If you close your eyes and think of Richard Thomas, you probably see a lanky kid with a notebook, squinting in the lantern light of a Virginia attic. That "kid" is now a grandfather many times over. Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock to the system for those of us who grew up with The Waltons as a weekly staple.
Time moves fast. One minute you're saying "Goodnight, John-Boy," and the next, that same actor is dominating the Broadway stage as a seasoned veteran.
How old is Richard Thomas the actor right now?
As of early 2026, Richard Thomas is 74 years old.
He was born on June 13, 1951, in Manhattan. That means he’s just a few months away from hitting the big 7-5. It’s wild to think about, especially since he still has that same spark in his eyes that he had back in 1972. You’ve likely noticed that he hasn't really slowed down. While many actors his age are looking for a quiet golf course in Florida, Thomas is still memorizing massive scripts and touring the country.
He doesn't just "work" occasionally. He’s prolific.
✨ Don't miss: Hank Siemers Married Life: What Most People Get Wrong
From a "Backstage Baby" to a Legend
Richard didn't just stumble into acting. He was basically born into it. His parents, Barbara Fallis and Richard S. Thomas, were professional dancers with the New York City Ballet. They even ran their own ballet school.
Because of his parents' careers, he spent his infancy in Havana, Cuba. Spanish was actually his first language. Kinda cool, right? By the time he was seven, he was already on Broadway in Sunrise at Campobello. Most kids are worried about losing their baby teeth at seven; Richard was performing for New York theater crowds.
- Broadway Debut: 1958 (Age 7).
- The Waltons Begins: 1972 (Age 21).
- Emmy Win: 1973 (Age 22).
He actually dropped out of Columbia University to take the role of John-Boy. He was an English (and briefly Chinese) major, but the call of the mountain was too strong. It paid off—he won an Emmy for the role when he was just 22.
Why the question of his age keeps popping up
People ask how old is Richard Thomas the actor so often because he’s stayed in the public eye through so many different "eras."
🔗 Read more: Gordon Ramsay Kids: What Most People Get Wrong About Raising Six Mini-Chefs
If you're a Gen Xer, you might remember him as Bill Denbrough in the original IT miniseries from 1990. If you’re a fan of prestige TV, you probably recognized him as the morally questionable Nathan Davis (Wendy’s dad) in Ozark on Netflix. More recently, he’s been the face of Atticus Finch in the massive national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird.
He’s one of those rare actors who managed to survive "teen idol" status and transition into a respected elder statesman of the craft.
What is Richard Thomas doing in 2026?
He isn't sitting on a porch. Right now, Richard Thomas is preparing for a major Broadway run in a new play called The Balusters, set to open at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in March 2026. He’s playing a character named Elliott Emerson.
On top of that, he’s been keeping the legacy of Hal Holbrook alive. He is the only actor authorized by the Holbrook estate to perform the legendary one-man show Mark Twain Tonight!. Watching a 74-year-old Thomas transform into an 80-year-old Mark Twain is a meta-experience that reminds you just how much range he actually has.
💡 You might also like: Gladys Knight Weight Loss: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
A few things you probably didn't know
- The Birthmark: That famous mole on his left cheek? It’s a nevus. He actually lost out on commercials as a kid because of it. Their loss, obviously.
- The Hearing Loss: He has a condition called cochlear otosclerosis. He’s been wearing hearing aids since his 30s. He’s been very open about it, which has helped de-stigmatize hearing loss for a lot of fans.
- The Family Man: He has seven children. Yes, seven. This includes a son from his first marriage, triplet daughters, and a son with his second wife, Georgiana Bischoff, plus two stepdaughters.
Putting his age into perspective
When Richard Thomas started The Waltons, he was younger than many of the "influencers" on TikTok today. Now, at 74, he’s older than Will Geer (Grandpa Walton) was when the show first started filming.
It’s a reminder that "old" is a relative term in show business. If you can still command a stage for two hours a night, age is just a number on a Wikipedia page.
If you're looking to catch up with his recent work, here's what to do:
- Stream "Ozark" Season 4: See him play a character that is the complete polar opposite of John-Boy Walton. It’s jarring but brilliant.
- Check Broadway Listings: If you're in New York this spring, The Balusters is the ticket to get.
- Listen to an Audiobook: He has narrated over 300 titles on Audible. His voice hasn't aged a day; it’s still that warm, comforting tone that defined a generation of television.
He remains a masterclass in how to age with grace, talent, and a relentless work ethic in an industry that usually forgets people the second they get a wrinkle.