How ‘Waltons’ star Richard Thomas overcame typecasting after playing iconic TV role

Richard Thomas, prima of “The Waltons,” knew it wouldn’t beryllium easy to beryllium to audiences that he could play characters different than John-Boy Walton erstwhile his gig was up.

“I figured, I’d been successful nan show for 5 years,” nan character exclusively told Page Six successful a caller interview. “It was going to return astatine slightest 5 years to benignant of do capable activity to commencement to equilibrium nan scales.”

Thomas, who near nan deed ’70s TV bid aft 5 seasons, was speedy to accent that he “adored” nan show.

“I person thing but only unthinkable gratitude, affection and fond memories. It was a awesome portion of tv for its time,” he gushed, noting that nan bid aired erstwhile location were only 3 broadcast networks and erstwhile TV audiences were huge.

“The scope of that was phenomenal,” he continued, “and difficult for group to understand today.”

The occurrence of “The Waltons” notably included tons of attraction from female fans.

“It was great!” Thomas enthused, “and it was nan ’70s.”

The CBS series, which ran from 1972 to 1981, centered astir a agrarian family during nan Great Depression and World War II.

Thomas played nan beloved domiciled of John-Boy Walton, nan oldest of nan clan, who dreamed of becoming a writer 1 day.

The actor, who was was calved and raised successful New York City, went connected to prima successful shows for illustration “It” and made impermanent appearances successful a slew of different series. Thomas yet returned to his first love, nan Broadway stage, wherever he made his debut successful “Sunrise astatine Campobello” erstwhile he was only 7 years old.

He was nominated successful 2017 for his move successful “Little Foxes,” and later portrayed Atticus Finch successful nan 2022-2024 circuit of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Thomas besides had a delicious domiciled arsenic nan caput of nan FBI Counter-Intelligence successful “The Americans,” which he raved astir to Page Six.

“I loved it because it was benignant of counterintuitive casting for me,” he explained. “[It] gave maine really a awesome opportunity to play a alternatively enigmatic characteristic who sometimes you thought was OK, sometimes [you] thought he was conscionable a d–k, you know?”

Thomas tin presently beryllium seen successful “The Balusters,” a raucous drama astir a Neighborhood Association that descends into chaos erstwhile a newcomer suggests installing a extremity motion successful nan enclave’s prettiest block.

The Post’s Johnny Oleksinski gave nan show a raving review, calling it an “engrossing and enjoyable watch.”

During different information of nan interview, Thomas joked to Page Six astir his upcoming 75th day connected June 13. While he still appears decades younger, he swears he hasn’t had immoderate activity done.

“Come on!” he exclaimed, noting that foreheads are “one of nan astir expressive parts” of one’s face.

“I don’t want to frost immoderate of it,” he continued, “I mean, it’s falling apart, but what nan hell?”

Thomas laughed erstwhile Page Six suggested he could motorboat a skin-care line, replying, “You’re very kind. You made my day!”