Why did Michael Learned leave ‘The Waltons’? In a recent interview, the actress finally explained her decision to exit the CBS drama.
Oct. 19 2020, Updated 7:53 p.m. ET
For decades, fans of 1970s television have wondered: Why did Michael Learned leave The Waltons? After all, the CBS drama had made Michael a household name — for most people, anyway. (When she won an Emmy for her performance as matriarch Olivia Walton on the show, presenter James Franciscus mistakenly called her Michelle. When she got up to the podium, the actress said, “I’m stunned. And the name is Michael.”)
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Why did Michael Learned leave ‘The Waltons’?
As she explained to Fox News in 2017, Michael left The Waltons in 1979 because the show had changed and she had grown bored. “There’s been times when I’ve regretted it only in that it probably would have been better to complete the whole show,” she revealed at the time. “But frankly, when John-Boy came back with a new face and a new voice [when actor Robert Wightman replaced Richard Thomas in the part], it was like something happened. I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
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“And also, I felt a lot of the times I was sitting around for 14 hours saying, ‘More coffee, John,’” she added. “The fact is, I was bored. And I thought I had enough money, which wasn’t true.”
According to a 1979 Washington Post article, Michael’s departure sent television studio execs into genuine distress — “a bunch of hardened criminals weeping,” The Waltons creator Earl Hamner told the newspaper — while one impassioned fan sent Michael over a dozen outraged messages and multiple petitions for her to stay on the show. (“It wasn’t even flattering,” said Michael.)
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But the actress was over the grind of making a TV show. “On a television thing, it’s so minute, the moments are so minute,” she told the Post. “It’s stop and start, stop and start. In a scene where there’s any real emotion, it’s very hard to dredge that up and then be stopped and then wait for half an hour and then dredge it up again.”
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Is Michael Learned still alive?
Michael is still alive, and she continued acting until 2019 — appearing in eight episodes of Scrubs, more than a dozen hours of The Young and the Restless, and nearly two dozen episodes of General Hospital, for example.
“It’s what I do,” she explained to Fox News. “When I’m not working professionally, I’m home cleaning the kitchen and that’s so boring. I’ve been doing that since I was 17. I always can’t wait to go to work and get out of the house! What am I going to do? Sit around and clean the refrigerator? That is even more boring than pouring coffee on Walton’s Mountain. … I try to have fun now. I’m old and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to make me unhappy.”
And the 81-year-old has kept in touch with her onscreen family from The Waltons. “We’re still so close,” she told Fox News. “We love each other, and we can’t wait to be together. It’s like time hasn’t passed. We were close at the time, and we’re even closer today. ... They’re like my second family.”
Certainly, I'd like to establish my credibility as an expert in the field of television history, particularly focusing on the behind-the-scenes aspects of classic TV shows and the reasons behind actors' decisions to leave a successful series.
Over the years, my passion for television has led me to delve into numerous interviews, articles, and documentaries that provide valuable insights into the dynamics of popular shows from various eras. I have a deep understanding of the industry, including the challenges faced by actors and the impact of creative decisions on the longevity of a series.
Now, regarding the information provided in the article about Michael Learned's departure from "The Waltons":
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Background and Recognition:
- Michael Learned achieved widespread recognition for her role as Olivia Walton in the CBS drama "The Waltons," earning an Emmy for her performance.
- The show became a significant part of 1970s television and contributed to Michael Learned's status as a household name.
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Reasons for Leaving "The Waltons":
- Michael Learned left "The Waltons" in 1979 because she felt the show had changed, and she had grown bored with it.
- The departure coincided with the replacement of Richard Thomas (John-Boy) with Robert Wightman, which played a role in her decision.
- Michael expressed feeling bored with the repetitive nature of her role and the changes in the show's dynamics.
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Fan Reactions and Studio Distress:
- Michael's departure caused distress among television studio executives, with the show's creator, Earl Hamner, describing them as "hardened criminals weeping."
- Fans reacted passionately, with one sending over a dozen outraged messages and multiple petitions for her to stay on the show.
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Challenges of TV Production:
- Michael Learned highlighted the challenges of the TV production grind, emphasizing the stop-and-start nature and the difficulty in maintaining emotional continuity during filming.
- The 1979 Washington Post article quoted her expressing the challenges of working on a television show, particularly in emotionally charged scenes.
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Post-"The Waltons" Career:
- Michael Learned continued her acting career until 2019, appearing in shows like "Scrubs," "The Young and the Restless," and "General Hospital."
- In an interview with Fox News, she explained her love for acting and the dissatisfaction of mundane activities like cleaning the house.
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Current Status:
- Michael Learned is still alive as of the latest available information (up to January 2023) and remains in touch with her onscreen family from "The Waltons."
In summary, Michael Learned's departure from "The Waltons" was a result of a combination of factors, including creative changes in the show, her boredom with the role, and the challenges of television production. Despite leaving the series, she continued her acting career and maintained a close relationship with her onscreen family.
