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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

The Balusters
[Broadway]
2026
Elliott Emerson
Mark Twain Tonight!
[US Tour]
2025
Mark Twain ()
Our Town Our Town
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2024
Mr. Webb
To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird
[US Tour]
First National Tour, 2020
Atticus Finch
The Great Society The Great Society
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2019
Hubert Humphrey
The Humans The Humans
[US Tour]
First National Tour, 2017
Erik Blake
The Little Foxes The Little Foxes
[Broadway]
Manhattan Theatre Club Broadway Revival Production, 2017
Horace Giddens
White Rabbit Red Rabbit White Rabbit Red Rabbit
[Off-Broadway]
New York Premiere Production, 2016
Performer [Replacement]
[Replacement]
Incident at Vichy Incident at Vichy
[Off-Broadway]
Signature Theatre Off-Broadway Production, 2015
You Can't Take It with You You Can't Take It with You
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2014
Paul Sycamore [Replacement]
[Replacement]
An Enemy of the People An Enemy of the People
[Broadway]
Manhattan Theatre Club Production, 2012
Peter Stockmann
Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2011
Performer
A Naked Girl on the Appian Way A Naked Girl on the Appian Way
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2005
Jeffrey Lapin
Democracy Democracy
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2004
Günter Guillaume
Billion Dollar Baby
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1945
Newsboy
Dancer [Replacement]
[Replacement]
Newsboy
Dancer [Replacement]
Newsboy
Dancer [Replacement]
Newsboy

Productions

Jerry Springer: The OperaJerry Springer: The Opera
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Music
Book
Lyrics
Made in DagenhamMade in Dagenham
 
[West End, 2014]
Lyrics

Writing

Jerry Springer: The Opera
Bookwriter
Composer

Movies

Winning
[ 1969 ] Charley
Last Summer
[ 1969 ] Peter
The Todd Killings
[ 1971 ] Billy Roy
Cactus in the Snow
[ 1971 ] Harley MacIntosh
Red Sky at Morning
[ 1971 ] Joshua Arnold
You'll Like My Mother
[ 1972 ] Kenny
30-Sep-55
[ 1977 ] Jimmy J.
Battle Beyond the Stars
[ 1980 ] Shad
The Million Dollar Kid
[ 2000 ] Ted Hunter
Wonder Boys
[ 2000 ] Walter Gaskell
Taking Woodstock
[ 2009 ] Reverend Don
Anesthesia
[ 2015 ] Mr. Werth
The Price for Silence
[ 2018 ] Richard Davenport
The Unforgivable
[ 2021 ] Michael Malcolm
Christmas vs. The Walters
[ 2021 ] Roger

TV Shows

The Edge of Night
Ben Schultz, Jr
As the World Turns
Tom Hughes
The Christmas Tree
Joey
A Doll's House
Ivor
The DuPont Show of the Month
Oliver Twist
Great Ghost Tales
Conradin
'Way Out
Jeremy Keeler
The Defenders
Johnny Remington
From These Roots
Richard
Give Us Barabbas!
The Boy
Seaway
Martin Anderson
A Flame in the Wind
[ 1964-1966 ] Chris Austin
Bracken's World
Alan
Bonanza
Billy
Marcus Welby, M.D.
[ 1969-1970 ] Dennis Alan Graham
Medical Center
Toby Tavormina
The F.B.I.
John 'Chill' Chilton
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story
John-Boy Walton
Night Gallery
The Sins of the Fathers
The Thanksgiving Story
John-Boy Walton
The Red Badge of Courage
Pvt. Henry Fleming
The Silence
Cadet James Pelosi
The Waltons
[ 1972-1978 ] John-Boy Walton
Getting Married
Michael Carboni
No Other Love
Andrew Madison
Roots: The Next Generations
Jim Warner
All Quiet on the Western Front
Paul Baumer
To Find My Son
David Benjamin
Berlin Tunnel 21
Lieutenant Sandy Mueller
Barefoot in the Park
Paul Bratter
Johnny Belinda
William Richmond
Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story
Hank Williams, Jr.
Hobson's Choice
Will Mossup
The Master of Ballantrae
Henry Durie
Final Jeopardy
Marty Campbell
Go Toward the Light
Greg Madison
Glory! Glory!
Rev. Bobby Joe
It
Bill Denbrough
American Playhouse
[ 1982-1990 ] Cal Porter - Andre's Lover, Kenneth Talley Jr.
Common Ground
Colin Diver
Tales from the Crypt
Dr. Trask
Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
James O'Hanlan
Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis
Lieutenant Steven Scott
Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232
Gary Brown
Lincoln
John Hay voice
Precious Victims
Don Weber
A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion
John Walton Jr.
Linda
Paul, Linda's husband
Stalking Laura
Richard Farley
To Save the Children
David Young
Million Dollar Babies
Oliva-Edouard Dionne
The Outer Limits
Dr. Stephen Ledbetter
The Invaders
Jerry Thayer
A Walton Wedding
John Walton Jr.
The Christmas Box
Richard Evans
Death in Small Doses
Richard Lyon
Down, Out & Dangerous
Tim Willows
What Love Sees
Gordon Holly
West Virginia
Narrator
Timepiece
Richard Evans
Dave's World
Richard Thomas
A Thousand Men and a Baby
Dr. Hugh 'Bud' Keenan
A Walton Easter
John Walton Jr.
Flood: A River's Rampage
Herb Dellenbach
Promised Land
[ 1997-1998 ] Joe Greene
Touched by an Angel
[ 1997-1998 ] Joe Greene
Big and Hairy
Victor Dewlap
Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Charles Ingalls
The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson
[ 1998-1999 ] David Robinson
The Practice
Walter 'The Hummer' Arens
In the Name of the People
Jack Murphy
The Christmas Secret
Jerry McNeil
The Miracle of the Cards
Dr. Neal Kassell
Beyond the Prairie, Part 2: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
Charles Ingalls
BloodHounds, Inc
[ 1999-2002 ] Robert Hunter
Anna's Dream
Rod Morgan
Just Cause
[ 2002-2003 ] Hamilton Whitney III
Century City
Dr. Brezak
Annie's Point
Richard Eason
Wild Hearts
Bob Hart
Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King
Howard Cottrell
Law & Order
Roger Jenkins
Time after Time
Dick Woodstein
Rizzoli & Isles
Professor Dwayne Cravitz
The Music Teacher
Ray
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
[ 2001-2013 ] Nat Randolph, Daniel Varney
White Collar
William Wolcott
The Good Wife
Ed Pratt
Chicago P.D.
Adam Ames
Conviction
Earl Slavitt
The Americans
[ 2013-2016 ] Frank Gaad
Elementary
Mitch Barrett
Incident at Vichy
Von Berg
Blue Bloods
Richard Walters
The Blacklist
David Foy
Billions
[ 2017-2019 ] Sanford Bensinger
The Comey Rule
Chuck Rosenberg
NCIS: New Orleans
[ 2019-2020 ] NCIS Deputy Director Van Cleef
Tell Me Your Secrets
Bodie Lord
Ozark
Nathan Davis

Awards and Nominations

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Richard Thomas, The Little Foxes

Tony Awards - 2017 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Richard Thomas, Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes

Drama Desk Awards - 2016 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Richard Thomas, Incident at Vichy


winner
Olivier Awards - 2004 - Best New Musical

Richard Thomas, Jerry Springer - The Opera

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2004 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Richard Thomas, The Stendhal Syndrome

The Lortels - 2004 - Outstanding Lead Actor

Richard Thomas, The Stendhal Syndrome

Helen Hayes Awards - 1994 - Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Play

Richard ThomasRichard II

Videos

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News


Anika Noni Rose Replaces Renée Elise Goldsberry in THE BALUSTERS on Broadway Photo
Anika Noni Rose Replaces Renée Elise Goldsberry in THE BALUSTERS on Broadway
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.
MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! Introduces Digital Lottery for $30 Tickets Photo
MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! Introduces Digital Lottery for $30 Tickets
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.
Jim Parsons, Deborah Cox, Frankie Grande and Constantine Rousouli Join TITANIQUE Broa Photo
Jim Parsons, Deborah Cox, Frankie Grande and Constantine Rousouli Join TITANIQUE Broadway Cast
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.
Tickets to MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! With Richard Thomas at Bass Hall on Sale Now Photo
Tickets to MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! With Richard Thomas at Bass Hall on Sale Now
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.
Review: MARK TWAIN TONIGHT at Van Wezel Photo
Review: MARK TWAIN TONIGHT at Van Wezel
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.
Kayli Carter, Michael Esper, Ricardo Chavira, and More Join THE BALUSTERS on Broadway Photo
Kayli Carter, Michael Esper, Ricardo Chavira, and More Join THE BALUSTERS on Broadway
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.
Lea Salonga, Straight No Chaser, Jeremy Piven, Ali Siddiq, and More Come to The Krav Photo
Lea Salonga, Straight No Chaser, Jeremy Piven, Ali Siddiq, and More Come to The Kravis Center in December
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.
Video: Renée Elise Goldsberry Talks Returning to Broadway in THE BALUSTERS Photo
Video: Renée Elise Goldsberry Talks Returning to Broadway in THE BALUSTERS
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.
State Theatre New Jersey And George Street Playhouse Launch New Brunswick Arts Flex P Photo
State Theatre New Jersey And George Street Playhouse Launch New Brunswick Arts Flex Pass
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.
Richard Thomas in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! Comes to State Theatre New Jersey Photo
Richard Thomas in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! Comes to State Theatre New Jersey
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!
Richard Thomas to Star in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! at BroadwaySF's Curran Theatre Photo
Richard Thomas to Star in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! at BroadwaySF's Curran Theatre
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.
BWW Q&A: Willow Becker Talks Richard Thomas in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! at Covey Center fo Photo
BWW Q&A: Willow Becker Talks Richard Thomas in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! at Covey Center for the Arts
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.
Video: Richard Thomas Opens Up About the Joy of Playing Mark Twain Today Photo
Video: Richard Thomas Opens Up About the Joy of Playing Mark Twain Today
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.
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE Comes to Theater J Photo
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE Comes to Theater J
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!
Review: MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! at National Theatre Photo
Review: MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! at National Theatre
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.
MERRY WIVES & More Lead Washington, DC's September 2025 Top Theatre Shows Photo
MERRY WIVES & More Lead Washington, DC's September 2025 Top Theatre Shows
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.
Texas State University to Host 23rd Annual New American Play Festival Photo
Texas State University to Host 23rd Annual New American Play Festival
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.
Performance Added For Richard Thomas in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! Photo
Performance Added For Richard Thomas in MARK TWAIN TONIGHT!
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.
Denver Center for the Performing Arts Tickets For 35 Shows Now on Sale Photo
Denver Center for the Performing Arts Tickets For 35 Shows Now on Sale
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.
SPAMALOT and More Set for State Theatre New Jersey's 2025-26 Broadway Season Photo
SPAMALOT and More Set for State Theatre New Jersey's 2025-26 Broadway Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 31, 2025

State Theatre New Jersey has the largest and most extensive Broadway show season in New Jersey, featuring Spamalot and many more. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
More News

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Richard Thomas been in?

Richard Thomas has appeared on Broadway in 9 shows.

How many West End shows has Richard Thomas been in?

Richard Thomas has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Richard Thomas been nominated for?

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.

What awards has Richard Thomas won?

Richard Thomas won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical for Jerry Springer - The Opera.

How many shows has Richard Thomas written?

Richard Thomas has written 2 shows including Jerry Springer: The Opera (Bookwriter), Made in Dagenham (Lyricist).

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