Actress Michael Learned embraces actor Ralph Waite in scene from the TV series "The Waltons." (Getty)
Michael Learned admitted the on-screen chemistry she shared with screen husband Ralph Waite in “The Waltons” was the real deal.
The TV drama about a Depression-era family living in Virginia’s rural Blue Ridge Mountains aired from 1971 until 1981.
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UK’s Daily Mail recently reported that for the first time in almost four decades, the 79-year-old shared she and Waite ‘were in love” off-screen.
Ralph Waite, Richard Thomas and Michael Learned. (AP)
A rep for the actress confirmed to Fox News that, even though the two stars were attracted to each other, they never escalated the relationship out of concern something would go wrong, resulting in the two still facing each other on set every day.
Learned told the Daily Mailthey decided not to pursue the romance as it could ruin the hit series and “get messy.” Instead, Learned insisted they cherished a close friendship that lasted until Waite's death in 2014 at age 85.
“We had a deep love for each other that we would have ruined if we had takenthat extra step, and we didn’t,” said Learned. “We never did. We thought about it, but we didn’t. And I think that’s why we became a spiritual husband and wife if you will, and I miss him terribly. His wife is a very good friend. But what Ralph and I had was something that came across on screen.”
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Ralph Waite and Michael Learned in "The Waltons." (YouTube)
Learned, who at one point said she was “going to tear up” just thinking about Waite, added the star also had his faults.
“He was a complicated man,” she explained. “He had a lot of issues. He lost a daughter from leukemia and I think that’s when he started drinking. He was a minister before he became an actor. He had so many colors to his life and his character and he was deeply honest with himself and God conscious I think, and complicated. And because we remained the kind of friends we remained, none of that bothered me.”
“But if we’d been married or something, I might have had a problem with his complicatedness and he might have with mine. We’re both very flawed human beings, but I loved him dearly, what can I say? And he loved me.”
Learned also shared that while there was concern initially from male executives who felt she was too young for the role of matriarch Olivia Walton, the “attraction” between her and Waite helped their scenes to become “more real.”
Set in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II, the show follows the Walton family, consisting of John (Ralph Waite) and Olivia (Michael Learned), their seven children, and John's parents Zebulon "Zeb" Tyler (Will Greer) and Esther (Ellen Corby). (Getty)
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It also prompted the pair to explore their feelings further when cameras stopped rolling.
“We thought about it. We did,” said Learned. “There was a period where Ralph and I were both single and we did love each other so we made a date and it was going to happen and we got together and we looked at each other and went, ‘Nah, this will never work.’ Thankfully, we had the good sense to not take it the next step, because I think it would have gotten messy. It might have gotten messy, but our love was very deep and true.”
“The smart thing was we were smart enough not to carry it to the next step, because I think it could have really turned bad. I’m not sure, maybe, but our love was very deep and very special and I miss him terribly.”
Learned had her own personal battles to face. Learned said that in 1971, at age 32, she realized she had become an alcoholic. She insisted it was Waite who helped her during tough times.
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“I was drinking heavily when the show started and Ralph saved my life, really,” said Learned. “He pointed out that he thought I was drinking too much. I didn’t think I was, but he thought I was and I haven’t had a drink in 42 years of anything alcoholic and it is because of Ralph, and I think I was on the way.”
“I got off the train early luckily, but he was the one who grabbed me by the shoulders and said, ‘I think you have a problem,’” Learned continued. “Because we’d go out and have lunch and drink wine and stuff and then go back on the set a little bit tipsy. He straightened himself out and then he said, ‘I think you should too.’ I went, ‘Me?’ But he was right, I was drinking too much.”
Learned said her drinking was fueled by her tumultuous marriage to actor Peter Donat. They were married from 1956 until 1972.
Michael Learned continued to make guest appearances on various TV shows after "The Waltons" ended. She has appeared on "Law and Order: SVU," "All my Children," "One Life to Live," and had a recurring role on "Scrubs." Learned holds the joint record for most Emmys Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, 3 of which she earned for "The Waltons", and another for "Nurse." (Bill Dow)
“I was going through a divorce and I grew up in a family where, like in Europe, people drink and they enjoy drinking and that was in my family,” she said. “But I was drinking for the wrong reasons. I was drinking because I was sad and depressed, and all the wrong reasons and Ralph was the one who said, ‘You have a problem.’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t. I can stop.’ … But I wasn’t hiding bottles or doing any of that stuff, nothing in the morning and certainly not when I was working. But at night, I’d pour myself a drink and then sort of freshen it up. It’s not who I am, I don’t enjoy it. I don’t like that feeling.”
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“So when Ralph said you have a problem, I didn’t think I did, but I was on my way to having a big problem and he stopped me,” added Learned. “And I’m grateful to him eternally for that.”
Learned has been married to John Doherty since 1988 and they still reside in California. And while she left “The Waltons” in 1979 before the series came to end in 1981, she still considers her beloved castmates as her “second family.” She is also aware of the lasting impact “The Waltons” has had over the years.
“Ralph and I did become like mom and dad really,” Learned explained. “We were the set mom and dad for the kids. They didn’t necessarily come to us with their personal problems, because their parents were there as well. The mothers were there usually, or guardians. But we were like a family. When we shot, we kidded around… So we adored each other and Ralph very much. He had lifts put on his chair, so he would look bigger, and very much the patriarch of the family. And I was momma.”
Back in 2017, Learned told Fox News there were times she regretted leaving “The Waltons.”
“Yes, there’s been times when I’ve regretted it only in that it probably would have been better to complete the whole show,” she said. “But frankly, when John-Boy came back with a new face and a new voice, it was like something happened. I just couldn’t do it anymore… and also, I felt a lot of the times I was sitting around for 14 hours saying, ‘More coffee John.’ The fact is, I was bored. And I thought I had enough money, which wasn’t true.”
FAQs
Ralph Waite was fired from his role due to budgetary issues. The show had become more expensive as Waite aged, and at the same time the ratings started to decline.
Why did Olivia go away on The Waltons? ›
Michael Learned didn't like TV acting
The show indicates that she's being treated for tuberculosis in Arizona, but Learned didn't return to Walton's Mountain until the reunion films.
Did Michael Learned ever get married? ›
Learned has been married to John Doherty since 1988 and they still reside in California.
Did the parents on The Waltons fall in love? ›
She told Fox News at one point the actors who played Ma and Pa Walton actually developed strong romantic feelings for one another. "We had a deep love for each other that we would have ruined if we had taken that extra step, and we didn't," Learned said. "We never did.
Did Ralph Waite and Michael Learned get along? ›
In 2019, it was reported that Learned and Waite "were in love" off-screen. However, the pair did not pursue a romance. "I loved him very much," she explained. "And we loved each other as much as anybody could love anybody.
Was The Waltons filmed in a real house? ›
The Walton's made use of many period appropriate buildings, sets and locations. Being a domestic, family based drama much of the action was staged in and around the Walton family home. While the interiors were filmed on Stage 26 of the former Burbank studios, the house exterior was filmed on the jungle set.
Why did Olivia leave The Waltons and then come back? ›
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.
Did any of The Waltons date each other? ›
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!
Did Grandma Walton died on the show? ›
Did Mary Ellen Walton stay married to Jonesy? ›
Then Curt was killed at Pearl Harbor in the 1978 season, and Mary Ellen found new love with Arlington Wescott "Jonesy" Jones (Richard Gililand) while taking premed courses. The romance was threatened when Curt was discovered not to have died after all, but the two decided their marriage had ended and divorced.
During the end voice over , John boy states that Erin's marriage is as strong today as it was when they got married , but in A Walton Thanksgiving reunion , she is divorced and states that it was because she found out Paul was cheating on her .
Did John-Boy Walton ever get married? ›
He then finds a career in television where he serves as a news anchor. He meets Janet Gilchrist who is an editor for Harper's magazine. The two are married on Walton's Mountain.
How many husbands did Mary Ellen Walton have? ›
Mary Ellen marries Dr. Curtis Willard and they have 1 child, John Curtis, before he is lost and presumed dead after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Eventually she remarries Arlington Westcott Jones "Jonesy" and together they have 2 children, Clay and Katie.
Who does the preacher marry on The Waltons? ›
Rev. Matthew Fordwick made quite the impression when he first arrived as the new minister on Walton's Mountain in "The Sinner" (s1-ep7) but he quickly became a trusted member of the community and eventually married the local school teacher Rosemary Hunter. He appears in 19 episodes from Season 1 to 5.
Who did Jim Bob get pregnant on The Waltons? ›
Jim Bob waits for his daddy to finish some work, obviously anxious to tell him something important. Jim Bob finally blurts out that Kathy is pregnant but he is unsure if he is the father. Later Cindy finds that Kathy has left without telling anybody. Jim Bob locates her at Ike's store, asking her to return.
Who has passed away from The Waltons? ›
Morgan Stevens, the TV star of such shows as The Waltons and Fame, has passed away. The world has lost another figurehead of television history. Morgan Stevens, best known for his role in The Waltons, passed away on January 26th, TMZ reports.
Will there be a Waltons reboot? ›
The CW announced a new movie, “The Waltons' Thanksgiving,” which will debut in the fourth quarter of 2022. A follow-up to 2021's “The Waltons' Homecoming,” the special will feature Bellamy Young, Logan Shroyer and Richard Thomas reprising their roles with Teddy Sears newly joining the cast.
Who replaced John-Boy on The Waltons? ›
Wightman replaced Richard Thomas in the role of John-Boy Walton in the TV series The Waltons.
Does Walton's Mountain still exist? ›
People have been asking for more than four decades if "the family is real" and "is there a 'real' Walton's Mountain?" The answer is yes.
Was there a real Ike Godsey? ›
In addition to the Walton characters, other roles, such as the “recipe-making” Baldwin sisters and General Store owner, Ike Godsey were also inspired by real people.
Popularly known as The Waltons House, the Hamner House is the childhood home of Earl Hamner, Jr., novelist and creator of the TV series, The Waltons and was listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2004. The Walton Hamner House is open seven days a week and guided tours begin every half hour from 10am until 4pm.
Why did The Waltons end? ›
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.
Did Olivia have a baby on The Waltons? ›
John "John-Boy" Walton Jr.
This first Walton child is known throughout the series as "John-Boy," is born in 1916, is the eldest son and child of Olivia Walton (née Daly) and John Walton Sr.
How did The Waltons end? ›
The final episode, titled “The Revel,” aired on June 4, 1981. In the episode, John-Boy goes to New York to pursue his writing career but arrives to find that his manuscript has been rejected. His publisher's secretary gives him enough money to return home and advises him to start a new book. He returned home dejected.
Is the story of The Waltons true? ›
All of the Waltons were based on real people — Hamner's family, his grandfather and grandmother, his father and mother, and his brothers and sisters, of whom there were seven in the show but eight in real life.
Did Ben and Cindy stay married on The Waltons? ›
Sadly she died a few days after giving birth to their daughter Ashley in 1992 after she developed leukemia during the pregnancy. Eric and his third wife Cindy. They married in 2001 and have 2 children together.
...
Ben Walton.
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| "The Obstacle" (s7-ep14) | "The Outsider" (s7-ep29) |
9 more rowsAlthough Becker appeared in eight episodes of The Waltons and came back for the reunion movies, Drew and Elizabeth never tied the knot on the series.
How old was Grandma Walton when she died in real life? ›
Although a stroke in 1976 slowed her down, Ellen still made appearances on the series. Her last TV appearance was in 1997 in the TV movie A Walton Easter (1997). On April 14, 1999, Ellen died at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. She was 87 years old.
Did Grandma Walton have a stroke in real life? ›
Ellen Corby died in 1999, but she is remembered as Grandma Walton on the hit television show, The Waltons. Her work on the show earned her three Emmy awards. Yet her career almost ended in 1976 after a stroke that left her with aphasia.
How old was Grandma Walton when she died? ›
Actor Tom Bower originally played Curtis 'Curt' Willard, introduced to the series in episode 5.7 "The Wedding" and appearing periodically through season 7, when the character was listed as killed in action during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor in episode 7.10.
Does Mary Ellen Walton have a baby? ›
In the sixth season of The Waltons, Mary Ellen's son John Curtis is born, introducing the first Walton grandkid on the mountain.
What happened to Ben and Cindy's baby on The Waltons? ›
Virginia is only ever depicted on screen as a baby (in the show's final two seasons) and a toddler (in the 1982 reunion special Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain), but her eventual death at the age of 17 is mentioned in the fourth TV film, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion.
What was Erin's secret job on The Waltons? ›
Erin graduates from high school still having no direction for her life. She gets a job as a switchboard operator to buy a typewriter for John-Boy. Family members sneak a look at John-Boy's novel about them and the community. Earl Hamner Jr.
What was the last episode that Olivia was in on The Waltons? ›
What happened to Olivia Walton? The character's final appearance on the show was in the Season 8 episode "The Waiting," which aired on Nov. 22, 1979.
Why was John-Boy replaced on The Waltons? ›
After five seasons, Richard Thomas left the Waltons to pursue other interests. He has devoted much of his time to motion pictures for television.
How many times did John-Boy get married? ›
Richard Thomas rejoins the Waltons for a CBS special. Richard Thomas managed to get married twice, to different women in a three-week span last year.
How many kids did John-Boy Walton have? ›
For the young stars who played the seven children of John and Olivia, their costars became like siblings. After all, they grew up and worked together for nearly a decade.
Did Jim-Bob Walton have a twin? ›
They find Jim-Bob's birth record but they also discover that Jim-Bob had a twin, Joseph Zebulon Walton who died at birth. Esther learns from Ike and Flossie Brimmer that Jim-Bob is asking questions concerning he birth.
Did Jim Bob Walton have children? ›
Personal life. He and his wife, Lynne McNabb Walton, have four children: Alice A. Proietti (born November 1979), Steuart Walton (born April 1981), Thomas L. Walton (born September 1983), and James M.
If you were watching The Waltons when it originally aired back in the '70s, you probably remember hearing the news that Will Geer — the man who played Grandpa Zebulon Walton — had died. Will passed away from respiratory failure on April 22, 1978, shortly after filming Season 6 of The Waltons.
Did Jason and Toni get married on The Waltons? ›
They're naturally at odds but clearly like each other at the same time. Toni visits Walton's Mountain and Jason plays her a song he wrote called “Antoinette.” Jason steals a kiss and they eventually get married in season nine.
Why was Olivia written out of The Waltons? ›
Michael Learned didn't like TV acting
The show indicates that she's being treated for tuberculosis in Arizona, but Learned didn't return to Walton's Mountain until the reunion films.
Did Jim Bob Walton become a preacher? ›
Later during the service the Reverend announces to the congregation's surprise that Jim-Bob has chosen to become a preacher.
Where was The Waltons filmed? ›
“Many of the places mentioned on the series actually do exist in Schuyler.” While filmed on location in California, the fictional Walton family would have been at home in the tiny town of about 300 residents 40 minutes southwest of Charlottesville, Va., in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Where is Jim Bob Walton today? ›
Harper, who first found fame as Jim Bob Walton, now works as an art dealer in Los Angeles. He was cast as a child actor but have up acting after his success in the Waltons, and subsequent jobs have included driving for co-star Eric Scott's transport company.
How was Grandma Walton written out of the show? ›
A stroke in 1977 forced Ms. Corby to curtail her work on the series. She was seen only occasionally and made her last appearance in 1979, although she was part of the 1997 special ''A Waltons Easter.
Why did Ellen Corby leave The Waltons for a while? ›
She left the show November 10, 1976, owing to a massive stroke she had suffered at home, which impaired her speech and severely limited her mobility and function. She returned to the series during the final episode of the 1977–78 season, with her character depicted as also recovering from a stroke.
Why did Patricia Neal leave The Waltons? ›
According to Fame 10, Patricia Neal first was given the role of Olivia Walton on “The Waltons.” At the time, Patricia Neal had been dealing with serious health issues and was replaced by Michael Learned.
Why did they change actors for John-Boy on The Waltons? ›
The cast may be new, but the story remains the same. In fact, one very familiar face was invited back to Waltons Mountain to narrate it. Hamner Jr. passed in 2016, after leaving an indelible impression in pop culture, so producers had to find a replacement.
Where are the real life Waltons Mountain? ›
While the television series took place on a fictional "Walton's Mountain," in Virginia, and the book on "Spencer's Mountain" in Wyoming, both are actually based on Hamner's hometown of Schuyler, VA. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that the Walton's Mountain Museum is located right here in Schuyler, VA.
How much of The Waltons show is true? ›
All of the Waltons were based on real people — Hamner's family, his grandfather and grandmother, his father and mother, and his brothers and sisters, of whom there were seven in the show but eight in real life.
How did Elizabeth get paralyzed on The Waltons? ›
Elizabeth breaks both legs in a fall from a log pile. When she comes home from the hospital, the family must adjust to her injuries and devise ways to help her walk again, something the Doctors aren't sure she'll be able to do.
What did The Waltons say at the end of the show? ›
"I hope that you'll remember this house as I do," Earl Hamner narrates in the closing moments of the final episode of The Waltons.
Who married John-Boy Walton? ›
He meets Janet Gilchrist who is an editor for Harper's magazine. The two are married on Walton's Mountain.
Does the original John-Boy come back on The Waltons? ›
In March of 1977, Thomas left the series and his role was taken over by Robert Wightman. However, Thomas returned to the role in three Waltons TV movies in the 1990s, including A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion in 1993. Thomas won an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1973.
Did John-Boy ever return to The Waltons? ›
It seemed Wightman was destined to stay in Thomas' shadow, though, performing as John-Boy in 16 episodes of The Waltons and only one of the TV movies. Thomas eventually returned to the role of John-Boy in the Nineties, happy to be welcomed back home on The Waltons.
