Time is a funny thing, isn't it? One minute you’re watching a lanky, earnest kid named John-Boy shout "Goodnight, Elizabeth!" from a farmhouse window, and the next, you realize that kid is 74 years old. If you’re wondering what does Richard Thomas look like now, the answer is probably a lot better than most of us will at that age.
He’s still got that spark. You know the one—the bright, inquisitive eyes that made him a household name in the 1970s. But the "boy" part of John-Boy has definitely left the building, replaced by a distinguished, silver-haired statesman of the American stage.
Honestly, he looks exactly like what he is: a man who has worked consistently for seven decades without ever letting the Hollywood machine grind him down.
The Silver Fox of the Stage
If you’ve seen a photo of Richard Thomas recently, the first thing you’ll notice is the hair. It’s a full, elegant shock of white-silver. It’s not that "Hollywood dyed" silver either; it’s genuine. He’s kept the slender frame he had as a young man, which gives him a sort of kinetic energy when he moves.
Most people catch him these days in a sharp suit or a tweed blazer. He’s spent the last few years touring the country as Atticus Finch in the Broadway production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Seeing him in those 1930s spectacles and three-piece suits, you realize how much he’s aged into his features. The soft, roundness of his youth has sharpened into a more angular, authoritative look.
He doesn't hide his age. There's no obvious plastic surgery or frozen forehead here. He looks like a 74-year-old man who takes care of himself. It’s refreshing.
The Famous Birthmark
One thing everyone asks about is the mole on his left cheek. It was his signature look on The Waltons. Believe it or not, it’s still there, though it’s less prominent now against his matured skin. It’s funny how such a small detail can become a touchstone for fans, but for many, that birthmark is how they know it's still "their" John-Boy, even with the white hair.
Living with Cochlear Otosclerosis
You might not know this, but Richard's look sometimes includes a very practical accessory: hearing aids. He was diagnosed with cochlear otosclerosis in his 30s, a condition where the bones in the ear grow abnormally. He actually lost about 50% of his hearing.
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He’s been very open about it. He doesn't treat it as a "disability" in the tragic sense, but just a part of his life. He’s often seen wearing modern, discreet hearing aids, and he’s even served as a spokesperson for the Better Hearing Institute. It’s part of why he stays so sharp—he deals with health issues head-on rather than hiding them for the sake of an image.
Why He Still Looks So Energetic
Basically, the guy doesn't stop. Most actors his age are picking up "grandfather" cameos or retiring to a ranch in Montana. Not Richard.
In early 2026, he’s slated to return to Broadway in a new play called The Balusters. Before that, he was doing eight shows a week on the road. That kind of schedule would kill a 25-year-old. When interviewed, he often laughs about how the "distance between the audience and the actor" in theater is a great beauty treatment, but the truth is he just has that theater-kid stamina.
He also credits his parents for his discipline. They were dancers with the New York City Ballet. If you grew up in a house where your parents were professional athletes of the dance world, you learn how to take care of your body. It shows.
Recent Projects and TV Appearances
If you haven't seen him on stage, you might have caught him on your TV screen recently. He looked decidedly different—and much grittier—as Nathan Davis (Wendy Byrde's father) in Ozark.
- Ozark: He played a weathered, somewhat broken man. He used his real age to his advantage here, letting the wrinkles and the weariness tell the story.
- The Americans: As Agent Frank Gaad, he sported a very "80s government official" look, complete with the era-appropriate glasses.
- Mark Twain Tonight!: He’s currently the only actor authorized to perform the late Hal Holbrook’s legendary one-man show. For this, he uses heavy prosthetic makeup to look like an elderly Mark Twain, which is a wild contrast to his "normal" look.
The Secret to Aging Like Richard Thomas
The reality is that Richard Thomas looks "good" because he seems comfortable in his own skin. He hasn't spent his career trying to be a heartthrob. He’s a character actor who happened to be a lead for a few years.
If you want to keep up with what he’s doing next, here are a few things to keep an eye on:
- Check Local Playbills: He is a creature of the theater. If a major production is touring, there is a non-zero chance he is the lead.
- Audiobooks: He has narrated over 300 books. If you can't see what he looks like, you can certainly hear that his voice hasn't aged a day. It’s still that warm, melodic tenor.
- Broadway League Updates: Keep an eye on his 2026 return to the New York stage in The Balusters.
He’s a reminder that getting older doesn't mean fading away. It just means you get a better wardrobe and a more interesting face.
Next Steps: If you're a fan of his later work, you should check out his performance in The Americans on FX or Hulu. It's a complete 180 from his Waltons persona and shows off the gravitas he's developed as he's aged.