Ralph Waite, Richard Thomas, and Michael Learned, 1974 | Richard Thomas, 1970 | Source: Getty Images
- Richard Thomas, aka John-Boy from "The Waltons," "never imagined" getting married again after his divorce brought him to his knees.
- However, he fell for his second wife, with whom he has a son who looks just like him and loves to wear women's clothes.
- The father of seven spoke out about his secrets to raising good children.
Richard Thomas Sr., also known as (aka) John-Boy Walton from "The Waltons," was a proud father of seven children in April 2023. In 1993, the actor initially met the woman who would be his first wife and the mother of his first group of children, Alma Gonzales.
The couple, who later divorced, welcomed four children, Richard Jr. and their triplets, Pilar, Gweneth, and Barbara, before going their separate ways after 18 years of marriage. Soon after "The Miracle of Cards" actor and the art dealer divorced, he started dating his current and second wife, Georgiana Bischoff.
Ralph Waite as John Walton and Richard Thomas as John-Boy Walton in "The Waltons" in 1974 | Source: Getty Images
Less than a year after they'd started seeing each other, "The Unforgivable" actor and Georgiana married on November 20, 1994. The couple exchanged vows in front of almost 50 close friends and family, including the "The Price of Silence" star's oldest son, who served as his best man.
The "Homecoming: A Christmas Story" actor's triplets and his new bride's daughters from her previous marriage all served as bridesmaids at their wedding. Since the couple had both been married before, they "never imagined" tying the knot again.
Richard Thomas as John-Boy Walton in the initial broadcast of "The Homecoming, A Christmas Story" on CBS on December 19, 1971 | Source: Getty Images
However, they happened to meet at the right time, with Georgiana confessing that when the passion between them came, "it was great." Part of the reason Richard Sr. never envisioned marrying again was that his first divorce nearly broke him.
Alma and Richard Thomas at the 35th Annual Tony Awards on June 7, 1981, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
In 2005, it was suggested that the actor lived a "charmed life," and he agreed that he'd always felt that way about his career in show business. However, he admitted that at some point, life brought him to his "knees" and that was when he experienced his "painful divorce" that wasn't his idea.
Richard Thomas and his children appearing on Walt Disney Television special "Pavarotti & Friends," on March 29, 1982 | Source: Getty Images
The celebrity revealed that because of that horrible experience, he was dragged screaming and kicking into a happier life by his second wife. In addition to Georgiana's two children, whom Richard Sr. welcomed and took in as his own, the couple also welcomed a son, Montana.
Richard Thomas in a family photo for a Hallmark Channel TCA Party on July 12, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
Along with his current wife, the celebrity, who's continued acting over the years, formed a "blended family" of seven children despite two of them not being his own. By 2023, the "Pennywise: The Story of It" actor's son was all grown up and looked much like his father's copy.
How Does Richard's Son Look Like Now, and Who Is He?
In April 2023, Richard Sr.'s son, Montana, whose career wasn't openly evident from his social media posts, shared an Instagram Story photo of himself where he sported a mustache. The resemblance between him and his father was uncanny; however, their physical similarities seemed to end there.
Montana Thomas posing in an April 2023 Instagram Story photo | Source: Instagram Story/notmontanajamesthomas
Unlike his father, Montana appeared to be a fashionista who loved wearing clothes that were meant for women. In September 2016, he uploaded an Instagram photo of himself wearing a two-piece outfit which consisted of a crop top, wide-leg pants, and black open-toe heels.
The following month he appeared in a blonde wig, a black and white cowboy hat, lipstick, what looked like a handbag that matched the hat, and manicured and nail polished nails. In June 2018, he posed in a feminine top and red lipstick while taking a bathroom selfie.
While Montana hasn't come out as anything, in May 2018, he uploaded an Instagram photo of himself carrying and kissing another young man. In October of that year, he seemed to hint at something as he celebrated National Coming Out Day by sharing a photo of himself as a child playing with a pink playset.
Besides posting images of himself and hardly any of "The Waltons Thanksgiving Reunion" star, in April 2021, Montana celebrated his mother's birthday by sharing a picture of her on his Instagram. In the post, he wished Georgiana a happy birthday.
Richard [Thomas] Sr. spoke from experience, having spent three years getting his tertiary education at Columbia University.
He also uploaded a throwback Wednesday photo of him posing with his mother while out on a date with a caption written, "Love you." The duo seemed quite close, and she looked proud of the child she'd raised with Richard Sr. as he leaned in on her while wearing a sheer white feminine top.
How Did Richard Raise His Children?
In 2020, Richard Sr. was asked about the secret to his long-lasting marriage to Georgiana. The "Earl Hamner Storyteller" actor confessed that he'd married a straightforward person who was also honest, so he always knew where he stood with her.
Richard Thomas with his son Montana and wife Georgiana during the party for the opening night performance of "Twelve Angry Men" on March 29, 2007, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
He also revealed that they shared trust and had lots of fun together. The "Final Jeopardy" star said blending their six children with their only child was a big task that came with challenges and caused tension, adding:
"We've been able to weather every storm and those complicated parts of life."
Georgiana Bischoff and her husband Richard Thomas pose at the opening night of the new play "My Name Is Lucy Barton" on Broadway on January 15, 2020, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Luciano Pavarotti, Richard Thomas, and his children appearing on Disney General Entertainment Content's special "Pavarotti & Friends," on March 29, 1982 | Source: Getty Images
However, the couple could handle all the complications and even survived the COVID-19 pandemic as a unit! What Richard Sr. had learned about parenting seven children, who were all adults now, was not to try to make them be like him.
Richard Thomas and his son Montana James Thomas at "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess" Broadway opening night on January 12, 2012, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
The star advocated for leaving children alone to "be free" to grow into themselves. He said his words weren't new wisdom, but they tried practicing it, and although it was necessary, it was easier said than done.
Georgiana's husband once confessed that blending a family that significant was like doing postgraduate work for people who'd failed the course. Richard Sr. spoke from experience, having spent three years getting his tertiary education at Columbia University.
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