As legendary drama The Waltons returns to screens after 10 years off air, where are the original cast now? From a failed politician to a reclusive rockstar, what happened next for hit TV series' stars

• e-mail

It's been over five decades since The Waltons burst onto screens, and now, John-Boy prepares to return with the series hitting British screens.

The American family drama, famous for its 'Goodnight John-Boy' nightly ritual, will soon make its comeback on Freeview channel Great TV - with all 219 nostalgic episodes of the series available to tune into. 

From January 6, fans will be able to travel back in time to the Walton household, as two episodes air every weekday, plus a Sunday omnibus, until each episode has aired. 

Created by Earl Hamner Jr, the series follows the life of a close-knit family living in West Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains during World War II's Great Depression. 

Based on the writer's own childhood, detailed in his book Spencer's Mountain, the series became a cultural phenomenon thanks to its wholesome storylines and prominent family values. 

It originally aired on American channel CBS from 1972 to 1981 over nine seasons, with it hitting screens on the BBC in 1974 and finishing in 1983. 

It's been over five decades since The Waltons burst onto screens, and now, John-Boy prepares to return with the series returning to British screens

The American family drama, famous for its 'Goodnight John-Boy' nightly ritual, will soon make its comeback on Freeview channel Great TV - with all 219 nostalgic episodes of the series available to tune into

Hamner narrated each episode, voicing the grown-up version of the series' main character, John-Boy Walton, who lives with his mum, dad, grandparents and seven siblings. 

Ralph Waite and Michael Learned played parents John and Olivia Walton, and Will Feer and Ellen Corby portrayed Grandpa Zab and Grandma Esther. 

Richard Thomas starred as John-Boy, the eldest son and aspiring writer who formed the core story of the series, as an aspiring writer on a coming-of-age journey. 

The couple's other children - Jason, Mary Ellen, Ben, Erin, Jim-Bob, and Elizabeth - were played by Jon Walmsley, Judy Norton, Eric Scott, Mary McDonough, David W. Harper, and Kami Cotler.

The nightly ritual that concluded most episodes, with the whole family calling out to each other to say goodnight, became a global catchphrase.  

While a number of the cast members have passed in the decades since the series ended, some of the Walton children are still alive and, still hard at work. 

Here, we take a look at where the original cast are now. 

1) Will Geer as Grandpa Walton, 2) Ellen Corby as Grandma Walton, 3) Jon Walmsley as Jason Walton, 4) Michael Learned as Olivia Walton, 5) Ralph Waite as John Walton Sr., 6) Kami Cotler as Elizabeth Walton, 7) Richard Thomas as John Boy Walton, 8) Judy Norton Taylor as Mary Ellen Walton, 9) David Harper as Jim Bob Walton and 10) Mary McDonough as Erin Walton

John-Boy Walton - Richard Thomas, 74

The heart of the series, eldest son John-Boy was played by Richard.

Now 74, the actor remains a highly respected and successful, having won an Emmy, and, this year, having found himself on the Theatre Hall of Fame. 

His stage career has continued into his 70s, and recently revived Hal Holbrook's one-man show Mark Twain Tonight! 

After The Waltons, he went on to star as Bill Denborough in the 1990 adaptation of Stephen King's IT, and appeared in Netflix hit series Ozark. 

Thomas is set to return to Broadway to perform in 2026.   

Currently married to second wife Georgiana Bischoff, Thomas has five children. 

Now 74, the actor remains a highly respected and successful, having won an Emmy, and, this year, having found himself on the Theatre Hall of Fame

John Walton - Ralph Waite

Waite played the family patriarch - and afterward he went on to enjoy a long career in television and film, appearing in NCIS, Bones, Days of Our Lives, The Bodyguard and Cliffhanger.

The actor also directed TV episodes, narrated documentaries, and even tried his hand at politics running for US Congress multiple times. 

Waite, a native of White Plains, N.Y., served in the U.S. Marines before earning a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University and a master's degree from Yale University Divinity School. 

He died aged 85 in 2014. 

Waite played the family patriarch - and afterward he went on to enjoy a long career in television and film, appearing in NCIS, Bones, Days of Our Lives, The Bodyguard and Cliffhanger

Olivia Walton - Michael Learned, 86

One of the most fondly remembered stars was Michael Learned, who played beloved matriarch Olivia in the popular series. 

She most recently appeared on screen in 2022, playing the grandmother of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

In 2017 she appeared on Loose Women to reflect on her time on the show, admitting that it 'saved' her financially as she had just been through a divorce and was a single parent when she got the role.

'I was going through a divorce from a husband I had lived half my life with,' she revealed. 'I had three kids and no money. I went out to LA and stayed in a motel and stayed on my own… It [The Waltons] saved me', the mother-of-three said.

But Learned's love life has made almost as many headlines over the years as her glittering acting career.

The 79-year-old been married four times in total, first to Canadian-American actor Peter Donat who is best known for playing Bill Mulder, the father of Fox Mulder in sci-fi show The X-Files during the 1990s, and father to her three children.

Her second marriage was to Glenn Chadwick, a stagehand, which lasted only two years, from 1975-1977.

She was then wed to actor/screenwriter William Parker in 1979. She divorced from Parker, who wrote episodes of The Waltons, in 1988.

Learned most recently appeared on screen in 2022, playing the grandmother of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Grandpa Zeb - Will Geer

After a glittering career spanning six decades, Will Geer passed away in 1978 at the age of 76.

Before landing the role of a lifetime as Grandpa Walton, Geer starred in Broadway hit Tobacco Road as well as notching up several Shakespearean roles.

'He was a Renaissance man—he was a historian of the theater, and of virtually all the performing arts,' Earl Hamner, the novelist and producer of The Waltons told the New York Times following his death.

'Hi was joyous, he was vigorous, and he was inventive. I will miss him very much.'

After a glittering career spanning six decades, Will Geer passed away in 1978 at the age of 76

Grandma Esther - Ellen Corby

Corby, who sadly passed away 20 years ago, won three Emmy awards for her role as the sharp-tongued Grandma Walton.

Her character was temporarily written out of the series with an illness after the real life Corby suffered a stroke in 1977, and only reappeared in the season's final episode.

Fans were delighted when Grandma Walton made a triumphant return in the three television movies based on the show, A Day of Thanks on Walton's Mountain (1982), A Wedding on Walton's Mountain (1983) and A Walton's Easter (1997).

Corby, who sadly passed away 20 years ago, won three Emmy awards for her role as the sharp-tongued Grandma Walton

Jason Walton - Jon Walmsley, 69

Jon Walmsley, who is widely loved for his portrayal of Jason in iconic show The Waltons has been living at the south west tip of Britain since 2019. 

A talented musician, he released the blues album Goin’ To Clarksdale in 2017 and continues to work on new material while keeping firmly out of the spotlight.

The 69-year-old actor, who is also famed for providing the voice of Christopher Robin for Disney's Winnie the Pooh cartoons revealed that despite his association with the award winning show, he's barely recognised in north Cornwall where he lives with wife Marion.

Walmsley was born in Blackburn and first moved to California when he was just two years old. 

In 2002, he and three other Los Angeles musicians formed a band called The U.K Beat, which plays music that inspired Walmsley and his friends when they were children during the 1960s British rock invasion.

Judy Norton, now 67, famously played the eldest Walton daughter, Mary Ellen, before going on to launch a dinner theatre chain in Canada

Mary Ellen Walton - Judy Norton, 67

Judy Norton, now 67, famously played the eldest Walton daughter, Mary Ellen, before going on to launch a dinner theatre chain in Canada.

She has continued her acting career with her most recent roles in 2016's The Sparrows: Nesting and 2017's Finding Harmony.

Married to Robert Graves, she shares a son with first husband Randy Apostle and lives in California.

The TV star also writes, directs and records music, and runs a popular YouTube channel sharing behind-the-scenes stories from The Waltons and released a festive album, Home for Christmas.

She continues to produce independent film projects.

Mary Elizabeth McDonough starred in The Waltons for nearly a decade during the 1970s, joining the show when she was just 11

Erin Walton - Mary Elizabeth McDonough, 64

The actress starred in The Waltons for nearly a decade during the 1970s, joining the show when she was just 11.

In the years since, she appeared in multiple films and TV shows, including sitcom Will & Grace and US political drama The West Wing.

Forced to stop acting owing to an immune disease, McDonough reinvented herself as an author, speaker and life coach after Hollywood.

She has gone on to write several books, including her memoir Lessons From the Mountain, and Christmas novel Honeysuckle Lane, which was adapted into a Hallmark movie.

After her departure from screens, Mary Elizabeth claimed that she was told that she was 'fat' while she appeared on the long-running television series.

The star, who played Erin in the programme, said she began 'starving' herself after developing body image issues sparked by the cruel remarks.

Harper, who first found fame as Jim Bob Walton, is now thought to be working as an art dealer in Los Angeles

Jim-Bob Walton - David W Harper, 64

Harper, who first found fame as Jim Bob Walton, is now thought to be working as an art dealer in Los Angeles.

He was cast as a child actor but have up acting after his success in the Waltons, and subsequent jobs have included driving for co-star Eric Scott's transport company.

Harper has since reflected on his surreal childhood years, saying: 'Looking back, I realise we grew up surrounded by adults. But I'm pleased to have been on the show.'

Cotler, who played Elizabeth Walton, quit acting to study for a degree in Social Sciences before a series of teaching roles led her to set up her own educational consulting business

Elizabeth Walton - Kami Cotler, 60

Cotler, who played Elizabeth Walton, quit acting to study for a degree in Social Sciences before a series of teaching roles led her to set up her own educational consulting business.

Despite this, she has continued to star in countless Walton reunions, the most recent being in 2010.

Aged just six when she landed her starring role, Cotler now lives in Virginia with her British-born husband and their two children.

Scott, once best known for his character Ben Walton, is now a vice-president of a Chase Messengers a Los Angeles based parcel delivery service

Benjamin Walton - Eric Scott, 67

Scott, once best known for his character Ben Walton, is now a vice-president of a Chase Messengers a Los Angeles based parcel delivery service, having given up acting to become a courier and businessman.

He was briefly married to actress Karey Louis, who reportedly starred in a single episode of The Waltons. 

Tragedy struck when his first wife, Theresa, died of leukaemia just two days after giving birth to their daughter Ashley.

He married third wife, Cynthia Ullman, in 2000 and has three children with his youngest, Jeremy, born in 200 - also the year of his last acting role.