Richard Thomas
Photos: The Cast of MTC's THE BALUSTERS Meet the Press (Mar 2, 2026)
Anika Noni Rose Replaces Renée Elise Goldsberry in THE BALUSTERS on Broadway (Feb 6, 2026)
MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! Introduces Digital Lottery for $30 Tickets (Jan 23, 2026)
BIO
In 1958, Thomas made his Broadway debut in Sunrise at Campobello. In 1959, he appeared in the NBC Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of A Doll’s House. He appeared in daytime television including The Edge of Night (1961), A Flame in the Wind, and As the World Turns (1966–67). In 1970, he guest starred on Bonanza.
His first major film roles were Winning (1969) and Last Summer (1969). In 1971, he appeared in The Todd Killings, Red Sky at Morning, and Cactus in the Snow.
He starred as John-Boy Walton in The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) and the series The Waltons (1972–77), appearing in 122 episodes. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1973 and later reprised the role in TV movies including A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993).
Additional film and television roles include You'll Like My Mother (1972), The Red Badge of Courage (1974), and All Quiet on the Western Front (1979). He appeared in Roots: The Next Generations (1979), Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story (1983), Hobson’s Choice (1983), The Master of Ballantrae, Final Jeopardy, and the miniseries It (1990).
On stage, he appeared in Fifth of July (1980) and the film Battle Beyond the Stars (1980). Theater credits include Citizen Tom Paine (1987), The Lisbon Traviata (1990), Richard II (1993), and productions at Hartford Stage including Hamlet (1987), Peer Gynt (1989), Richard III (1994), and Tiny Alice (1996). He appeared on television in Touched by an Angel and Promised Land (1997–98).
In 2001, he appeared in London’s West End production of Art. New York stage work included Democracy (2004), The Stendhal Syndrome (2004), and As You Like It (2005). He also appeared in the Broadway production A Naked Girl on the Appian Way (2005).
He toured in Twelve Angry Men (2006), appeared on Broadway in Race (2009–10), and starred in Timon of Athens (2011).
Thomas played Frank Gaad in The Americans (2013). He appeared in the Broadway revival of The Little Foxes (2017), earning a Tony Award nomination. In 2018, he portrayed Ebenezer Scrooge in A Musical Christmas Carol.
Later screen roles include Tell Me Your Secrets (2021) and Ozark (2022). Beginning in 2022, he starred as Atticus Finch in the national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird.
In 2024, he appeared in Our Town. In 2025, he starred in a national touring revival of Mark Twain Tonight.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Composer
Movies
[ 1969 ] Charley
[ 1969 ] Peter
[ 1971 ] Billy Roy
[ 1971 ] Harley MacIntosh
[ 1971 ] Joshua Arnold
[ 1972 ] Kenny
[ 1977 ] Jimmy J.
[ 1980 ] Shad
[ 2000 ] Ted Hunter
[ 2000 ] Walter Gaskell
[ 2009 ] Reverend Don
[ 2015 ] Mr. Werth
[ 2018 ] Richard Davenport
[ 2021 ] Michael Malcolm
[ 2021 ] Roger
TV Shows
Ben Schultz, Jr
Tom Hughes
Joey
Ivor
Oliver Twist
Conradin
Jeremy Keeler
Johnny Remington
Richard
The Boy
Martin Anderson
[ 1964-1966 ] Chris Austin
Alan
Billy
[ 1969-1970 ] Dennis Alan Graham
Toby Tavormina
John 'Chill' Chilton
John-Boy Walton
The Sins of the Fathers
John-Boy Walton
Pvt. Henry Fleming
Cadet James Pelosi
[ 1972-1978 ] John-Boy Walton
Michael Carboni
Andrew Madison
Jim Warner
Paul Baumer
David Benjamin
Lieutenant Sandy Mueller
Paul Bratter
William Richmond
Hank Williams, Jr.
Will Mossup
Henry Durie
Marty Campbell
Greg Madison
Rev. Bobby Joe
Bill Denbrough
[ 1982-1990 ] Cal Porter - Andre's Lover, Kenneth Talley Jr.
Colin Diver
Dr. Trask
James O'Hanlan
Lieutenant Steven Scott
Gary Brown
John Hay voice
Don Weber
John Walton Jr.
Paul, Linda's husband
Richard Farley
David Young
Oliva-Edouard Dionne
Dr. Stephen Ledbetter
Jerry Thayer
John Walton Jr.
Richard Evans
Richard Lyon
Tim Willows
Gordon Holly
Narrator
Richard Evans
Richard Thomas
Dr. Hugh 'Bud' Keenan
John Walton Jr.
Herb Dellenbach
[ 1997-1998 ] Joe Greene
[ 1997-1998 ] Joe Greene
Victor Dewlap
Charles Ingalls
[ 1998-1999 ] David Robinson
Walter 'The Hummer' Arens
Jack Murphy
Jerry McNeil
Dr. Neal Kassell
Charles Ingalls
[ 1999-2002 ] Robert Hunter
Rod Morgan
[ 2002-2003 ] Hamilton Whitney III
Dr. Brezak
Richard Eason
Bob Hart
Howard Cottrell
Roger Jenkins
Dick Woodstein
Professor Dwayne Cravitz
Ray
[ 2001-2013 ] Nat Randolph, Daniel Varney
William Wolcott
Ed Pratt
Adam Ames
Earl Slavitt
[ 2013-2016 ] Frank Gaad
Mitch Barrett
Von Berg
Richard Walters
David Foy
[ 2017-2019 ] Sanford Bensinger
Chuck Rosenberg
[ 2019-2020 ] NCIS Deputy Director Van Cleef
Bodie Lord
Nathan Davis
Awards and Nominations
Richard Thomas, The Little Foxes
Richard Thomas, Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes
Richard Thomas, Incident at Vichy
winner
Richard Thomas, Jerry Springer - The Opera
Richard Thomas, The Stendhal Syndrome
Richard Thomas, The Stendhal Syndrome
Richard ThomasRichard II
Videos
Video: Renée Elise Goldsberry Talks Returning to Broadway in THE BALUSTERS
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-11-17 17:13:01
Video: Katie Holmes Surprises Zoey Deutch on GMA with OUR TOWN Question
by Josh Sharpe - 2024-12-09 12:34:37
VIDEO: Watch Yaegel T. Welch & Melanie Moore Talk TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on CBS News Bay Area
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-12-17 11:35:28
Video: Richard Thomas Is Bringing TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD to a City Near You
by Backstage Live with Richard Ridge - 2023-09-23 16:00:20
VIDEO: Richard Thomas Talks Playing Atticus Finch in HARPER LEE'S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-07-23 09:19:12
Video: Stars of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Walk The Red Carpet in Los Angeles
by Adam Riegler - 2022-10-27 13:49:48
VIDEO: Richard Thomas and Jacqueline Williams Get Ready to Take TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on the Road
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - 2022-03-26 15:00:20
VIDEO: Richard Thomas Talks Touring as Atticus Finch in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
by Alan Henry - 2022-02-24 10:28:15
VIDEO: Watch Clip of Greg Kinnear in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - 2022-01-06 13:07:02
VIDEO: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Celebrates Broadway Return; Written By Aaron Sorkin
by Stephi Wild - 2021-08-19 09:33:29
VIDEO: Richard Thomas Sends A Message of Encouragement for The Old Globe's ACT BREAKS
by A.A. Cristi - 2020-04-10 21:04:22
Broadway Rewind: Marin Mazzie, Douglas Sills & More Take on ON THE 20TH CENTURY for the Actors' Fund in 2005!
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-03-26 16:01:00
Broadway Rewind: Have Fun, Fun, Fun in Rehearsals for GOOD VIBRATIONS in 2004!
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-03-21 10:01:00
TV: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Prepares to Make History at Madison Square Garden
by A.A. Cristi - 2020-02-25 20:31:05
THE GREAT SOCIETY To Join Broadway Bridges, Must Close November 30
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2019-11-05 17:13:51
TV Exclusive: The Great Facts of THE GREAT SOCIETY- Richard Thomas on Hubert Humphrey
by Nicole Rosky - 2019-10-28 16:51:35
News
by Bruce Glikas - Mar 2, 2026
The cast of the upcoming Broadway production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s The Balusters recently met the press. Check out photos and learn more about the production here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 6, 2026
Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose will replace previously announced Renée Elise Goldsberry in the upcoming Broadway production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s The Balusters.
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 23, 2026
Performing Arts Fort Worth announced a digital lottery for MARK TWAIN TONIGHT!, offering tickets at $30. This initiative provides an affordable option for audiences to experience the acclaimed one-man show.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 8, 2026
Titanique has announced some of its Broadway cast! Alongside Marla Mindelle, who will lead the Broadway company as Celine Dion, are Jim Parsons, Deborah Cox, Frankie Grande and Constantine Rousouli.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 7, 2026
Tickets are on sale now for Mark Twain Tonight! starring Emmy Award winner Richard Thomas, who was last seen on the Bass Hall stage in 2023 as Atticus Finch in Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird.
by Shanti M. Kennedy - Dec 21, 2025
'Mark Twain Tonight!' is a captivating one-man play developed by the talented Hal Holbrook. This show allows the audience to witness Mark Twain himself performing a dramatic reading of excerpts from his work, with a special emphasis on the humorous aspects.
by Stephi Wild - Dec 12, 2025
Manhattan Theatre Club has announced complete casting for the world premiere of The Balusters, by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 2, 2025
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach will present a full month of programming in December, including performances by Lea Salonga, Straight No Chaser, Jeremy Piven, Ali Siddiq, and the multimedia work The Just and the Blind.
by Josh Sharpe - Nov 17, 2025
On The Jennifer Hudson Show, Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry shared her excitement for returning to Broadway in The Balusters next Spring. Check out the interview now.
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 29, 2025
State Theatre New Jersey and George Street Playhouse have announced the launch of the New Brunswick Arts Flex Pass, a new ticketing option designed to give audiences the freedom to experience the best of both theaters with significant savings and flexibility.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 28, 2025
State Theatre New Jersey will present Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight! By Hal Holbrook in November. Learn more about the upcoming production and how to get tickets here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 27, 2025
Emmy-Award Winning Actor Richard Thomas will star in a new production of Mark Twain Tonight!, coming to BroadwaySF’s Curran Theatre. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
by Joshua Wright - Oct 23, 2025
Mark Twain Tonight!, is a Tony Award-winning one-man show in which finds the noted author presenting a dramatic recitation of his various writings. Starring Richard Thomas, Broadway alumnus of Our Town and television star of The Waltons, brings this giant character to life in a stage experience full of laughs, introspection, and good old-fashioned fun.
by Joey Mervis - Oct 4, 2025
Emmy-Award Winning actor Richard Thomas will star in a new production of Mark Twain Tonight! on stages across North America, bringing along Twain's wry humor and irreverent observations in this legendary one-man show. Watch in this video to learn about how he's approached playing the iconic author on stage.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 30, 2025
Theater J will bring Amy Herzog's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People to the stage. Learn more about the upcoming production and how to get tickets here!
by Mary Lincer - Sep 22, 2025
According to an interview Richard Thomas gave to DC Theater Arts, Hal Holbrook's estate asked him to consider playing Mark Twain in the one-man show that Holbrook compiled for himself back in 1954 when he was 29. Their idea was a good one; after a brief stop in DC, this excellent production has moved on to North Carolina.
by Team BWW - Sep 10, 2025
Washington, DC is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Selections for September 2025 include Merry Wives and more.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 28, 2025
Texas State University's School of Theatre, Dance and Film will host the 23rd annual New American Play Festival. NAPF is a celebration of new voices in American theatre. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 6, 2025
TheaterWorks Hartford will host the first production of the new national tour of Mark Twain Tonight! written and originally performed by Hal Holbrook featuring Emmy Award-winner Richard Thomas.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 1, 2025
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts revealed that tickets for most titles for its 2025/26 season programming are now on sale to the public. Learn how to purchase tickets.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Richard Thomas has appeared on Broadway in 9 shows.
Richard Thomas has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Little Foxes, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Incident at Vichy, Best New Musical (Olivier Awards) for Jerry Springer - The Opera, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Stendhal Syndrome , Outstanding Lead Actor (The Lortels) for The Stendhal Syndrome and Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play (Helen Hayes Awards) for Richard II.
Richard Thomas won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical for Jerry Springer - The Opera.
Richard Thomas has written 2 shows including Jerry Springer: The Opera (Bookwriter), Made in Dagenham (Lyricist).
Videos