Trivia

Uses two tiny hearing aids due to the 50% hearing loss, as a result of otosclerosis (primarily a bone disorder that affects the bones of the middle ear, and may progress to a nerve disorder affecting the nerves of the inner ear).

Richard Thomas left The Waltons (1972) at the end of the fifth season because he only signed a 5-year contract. He planned to pursue other acting opportunities. The Achievement (1977) was his last episode but he did make a comeback in Season 6 and the last three family television reunions.

He and ex-wife Alma Gonzales have four children: Richard Scott Earl Francis "Francisco" Thomas III (son, born 1976); Barbara-Ayala, Gweneth, and Pilar Alma (triplet daughters, born 8/26/1981). All four of Richard's kids appeared with him in a number of commercials for Minute Maid.

Is National Chairman of the Better Hearing Institute.

He first acted professionally at age seven; appeared as a cast replacement on the Broadway stage as John A. Roosevelt, one of the children of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt, in the drama, "Sunrise at Campobello".

Served as the host of the University of South Carolina's Ecumenical Service of the Family and introduced His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

Did voice overs for Mercedes Benz from 2005 -2009. Preceded in this role by Joe Mantegna. Succeeded from this role by Jon Hamm. (2008)

His parents were owners of the New York School of Ballet. Among their students were Trinka Lowe and Daniel Levins.

Will be opening in the play, "Twelve Angry Men" in Dallas, co-starring George Wendt. (February 2007)

Has one son, Montana James (born on July 28, 1996), with second and current wife, Georgiana Bischoff.

He was awarded the 1990 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Performance for "The Lisbon Traviata" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Attended Columbia University.

Speaks some Chinese, after changing his major at Columbia from Literature to Chinese. He changed his major from Literature to Chinese because he attended Columbia during the time that the Vietnam War was underway and as well as the controversy surrounding it. He was frustrated with the anti-war demonstrations and how they were interrupting his educations and he felt the best way to avoid such disturbances was to change his major to Chinese.

Starring in a production of Terrence McNally's "Unusual Acts of Devotion", at the La Jolla Playhouse, alongside Doris Roberts and Harriet Sansom Harris. (May 2009)

Nominated for the 2017 Tony Award for "The Little Foxes" (Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play).

In both of his "Law & Order: SVU" appearances (Season 2:21 'Scourge' -and- Season 14:23 'Brief Interlude'), Richard Thomas isn't introduced until halfway through the episode.

He is a lifelong Democrat.

Appearing as Atticus Finch in the national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird. (May 2024).