Although many millennials and gen-z’s might not be aware of this, The Waltons was one of the most popular American drama series in the 70s. Helmed by Earl Hamner, the show was based on the 1961 bookSpencer's Mountain. It had an extremely successful run for nine seasons, and along the course of this time, fans of the show developed a deep connection with the characters. Lately, many fans on Twitter have been reminiscing to the good old days when The Waltons used to air on TV. However, even though the show ended in 1981, it is still unclear what happened to Virginia on The Waltons.
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Name a tv show that takes you back.... to the good old days.😉
— Debbie (@Dangchick1)
The Waltons. They had a big family like we did and our entire family used to gather around the TV to watch every week.
— Wear a Mask (@jglennfl68)
What is the most comforting show or move you can think of? Thanks.
— Indie Jen Fischer (@IndieJenFischer)
The Waltons we find to be such.
— R.A. Contreras, M.A. 🖋 (@commgrad71)
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What happened to Virginia on The Waltons?
Fans of the show, who often choose to reminisce upon its characters and story, will remember that Virginia Walton was not introduced to them until Season 8, in the episode titled The Idol,which is set in the year 1944. She was the first and only daughter of Ben Walton (John Boy’s younger brother), and his wife, Cindy. Virginia Walton was only ever depicted on screen as a baby (in the show’s final two seasons) and a toddler in the 1982 reunion specialMother's Day on Walton's Mountain. However, fans came to know that she had died at the age of 17, int he fourth TV film,A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion. It was never clearly mentioned what had caused young Virginia’s demise on the show. However, this did not stop shocked fans from speculating.
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How did Virginia Walton die?
According to a report in Distractify, one of the most popular theories about Virginia’s demise claims that the young girl died by drowning. However, there is no way of knowing, what happened to her, for sure, as it was never stated on the camera. The fourth Waltons film is set in 1963. During the course of the film, it was revealed that it had been two years since Virginia had passed away, meaning that she died in 1961.
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The Waltons: About the iconic show
The Waltons is a heartwarming series about a family in ruralVirginia, who is trying to survive during theGreat DepressionandWorld War II. The main story is set in Walton's Mountain, a fictional mountain-area community in fictitious Jefferson County,Virginia. The time period covered in the series spans from 1933 to 1946, during theGreat DepressionandWorld War II. During this time the US presidential administrations ofFranklin D. RooseveltandHarry S Truman were in office.
The story is about the family of a man named John Walton Jr. (known as John-Boy) and his six siblings, his parents John and Olivia Walton, and the paternal grandparents Zeb and Esther Walton. John-Boy who is the oldest of the children becomes a journalist and novelist. Hence, each episode is narrated at the opening and closing by a middle-aged John Jr.
Image Source: CBS (Official Website)
FAQs
Virginia Walton was 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. However, fans came to know that she had died at the age of 17, int he fourth TV film, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion.
What happened to Virginia from The Waltons? ›
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.
Did Ben and Cindy Walton marry in real life? ›
The actors playing Ben and Cindy Walton both happily married but still became inseparable. One of the earliest appearances of Cindy Brunson Walton comes in one of the most emotional episodes of The Waltons, an episode called "Founders' Day."
Why did Curt leave The Waltons? ›
Dr. Curtis Willard (Curt)
Curt comes to the community to replace Dr. Vance, and quickly falls in love with Mary Ellen and marries her. Curt leaves the town when called up to service in the years preceding World War 2.
What happened to the little boy who played John Curtis on The Waltons? ›
It seems that after The Waltons, the twins went back to normal life and never acted again, which Norton said was basically all the twins were hired to do on the show anyway. "I think it says a lot about the energy that we all had for real working with the young twins who played John Curtis," Norton said.
Did Earl Hamner grow up in Virginia? ›
Earl Hamner was born and raised in Schuyler, Virginia. He was one of eight children and the son of a stone quarry worker. Although they were poor, education was extremely important in their family.
What happened to Mary Ellen's baby on The Waltons? ›
S6 E7: As Mary Ellen's baby comes due, one of her friends' baby is born prematurely and stillborn. Out of grief, she torments Mary Ellen with talk of bad omens and portents about Mary Ellen's baby. Jason gets a job at the burlesque theater. Mary Ellen gives birth, but a grieving neighbor steals the baby.
What happened to Ben and Cindy's little girl Virginia 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.
Did Ben and Cindy Walton have a baby? ›
In "A Day For Thanks on Walton's Mountain" in 1982, Ben and Cindy had two children, Virginia and Charlie. Cindy was pregnant with Charlie in "A Wedding on Walton's Mountain".
Who did Erin Walton marry? ›
Erin's marriage to lumberman Paul Northridge (Morgan Stevens) is threatened by the arrival of her former beau (Louis Welch). Mary Beth McDonough, Ralph Waite, Ellen Corby, Jason: Jon Walmsley.
The romance was threatened when Curt was discovered not to have died after all, but the two decided their marriage had ended and divorced. The series ended in 1981, but Mary Ellen married Jonesy in a made-for-TV movie in 1982.
Why did Ralph Waite leave The Waltons? ›
It is important to note that Ralph Waite's departure from the show was not due to termination. Instead, it was a result of budgetary reasons and a desire to appeal to a younger audience.
Does Mary Ellen Walton have a baby? ›
She is further disturbed when Mrs Brimmer starts to read tea leaves at the Baldwin's baby shower, when she suddenly stops and tells her audience that nothing was revealed. Mary Ellen soon goes into labor, at home, and after a very difficult labor, her son John Curtis Willard, is born.
Where was The Waltons filmed? ›
As of July 2023, the Waltons Columbia Ranch site has been built over with sound stages. For the first few seasons, the show would oftentimes shoot exterior scenes in Frazier Park, 70 miles (110 km) to the north of Los Angeles. They would also occasionally film scenes in Franklin Canyon Park in Beverly Hills.
What is Richard Thomas doing now? ›
Richard Thomas is best known for playing John-Boy on the '70s drama series The Waltons. Now, the Emmy-winning actor is taking on literature's best known lawyer, Atticus Finch, in the touring production of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, adapted for the stage by Aaron Sorkin.
Who passed away from The Waltons? ›
Unfortunately, this classic TV status means that some of the cast members are no longer with us, as Ralph Waite (John Walton Sr.), Will Geer (Zebulon "Grandpa" Walton), Ellen Corby (Esther "Grandma" Walton), Joe Conley (Ike Godsey), and Ronnie Claire Edwards (Corabeth Walton Godsey) have since passed away.
What did Ralph Waite pass away from? ›
Served in the United States Marine Corps. He was physically healthy and active until contracting pneumonia, which caused his death at age 85. His problems with alcohol began when his 9-year-old daughter, Sharon, passed away.
Was The Waltons really filmed in Virginia? ›
The TV series The Waltons tells the story of a family from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia during the 1930s and 1940s. Warner Bros. Studios' rear lot served as The Waltons' primary film set, but additional scenes came to life around other locations in California and Virginia.
