Hey there, friends. Let me tell you something fascinating. In an exclusive sit-down with Closer Weekly, the surviving actors from the iconic series The Waltons opened up about some surprising secrets from their time on set. While the show depicted a strong family bond, the real-life cast members shared that many were taken advantage of and exploited during filming.
Now, here’s the kicker: Behind the scenes, the younger actors were not treated with the care and respect they deserved. One of the cast members even battled alcoholism, and despite the show's massive success, no one was compensated fairly. "We did not get rich from that show," Eric Scott, who played the adventurous middle child Ben, revealed to Closer.
Richard Thomas, who portrayed eldest son John-Boy and was central to the show alongside Michael Learned and Ralph Waite, was treated a bit better by the studio, Lorimar. Let’s dig into this a little more, shall we?
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Life Behind the Scenes: A Closer Look
Let’s take a moment to reflect on what it was really like for these actors. Eric recalls the immense pressure they faced every day. It wasn’t just about hitting your mark and delivering lines—it was about doing it all without causing any trouble. Yet, despite their hard work and dedication, the studio never showed much appreciation. "It was disappointing that no one even called to say, 'By the way, thank you.' We were loved by the public, but we never felt the studio appreciated us," Eric said.
The Waltons cast in 1972.
Michael Learned, who played Olivia Walton, was particularly upset about how the young actors were treated. She once received a large bouquet of flowers from the producers, but when she noticed the younger stars didn’t get anything, she took action. “She went to the producers and said, ‘These kids have given you years of their lives and you can’t even get them something?’” recalled Judy Norton, who played eldest daughter Mary Ellen. “We ended up getting a little muffin basket with, like, three muffins in it.”
Now, here’s a fun anecdote: Michael tells Closer with a laugh that Lorimar was so tight with money that their idea of a party was "one can of beer and 13 straws!"
Real Bonds Amidst the Challenges
Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, there was genuine love among the cast. Especially between Michael and Ralph, whose chemistry as Olivia and John transcended the screen. “We were both single,” Michael shared. “So I drove out to Malibu, but we just looked at each other and said, ‘Nah, I don’t think so.’ So all of our lovemaking was on-screen!”
