Richard Thomas' Exit from The Waltons

0:00It's March 21st. Here's your entertainment news in two minutes. Richard Thomas stepped away from his starring role as John Boyle on the Walton's after five strong seasons. The family drama was a hit during those early years, pulling in big audiences week after week. Thomas had planned his exit from the start. When he signed his contract, he decided five years was plenty for one project, and he wanted to chase new acting chances. Co-star Scott shared his disappointment in a recent interview. He felt let down by the sudden change, calling Thomas the glue that kept the cast and show together. Scott also praised Thomas as one of the best young actors he had worked with, especially since Thomas started at just 21 years old. The show pressed on without missing much of a beat. Robert Whiteman stepped in to play John Boyle for the final two seasons, eight and nine. Thomas's choice reshaped the series midway, but the Walton's wrapped up its full nine season run as a beloved classic.