Richard Thomas is a doting dad to seven kids, three of whom are his triplet daughters. Interestingly, this is the same number of children that his beloved character John-Boy’s family had in a popular 70s classic. Insights into the now-73-year-old actor’s family life have been revealed, including the fact that his triplet daughters came as a surprise.
Hollywood icon Richard Thomas, best known for his role as John-Boy Walton in the revered series “The Waltons,” has achieved quite an illustrious career, having racked up over six decades of experience in the entertainment industry.
At 73 years old, Richard enjoys a full life with the family he has built with his wife, Georgiana Bischoff. The patriarch has a total of seven kids, three of whom are triplets, whose births were unexpected, as their parents anticipated only having two of them.
Richard Thomas, Montana James Thomas, and Georgiana Bischoff at Damrosch Park in New York City on October 23, 2011 | Source: Getty Images
Richard, who has been married twice, never expected to build such a large family, which is eerily similar to the on-screen family he was a part of, where he played the eldest of seven. The “Ozark” actor’s first four children were welcomed during his first marriage to Alma Gonzales.
A portrait of the cast of “The Waltons,” including Richard Thomas on January 1, 1977. | Source: Getty Images
After his divorce from Alma in 1993, he tied the knot again with Georgiana Bischoff, whom he has been married to since 1994. The couple share one son, Montana James Thomas, and Georgiana has two daughters, Kendra and Brooke, who stem from her past marriages, but who Richard considers his own.
Now, all of his kids are grown up, with his youngest, Montana, being in his mid-20s. According to Montana’s Instagram, the 27-year-old is a creative, who dabbles in poetry.
Speaking on raising his kids, Richard noted that it was not easy blending seven kids, sharing that it caused tension between him and Georgiana initially, but they managed to pull through. One comment he made about his kids involved joking about how, although his big family wasn’t planned, he said that seven might just be his lucky number.
Georgiana Bischoff and Richard Thomas at the opening night of the play “My Name Is Lucy Barton” on Broadway in New York City on January 15, 2020 | Source: Getty Images
The Unexpected Birth of Richard Thomas’s Triplet Daughters
Richard welcomed his triplet daughters in 1981, and their birth came as a surprise because the actor and his then-wife, Alma, were confident that they would only have twins. Their confidence was based on the fact that twins ran on both sides of their family, and when Alma did her sonogram at seven months, doctors had confirmed the babies were twins.
Alma Gonzalez and Richard Thomas at the 35th Annual Tony Awards in New York City on June 7, 1981 | Source: Getty Images
However, they were in for a surprise during delivery. Richard remembered being called by his wife, who only had a few words, indicating that the babies were three instead of two. At the time, he was away from home, filming in New York, but, being the doting dad he is, he dropped everything for the sake of his girls.
Richard Thomas and Alma Gonzales at an event in Los Angeles, California circa 1980. | Source: Getty Images
After informing his stage manager of his predicament, he headed off to be with his wife for the births. Doctors performed a cesarean section and successfully welcomed the triplet girls.
Richard Thomas, Alma Gonzales and their triplets, Barbara Ayalla, Gwyneth Gonzalez, and Pilar Alma Thomas at ‘Pavarotti & Friends’ on March 29, 1982. | Source: Getty Images
Following their arrival, the girls were given the monikers, John Girl I, John Girl II, and John Girl III, by Richards fans until he announced their beautiful names, Barbara Ayalla, Gwyneth Gonzalez, and Pilar Alma Thomas.
Richard Thomas with his triplets, Barbara Ayalla, Gwyneth Gonzalez, and Pilar Alma Thomas at ‘Pavarotti & Friends’ on March 29, 1982. | Source: Getty Images
After they were born, Richard opened up about how his eldest son, Richard Francisco Thomas Jr., who was five at the time, fawned over his baby sisters. However, according to his father, initially, little Richard was not too fond of the idea of having a baby sibling.
Richard Thomas at the opening night of “My Name Is Lucy Barton” at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York City on January 15, 2020 | Source: Getty Images
Richard Thomas’s Life after Becoming a Dad of Seven
Though unexpectedly big, Richard wouldn’t have his family in any other way and is grateful for how things turned out for him. After getting over his initial shock at learning he would be a father of seven years ago, he is now able to joke about the amount of kids he has.
Richard Thomas, Montana James Thomas, Georgiana Bischoff and one of his daughters at the Hallmark Channel TCA Party in 2006. | Source: Getty Images
He once joked that he felt like he was living in a nursery home after his ex-wife gave birth to triplets, and said there was no way to prepare for the reality of it. Richard’s family also means everything to him and he has made it clear that they are his top priority.
Richard Thomas, Montana James Thomas and Georgiana Bischoff during the party for the opening night performance of “Twelve Angry Men” in Los Angeles, California on March 29, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
Richard Thomas even previously said that if he was to be hired for another role in his career, people would have to accept that he and his family are a package deal, so they would be coming with him.
