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) October 18, 2020
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) October 18, 2020
What is the most comforting show or move you can think of? Thanks.
— Indie Jen Fischer (@IndieJenFischer) October 17, 2020
The Waltons we find to be such.
— R.A. Contreras, M.A. 🖋 (@commgrad71) October 17, 2020
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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.
What happened to Mary Ellen's husband on The Waltons? ›
In season seven, Mary Ellen receives a telegram notifying her that Curt has been killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, but in season nine she learns he is still alive, using an assumed name.
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."
How much of The Waltons is true? ›
In addition to his own experiences, Hamner based the characters on his family. MeTV reported, “According to a 1973 interview with Detroit Free Press, Hamner said each of The Waltons' family members was based on the real Hamner household in Virginia.”
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.
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.
Does Erin Walton Get married? ›
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 .
Are Jon Walmsley and Lisa Harrison still married? ›
She is an actress and producer, known for Superman Returns (2006), Kidnapped and The Waltons (1972). She was previously married to Jon Walmsley.
What did Ralph Waite pass away from? ›
Death. On February 13, 2014, Waite died in Palm Desert, California, of natural causes at age 85. He is buried in White Plains Rural Cemetery in New York.
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". In "Reunion" they were still mourning the death of Virginia...with no mention of Charlie at all!
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.
What disease did Olivia Walton have? ›
After the seventh season she left the show. Her character's abrupt disappearance in Season 7 was explained by Olivia developing tuberculosis and entering a sanatorium in Arizona. She returned in Season 8 and later appeared in four of the six Waltons reunion movies made during the 1980s and 1990s.
How many children were in Earl Hamners family? ›
Hamner was born July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Virginia, to Doris Marion (née Giannini) and Earl Henry Hamner Sr. The oldest of eight children, Hamner had four brothers and three sisters. The other boys, from youngest to next-oldest, were James Edmund, Willard Harold, Paul Louis, and Clifton Anderson.
Were the Baldwin sisters real? ›
The Baldwin Sisters, for example - those mischievous ladies who liked to nip from a bottle hidden in a purse - were taken from real life. In Schuyler, they were really a mother and a daughter whose fondness for their own homemade ``recipe'' - moonshine - was well known.
Was The Waltons filmed in a real house? ›
The house used in filming The Waltons was a set, built on the studio lot for the show.
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.
Why did Erin and Paul divorce on The Waltons? ›
It was mentioned that she died, but no one said why. Also Cindy and Ben had a son, the last 2 movies made no mention of him. It was sad to see Erin and Mary Ellen as single mothers. Erin's husband cheated on her and they divorced.
Why did Henry Thomas leave The Waltons? ›
Thomas didn't intend to play John-Boy forever.
Fans of The Waltons were lucky enough to watch John-Boy Walton grow into a mature young man. But once he was an adult, it was time for John-Boy to move on to bigger and better things.
