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Richard Thomas

Richard Thomas

Actor, also producer · Born June 13, 1951 (75) · New York City, New York, USA

Richard Earl Thomas, an American actor, was born on June 13, 1951 in Manhattan, the son of Barbara (née Fallis) and Richard S. Thomas. His parents were dancers with the New York City Ballet and owned the New York School of Ballet. Richard has a younger brother Bronwyn Thomas. He attended The Allen Stevenson School and the McBurney School in Manhattan. Thomas was seven when he made his Broadway debut in Sunrise at Campobello (1958) playing John Roosevelt, son of future U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is best known as budding author John-Boy Walton in the CBS drama The Waltons. During his career, Thomas won an Emmy Award, and received nominations for another Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 13, 1951 (75)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
75 on MovieCove · 113 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

What are Richard Thomas' films like?

Across their 45 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Drama22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Survival
26%
Self
18%
Morality
12%
Society
10%
Power
3%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds22 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival11 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief8 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 42 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 7 · Dark 18

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 38 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 15 · Charged 11 · Intense 16

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 23 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 32 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 22 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 21 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 10 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 18

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 37 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

34 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 16 of 34 analyzed roles.

Hero
16 of 34
Ally
6 of 34
Shadow
5 of 34
Mentor
3 of 34
Shapeshifter
2 of 34
Herald
1 of 34
Threshold guardian
1 of 34
Show the 34 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Warm
17
Melancholic
21
Hopeful
18
Dread
11
Other
28

How their films linger

Hopeful26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet24
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Richard Thomas' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 49 of their 75 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Richard Thomas' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

113 credits, 75 with a MovieCove page; 18 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Unforgivable(2021)

    as Michael Malcolm

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Christmas vs. The Walters(2021)

    as Roger

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Ice Road(2021)

    Stunts

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Comey Rule(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Chuck Rosenberg

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Price for Silence(2018)

    as Richard Davenport

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Ozark(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Nathan Davis

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Conviction(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Earl Slavitt

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Billions(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sanford Bensinger

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Anesthesia(2015)

    as Mr. Werth

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • NCIS: New Orleans(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ezra Van Cleef

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago P.D.(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Ames

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as David Foy

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Americans(2013)

    Show 42 episodes · as Frank Gaad

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Pershing's Last Patriot(2013)

    as Introduction

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitch Barrett

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Music Teacher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Ray

  • Time After Time(2011)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Walters

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Rizzoli & Isles(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Prof. Dwayne Kravitz

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • White Collar(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as William Wolcott

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Pratt

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Taking Woodstock(2009)

    as Don

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Lazarus Project(2008)

    as Cop #2

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard Cottrell

  • Wild Hearts(2006)

    as Bob

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Tornado: Margo Jones and the American Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Tennessee Williams

  • Annie's Point(2005)

    as Richard Eason

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Century City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Brezak

  • Anna's Dream(2002)

    as Rod Morgan

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Just Cause (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 22 episodes · Actor

  • Wishmaster 4: The Prophecy Fulfilled(2002)

    Stunt Double

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Prairie, Part 2: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder Continues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Charles Ingalls

  • The Miracle of the Cards(2001)

    as Dr. Neal Kassell

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Secret(2000)

    as Jerry McNeil

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Wonder Boys(2000)

    as Walter Gaskell

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • In the Name of the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Jack Murphy

  • The Million Dollar Kid(2000)

    as Ted Hunter

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • For All Time(2000)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Daniel Varney · as Nat Randolph

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Charles Ingalls

  • Big and Hairy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Victor Dewlap

  • It's a Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 28 episodes · Actor

  • The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson(1998)

    Show 30 episodes · as David Robinson

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • A Thousand Men and a Baby(1997)

    as Dr. Hugh Bud Keenan

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Flood: A River's Rampage(1997)

    as Herb Dellenbach

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • A Walton Easter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as John-Boy Walton

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter 'The Hummer' Arens

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Riding the Rails(1997)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Timepiece (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Richard Evans

  • What Love Sees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Gordon Holly

  • Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Greene

  • The Christmas Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Richard Evans

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jerry Thayer

  • The Invaders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jerry Thayer

  • Down, Out & Dangerous(1995)

    as Tim Willows

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Stephen Ledbetter

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • A Walton Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as John-Boy Walton

  • Death in Small Doses(1995)

    as Richard Lyon

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as Joe Greene

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • To Save the Children(1994)

    as David Young

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion(1993)

    as John-Boy Walton

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Linda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Paul Cowley

  • Precious Victims (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Don Weber

  • Dave's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Thomas

  • Stalking Laura(1993)

    as Richard Farley

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Lincoln (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as John Hay (voice)

  • Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232(1992)

    as Gary Brown

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus(1991)

    as James O'Hanlan

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis(1991)

    as Lieutenant Steven Scott

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • IT(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bill Denbrough

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Common Ground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Colin Diver

  • Andre's Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Cal

  • The Easter Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Mark (voice)

  • Glory! Glory! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Rev. Bobby Joe

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Trask

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Go Toward the Light(1988)

    as Greg Madison

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • American Experience(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Final Jeopardy(1985)

    as Marty Campbell

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Master of Ballantrae(1984)

    as Henry Durie

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Hobson's Choice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Will Mossup

  • Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story(1983)

    Executive Producer · as Hank Williams, Jr.

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Johnny Belinda(1982)

    as William Richmond

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Fifth of July (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Kenneth Talley Jr.

  • Nature(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Barefoot In the Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Paul Bratter

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Cal Porter · as Kenneth Talley Jr.

  • Berlin Tunnel 21(1981)

    as Sandy Mueller

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • To Find My Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as David Benjamin

  • Battle Beyond the Stars(1980)

    as Shad

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • All Quiet on the Western Front(1979)

    as Paul Bäumer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • No Other Love(1979)

    as Andrew Madison

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Roots: The Next Generations(1979)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jim Warner

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Getting Married(1978)

    as Michael Carboni

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • September 30, 1955(1977)

    as Jimmy J.

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Cadet James Pelosi

  • The Red Badge of Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Pvt. Henry Fleming

  • You'll Like My Mother(1972)

    as Kenny

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 120 episodes · Director · as John Walton Jr.

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Homecoming: A Christmas Story(1971)

    as John-Boy Walton

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Cactus in the Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Harley MacIntosh

  • The Todd Killings(1971)

    as Billy Roy

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Red Sky at Morning(1971)

    as Joshua Arnold

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Ian Evans

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Dennis Alan Graham

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Last Summer(1969)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Winning(1969)

    as Charley Capua

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as John 'Chill' Chilton

  • Give Us Barabbas! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Junge

  • A Doll's House(1959)

    as Ivor

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Christmas Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Joey

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Durie · as Ivor · as Joey · as Paul Baumer · as The Boy

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 111 titles from 1951 to 2021; peak year 2021.

Biggest box office

Wonder Boys (2000)

$33M worldwide

Highest rated

The Americans (2013)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19512021

Peak 2021 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting109 of 111: 107 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thDirecting1 of 111: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 111: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 111: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s4 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s14 · 14 acting · 1 crew1980s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew1990s36 · acting2000s18 · 17 acting · 1 crew2010s14 · acting2020s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 27% of 11 roles
6989

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Richard Thomas' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 47; across their 41 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Reach · how many have seen their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Midcredits score across 75 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up35
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 75 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed26

Most divisive · actor

Christmas vs. The Walters (2021)

96th percentile spread · 41% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Ozark (2017)

Midcredits 98th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 38 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Richard Thomas' work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles42–74 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles14–64 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles34–67 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles31–58 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles32–78 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Richard Thomas work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard Thomas' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Dennis Christopher shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles