The Waltons - Olivia Walton (2024)

FAQs

What happened to Olivia on The Waltons? ›

Her character's abrupt disappearance was explained by Olivia developing tuberculosis and entering a sanatorium in Arizona. She made occasional guest appearances until the show's cancelation and later appeared in four of the six Waltons reunion movies made during the 1980s and 1990s.

As it turns out, it was Learned's decision, as she was exhausted by the "stop and start" nature of television productions: "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" (via The Washington Post).

John and Olivia Walton are the proud parents of three girls and five boys: John-Boy, Jason, Mary Ellen, Erin, Ben, twins Jim-Bob & Joseph, and Elizabeth; Joseph died at birth. Grandma and Grandpa Walton (Esther and Zeb) are John's parents are also an integral part of the family.

But later in the series, it's revealed that Olivia is being treated for tuberculosis at a sanatorium in Arizona. Michael went on to co-star in four of the six reunion movies — confirming that Olivia does survive her illness — but the Emmy winner was MIA for all of Season 9.

When you watch The Waltons episode "The Waiting," there's a bunch of foreshadowing that Rose Burton is about to take over the maternal role on the Mountain. In the episode, Olivia and John leave town to go see John-Boy in the hospital after he's fallen into a coma.

*Does not include Crossword-only or Cooking-only subscribers. Ellen Corby, who played the grandmother on the television series ''The Waltons,'' died on Wednesday at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. She was 87, a hospital spokesman said.

The announcement shocked fans, but the network's decision came after The Waltons had spent years on a gradual descent from the top of the TV ratings. The show had dipped from No. 2 in its second season, down to the nation's No. 42 show by its ninth.

The Waltons end up saving the day when they gather everyone they can find to attend the celebration. In the closing epilogue, John Boy recounts that the Baldwins' zest for life would inspire him to write another book and return to New York. The cast reunited for a total of six made-for-TV movies.

The love stories carried over behind the scenes. Ma and Pa Walton — Ralph Waite and Michael Learned — quietly fell on love on set. And remember Jason and Toni, who we just mentioned in the prior paragraph? Well, actors Jon Walmsley and Lisa Harrison tied the knot in real life in 1979!

In the fourth TV film, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, Ginny did not appear at all. Instead, Ben and Cindy's characters made a brief mention that Ginny had died two years prior. They did not give further details about their eldest child's passing, per IMDb.

What is the orange squeeze drink on The Waltons? ›

This is possibly the only time Olivia is seen in a bar...and she has John order her an "Orange Squeeze" and tells him not to tell anyone! Typically an Orange Squeeze is made with rum, ice, and fresh squeezed oranges in a blender.

Later while the family relaxes in the living room Olivia senses that something is wrong. She loses the baby and John explains to the children that maybe that is nature's way of saying that maybe the conditions weren't right for a healthy baby and that the birth wasn't meant to be.