wendt III is an American actor, best known for the roles of Norm Peterson and Tug Clarke on the television shows Cheers and Modern Men.-Early life:...
at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, Connecticut, playing the pivotal role of Juror Eight opposite Wendt's Juror One.
Thomas provided the voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
in Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, BB&T
BB&T
BB&T Corporation is an American bank with assets of $157 billion , offering full-service commercial and retail banking services along with other financial services like insurance, investments, retail brokerage, mortgage, corporate finance, consumer finance, payment services, international...
and Aleve commercials. In the summer of 2008, Thomas made commercials for the Zaxby's
Zaxby's
Zaxby's is a franchised chain of fast casual restaurants that operates primarily in the Southeastern United States with 500 locations. Zaxby's 500th location opened in Tifton, Georgia the summer of 2010. The first Zaxby's was opened in Statesboro, Georgia, near the Georgia Southern University...
restaurant chain.
In 2009-2010 Richard Thomas was featured on Broadway in Race, a play by David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
. The production was directed by Mamet and included James Spader
James Spader
James Todd Spader is an American actor best known for his eccentric roles in movies such as Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero, Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Crash, Stargate, and Secretary...
, David Alan Grier
David Alan Grier
David Alan Grier , also known as "D.A.G." , is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.-Early life:...
and Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Ray Charles's wife, Della Bea Robinson, in the film Ray , as Idi Amin's wife Kay in The Last King of Scotland, and as Alicia Masters, love interest of Ben Grimm, The Thing, in the live-action Fantastic Four films of 2005 and 2007...
. In February and March 2011 he will star at the New York Public Theater in Timon of Athens
Timon of Athens
The Life of Timon of Athens is a play by William Shakespeare about the fortunes of an Athenian named Timon , generally regarded as one of his most obscure and difficult works...
.
Personal life
Thomas has been married twice. He married Alma Gonzales on February 14, 1975; they divorced in 1993. Thomas later married Georgiana Bischoff on November 20, 1994.He and Gonzales had one son, Richard Francisco, born in 1976 and triplet daughters Barbara Ayala, Gweneth Gonzales and Pilar Alma, born August 26, 1981. Thomas and Georgiana have one son, Montana James Thomas, born July 28, 1996. At the time she married Thomas, Bischoff had two daughters from previous marriages, Brooke Murphy and Kendra Kneifel. Daughter Kendra Kneifel has since changed her name to Kendra Thomas.
1950s
- Hallmark Hall of FameHallmark Hall of FameHallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The second longest-running television program in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2011...
(1958) - Hallmark Hall of FameHallmark Hall of FameHallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The second longest-running television program in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2011...
(1959) - A Doll's HouseA Doll's House (1959 film)A Doll's House is a 1959 made for television movie, directed by George Schaefer. It is based on Henrik Ibsen's 1879 play A Doll's House.-Cast:* Julie Harris — Nora Helmer* Christopher Plummer — Torvald Helmer* Hume Cronyn — Nils Krogstad...
(1959)
1960s
- The Defenders (1961)
- Great Ghost Tales (1961)
- Way Out (1961)
- Hallmark Hall of FameHallmark Hall of FameHallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City based greeting card company. The second longest-running television program in the history of television, it has a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and continuing into 2011...
(1961) - 1, 2, 3 Go!1, 2, 3 Go!1, 2, 3 Go! is an American filmed children's television series hosted by Jack Lescoulie with Richard Thomas; The show also featured Richard Morse, only for the first episode as The Courier, and Joseph Warren, who portrayed Thomas Jefferson in the first episode....
(1961) - From These RootsFrom These RootsFrom These Roots is an American soap opera which ran from June 30, 1958 to December 29, 1961. It was created and written by Frank Provo and John Pickard . The show was seen on NBC, and was the first successful soap opera vehicle for Ann Flood who later became well known for, and spend the better...
(1961) - The Edge of NightThe Edge of NightThe Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
(1961) - A Flame in the WindA Flame in the WindA Flame in the Wind is a soap opera that aired on ABC Daytime from December 28, 1964 to December 16, 1966.-Synopsis:The show focused on the community of Haviland and it's citizens...
(1964) - Seaway (TV series) (1965)
- As the World TurnsAs the World TurnsAs the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
(1966) - WinningWinningWinning is a 1969 American motion picture starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. A number of racecar drivers and people associated with racing appear in the film, including Bobby Unser, Tony Hulman, Bobby Grim, Dan Gurney, Roger McCluskey, and Bruce Walkup.-Plot summary:The film centers on...
(1969) - Last SummerLast SummerLast Summer is a 1969 coming-of-age movie about adolescent sexuality. Director Frank Perry filmed at Fire Island locations: the stars of the film are Catherine Burns, Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison and Richard Thomas. The memorable performance by Burns brought her an Academy Award nomination for...
(1969) - Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell...
(1969)
1970s
- Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell...
(1970) - BonanzaBonanzaBonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
(1970) - Bracken's WorldBracken's WorldBracken's World is an American drama series broadcast on NBC from September 19, 1969 to December 25, 1970. The series was created and produced by Dorothy Kingsley.-Synopsis:...
(1970) - Medical CenterMedical Center (TV series)Medical Center is a medical drama series which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1976.-Synopsis:The show starred James Daly as Dr. Paul Lochner and Chad Everett as Dr. Joe Gannon, surgeons working in an otherwise unnamed university hospital in Los Angeles. The show focused both on the lives of the doctors...
(1970) - Cactus in the Snow (1970)
- Red Sky at MorningRed Sky at Morning (1971 film)Red Sky at Morning is a 1971 American drama film based on the 1968 Richard Bradford novel of the same name, and starring Richard Thomas, Catherine Burns, and Desi Arnaz, Jr....
(1971) - The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971)
- The Todd Killings (1971)
- The F.B.I. (1971)
- You'll Like My MotherYou'll Like My MotherYou'll Like My Mother is a 1972 film based on the Naomi A. Hintze novel and directed by Lamont Johnson. It stars Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy and Richard Thomas, and was filmed in Duluth, Minnesota at the Glensheen Historic Estate...
(1972) - Sixteen (1972)
- Night GalleryNight GalleryNight Gallery is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although...
(1972) - The WaltonsThe WaltonsThe Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
(1972–1977) - The Thanksgiving Story (1973)
- The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People (1973)
- Match Game 73 (1973)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
(1973) - The Red Badge of CourageThe Red Badge of CourageThe Red Badge of Courage is a war novel by American author Stephen Crane . Taking place during the American Civil War, the story is about a young private of the Union Army, Henry Fleming, who flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame, he longs for a wound—a "red badge of courage"—to...
(1974) - Sisters of the Space Age (1974) (voice)
- The SilenceThe Silence (1975 film)The Silence is a 1975 made-for-TV movie about James Pelosi, a West Point cadet who was charged in 1971 with cheating on an exam. He remained at West Point but was subjected to "The Silence" – a policy that ostracized cadets who broke the Honor Code....
(1975) - The Mike Douglas ShowThe Mike Douglas ShowThe Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
(1977) - September 30, 1955 (1977)
- Getting MarriedGetting MarriedGetting Married is a play by George Bernard Shaw. First performed in 1908, it features a cast of family members who gather together for a marriage. The play analyses and satirises the status of marriage in Shaw's day, with a particular focus on the necessity of liberalising divorce laws.- External...
(1978) - Great Performances: Dance in America (1978)
- The WaltonsThe WaltonsThe Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
(1978) - CBS: On the Air (1978)
- No Other Love (1979)
- All Quiet on the Western FrontAll Quiet on the Western Front (1979 film)All Quiet on the Western Front is a television movie produced by ITC Entertainment, released on November 14, 1979, starring actors Richard Thomas from The Waltons fame as Paul Baumer, and Ernest Borgnine as Katczinsky...
(1979) - Roots: The Next GenerationsRoots: The Next GenerationsRoots: The Next Generations is a 1979 television miniseries that continues the story of the family of Alex Haley from the 1880s, and their life in Henning, Tennessee, to the 1960s, with Haley researching his family history and his travels to Africa to learn of his ancestor, Kunta Kinte...
(1979 Miniseries )
1980s
- To Find My Son (1980)
- Battle Beyond the StarsBattle Beyond the StarsBattle Beyond the Stars is a Roger Corman-produced science fiction film, directed by Jimmy T. Murakami and released in 1980. The film, intended as a "Magnificent Seven in outer space," is a pastiche of The Magnificent Seven, the Western remake of Akira Kurosawa's film Seven Samurai...
(1980) - Berlin Tunnel 21 (1981)
- Barefoot in the ParkBarefoot in the ParkThis article is about the Broadway production. For the film adaptation see Barefoot in the Park .Barefoot in the Park is a romantic comedy by Neil Simon. The original Broadway production, directed by Mike Nichols, opened October 23, 1963, with the four lead roles taken by actors Elizabeth Ashley ,...
(1981) - Pavarotti & Friends (1982)
- Johnny Belinda (1982)
- Fifth of JulyFifth of JulyFifth of July is a 1978 play by American playwright Lanford Wilson. Set in rural Missouri in 1977, it revolves around the Talley family and their friends, and focuses on the disillusionment with America in the wake of the Vietnam War...
(1982) - Christmas at Kennedy Center with Leontyne Price (1982)
- Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. StoryLiving Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. StoryLiving Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story is a Biographical USA network TV movie directed by Dick Lowry and starring Richard Thomas, best known as "John Boy Walton" from the CBS series The Waltons. The plot roughly follows the semi-autobiographical book Living Proof by Michael Bane and Hank...
(1983) - Hobson's ChoiceHobson's ChoiceHobson's Choice is a play by Harold Brighouse, the title coming from the popular expression, Hobson's choice — meaning no choice at all.The first production was at the Princess Theatre in New York. It then transferred to London on June 24, 1916 at the Apollo Theatre, before moving to the Prince of...
(1983) - The Master of BallantraeThe Master of BallantraeThe Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale is a book by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, focusing upon the conflict between two brothers, Scottish noblemen whose family is torn apart by the Jacobite rising of 1745...
(1984) - Final Jeopardy (1985)
- Go Toward the LightGo Toward The LightGo Toward the Light is a 1988 television film starring Linda Hamilton, Joshua Harris and Richard Thomas. The film first aired on CBS on November 11, 1988- Plot :A young couple face the realities of life with their child who is diagnosed with AIDS...
(1988) - Andy Colby's Incredible AdventureAndy Colby's Incredible AdventureAndy Colby’s Incredible Adventure is a 1988 child’s science fiction film directed by Deborah Brock and written by Brock and Jed Horovitz about a boy who has to travel through several videos and static-filled channels in order to rescue his sister who was snatched into the television because she sat...
(1988) - Glory! Glory! (1989)
1990s
- Andre's MotherAndre's MotherAndre's Mother is a 1990 American drama film directed by Deborah Reinisch. The screenplay by Terrence McNally is an expansion of an eight-minute play written for an anthology called Urban Blight that was produced by the Manhattan Theater Club in 1988....
(1990) - Common GroundCommon Ground (book)Common Ground: A Turbulent Decade in the Lives of Three American Families is a book by J. Anthony Lukas examining race relations in Boston, Massachusetts through the prism of desegregation busing...
(1990) - Tales from the CryptTales from the Crypt (TV series)Tales from the Crypt, sometimes titled HBO's Tales from the Crypt, is an American horror anthology television series that ran from 1989 to 1996 on the premium cable channel HBO...
(1990) - ItIt (1990 film)It is a 1990 horror television miniseries based on the novel of the same name. The story revolves around an inter-dimensional predatory life-form that is simply referred to as "It", which has the ability to transform itself into its prey's worst fears allowing it to exploit the fears and phobias...
(1990) - Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis (1991)
- Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus (1991)
- Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232 (1992)
- Lincoln (1992) (TV) (voice)
- I Can Make You Love MeI Can Make You Love MeI Can Make You Love Me, also known as Stalking Laura, is a made-for-television film starring Richard Thomas and Brooke Shields. The film is based on the real-life story of American mass murderer Richard Farley, a former employee of ESL Incorporated whose romantic obsession and subsequent stalking...
(1993) - Precious Victims (1993)
- Linda (1993)
- A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993)
- I Can Make You Love MeI Can Make You Love MeI Can Make You Love Me, also known as Stalking Laura, is a made-for-television film starring Richard Thomas and Brooke Shields. The film is based on the real-life story of American mass murderer Richard Farley, a former employee of ESL Incorporated whose romantic obsession and subsequent stalking...
AKA Stalking Laura (1993) - To Save the Children (1994)
- Death in Small Doses (1995)
- A Walton Wedding (1995)
- Down, Out & Dangerous (1995)
- The InvadersThe InvadersThe Invaders, a Quinn Martin Production , is an ABC science fiction television program created by Larry Cohen that ran in the United States for two seasons, from January 10, 1967 to March 26, 1968...
(1995) - The Outer LimitsThe Outer Limits (1995 TV series)The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
(1995) - The Christmas BoxThe Christmas BoxThe Christmas Box is an American novel written by Richard Paul Evans and self-published in 1993. A Christmas story purportedly written for his children, the book was advertised locally by Evans, who was working at the time as an advertising executive. He placed the book in Utah stores and it...
(1995) - West Virginia (TV mini series) (1996)
- What Love Sees (1996)
- Timepiece (1996)
- DangerfieldDangerfield (TV series)Dangerfield is a British drama series about a small town doctor / police surgeon, which ran for 6 series, between 1995 and 1999. Originally Nigel Le Vaillant played the central role , but this character later left the series, the focus switching to his replacement, played by Nigel Havers.The BBC...
(1996) - Dave's WorldDave's WorldDave's World is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1993 to 1997. The series was based on the writing of Miami Herald columnist Dave Barry.-Plot:...
(1996) - Promised LandPromised landThe Promised Land is a term used to describe the land promised or given by God, according to the Hebrew Bible, to the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob. The promise is firstly made to Abraham and then renewed to his son Isaac, and to Isaac's son Jacob , Abraham's grandson...
(1996) - A Walton Easter (1997)
- Touched by an AngelTouched by an AngelTouched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
(1997) - Riding the RailsRiding the RailsRiding the Rails is a 1938 Fleischer Studios animated short film featuring Betty Boop and Pudgy the Pup. Although some sources claim that this film was nominated for an Academy Award, it does not appear i the official Academy Awards database....
(1997) (voice) - The Rosie O'Donnell ShowThe Rosie O'Donnell ShowThe Rosie O'Donnell Show is an Emmy Award-winning American daytime television talk show hosted and produced by actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. It aired for six seasons from 1996 to 2002...
(1997) - A Thousand Men and a Baby (1997)
- Big and Hairy (1998)
- The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson (1998)
- Touched by an AngelTouched by an AngelTouched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
(1998) - The Million Dollar Kid (1999)
- It's a MiracleIt's a MiracleIt's a Miracle is a television show that aired on PAX-TV between September 6, 1998 and September 1, 2004. Initially hosted by Billy Dean and Nia Peeples and then Richard Thomas, and later by Roma Downey, , it explored case studies of people who experienced perceived miracles during their...
(1999) - The PracticeThe PracticeThe Practice is an American legal drama created by David E. Kelley centering on the partners and associates at a Boston law firm. Running for eight seasons from 1997 to 2004, the show won the Emmy in 1998 and 1999 for Best Drama Series, and spawned the successful and lighter spin-off series Boston...
(1999)
2000s
- Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls WilderBeyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls WilderBeyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder and its sequel, Beyond the Prairie, Part 2: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder, are television films which were presented in two parts, the first in 2000, and the second in 2002, which presented episodes from the later books in the...
(2000) - Flight of the Reindeer (2000)
- In the Name of the People (2000)
- Wonder BoysWonder Boys (film)Wonder Boys is a dark comedy film based on the 1995 novel of the same title by Michael Chabon. Directed by Curtis Hanson, it stars Michael Douglas as professor Grady Tripp, a novelist who teaches creative writing at an unnamed Pittsburgh university...
(2000) - The Christmas SecretThe Christmas SecretThe Christmas Secret is a TV movie starring Richard Thomas and Beau Bridges. It premiered on CBS in 2000. As of 2009, it was shown in the 25 Days of Christmas programming block on ABC Family, but it was not part of the block in 2010.-Plot:...
(2000) - Bloodhounds Inc.Bloodhounds Inc.Bloodhounds Inc. is a series of Christian comedy/detective stories for children written by Bill Myers. The series follows Sean and Melissa Hunter, a brother-and-sister team of Junior sleuths as they solve all manner of spooky mysteries in their hometown of Midvale, and learn important moral lessons...
(2000) - Just CauseJust Cause (TV series)Just Cause is an award-winning Canadian legal drama television series produced by Mind's Eye Entertainment. Filming was done in Vancouver, British Columbia but the series is set in San Francisco, California.-Plot:...
(2001) - The Miracle of the CardsThe Miracle of the CardsThe Miracle of the Cards is 2002 American television drama film distributed by Cloud Ten Pictures. It starred Kirk Cameron, Karin Konoval, Catherine Oxenberg, Peter Wingfield and Richard Thomas...
(2001) - Law & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
(2001) - Beyond the Prairie, Part 2:
- The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder (2002)
- Anna's DreamAnna's Dream-Plot:Eighteen year old Anna Morgan becomes a paraplegic after a gymnastics accident. Her whole world has changed. Her boyfriend ignores her, she loses her friends and her parents treat her like a helpless child. Anna is befriended by a stranger, whose life changed overnight...
(2002) - CBS at 75 (2003)
- OprahThe Oprah Winfrey ShowThe Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
(2003) - TV Land Moguls (2004)
- The Tony Danza ShowThe Tony Danza ShowThe Tony Danza Show was a daytime talk show hosted by Tony Danza, but was also a sitcom featuring the same actor ....
(2005) - Broadway: The Next Generation (2006)
- Twelve Angry MenTwelve Angry MenTwelve Angry Men may refer to:* Twelve Angry Men , a 1954 teleplay by Reginald Rose* Twelve Angry Men , a play adapted by Rose from his teleplay* 12 Angry Men , an adaptation of the play, directed by Sidney Lumet...
(2006) - Wild HeartsWild HeartsWild Hearts is a Hallmark Channel original made for television movie that premiered on July 8, 2006. The movie cast includes Emmy award winning actor Richard Thomas, Hallee Hirsh, and Nancy McKeon. -Plot summary:...
(2006) - Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
(2006, 2010) (TV commercial) (voice) - BB&T BankBB&TBB&T Corporation is an American bank with assets of $157 billion , offering full-service commercial and retail banking services along with other financial services like insurance, investments, retail brokerage, mortgage, corporate finance, consumer finance, payment services, international...
(2006) (TV and radio commercials) (voice) - Annie's PointAnnie's PointAnnie's Point is a 2005 made-for-television movie starring Betty White, Richard Thomas and Amy Davidson.Annie Eason , a recent widow, is living on her own before her son Richard decides that she shouldn't be and wants her to move to a retirement village where she will be taken care of...
(2005) - Taking WoodstockTaking WoodstockTaking Woodstock is a 2009 American comedy-drama film about the Woodstock Festival of 1969, directed by Ang Lee. The screenplay by James Schamus is based on the memoir Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life by Elliot Tiber and Tom Monte.The film premiered at the 2009 Cannes...
(2009) as Reverend Don Darren Pettie - Law & OrderLaw & OrderLaw & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
(episode: "Dignity") (2009) - RaceRace (Mamet play)Race is a play by David Mamet that premiered on Broadway on December 6, 2009.-Production:The cast included Emmy Award winner James Spader, David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas. Mamet also directed...
(2009-2010) - The BeaverThe Beaver (film)The Beaver is a 2011 drama film directed by Jodie Foster and starring Mel Gibson and Foster in their first film together since 1994's Maverick.-Plot:...
(2010) - PrudentialPrudential FinancialThe Prudential Insurance Company of America , also known as Prudential Financial, Inc., is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both retail and institutional customers throughout the...
(2010) (Tv commercial) (voice) - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (2010–2011) Hallmark Movie
- Time After Time (2011) Hallmark Movie
- Rizzoli & IslesRizzoli & IslesRizzoli & Isles is a TNT television series starring Angie Harmon as police detective Jane Rizzoli and Sasha Alexander as medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles. The one-hour drama is based on the Rizzoli & Isles series of novels by Tess Gerritsen...
(episode: "Rebel Without a Pause") (2011)
Producer
- What Love Sees (1996) (co-producer)
- Summer of FearSummer of FearStranger in Our House is a 1978 television horror film directed by Wes Craven and starring Linda Blair...
(1996) (co-executive producer) - For All TimeFor All TimeFor All Time is the final book in Caroline B. Cooney's time-travel romance series.- Plot summary :Annie Lockwood attends the new Ancient Egypt exhibit in the museum where she hopes to find some clue of Strat's survival. She is thoroughly disappointed to find that Strat is not in the picture of the...
(2000) (co-executive producer) - Camping with Camus (2000) (producer)