Three years later, he joined the cast of "The Waltons" as Jason, the second oldest son in the family. Judy Norton also touched on the fact that The Waltons killed off Curt; he was sent to Pearl Harbor and supposedly died there, but later washed up on the shore, alive. "We've just now returned from the 45th Anniversary reunion of the Waltons and the 1 year anniversary of Waltons creator, Earl Hamner's passing, which was held in Earl's home town of Schuyler, Virginia. Hes also been the founder of three legitimate theatre companies including the MET Theatre, which included such associates as James Gammon, Tim Scott, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Holly Hunter, and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Beth Henley. "And he was one of the most uncompromisingly honest men and actors I've ever known a great example for a young performer. Tom Bower spoke about their dynamic on The Waltons in conversation with Judy Norton. Ralph, who had a reputation as a serious stage actor with no great love for children when the series debuted, probably experienced the biggest life change after. She has also served asthe Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Environmental Charter Schools. On her channel, she is going in-depth and reviews each episode of the original program. Arrives at the Walton home and wakes up Erin at 3am to take her out for a drive. Michael Learned, who began her career on stage and television, left "The Waltons" at the end of the seventh season her character's absence was attributed to health concerns though she reprised Olivia for several "Waltons" reunion TV movies. Tom, at the ripe old age of 17, wasn't quite ready to take the city and Broadway by storm, but he was about to have a real adventure starting off with his enrollment at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. ANSWER: Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) married Dr. Curtis Willard in the 1977 season, and they had a baby. Then Curt was killed at Pearl Harbor in the 1978 season, and Mary Ellen found new love with Arlington Wescott Jonesy Jones (Richard Gililand) while taking premed courses. During that time, he got divorced, and later married his true love Ursula, with whom he is now celebrating 47 years of wedded bliss. Life goes on". It looks like nothing was found at this location. In the lead-up to its release, some members of the old cast were urging audiences to give the new TV movie a chance, Fox News reported. Mary Ellen marries Dr. Curtis Willard and they have 1 child, John Curtis, before he is lost and presumed dead after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Character actor Tom Bower played what was arguably one of the most scandalous personas on "The Waltons": Dr. Curtis Willard, who captured the heart of eldest Walton daughter Mary Ellen . Meanwhile, the Baldwin sisters are disappointed when no one accepts their invitations to a reunion, prompting the Waltons to track down people to come to their celebration. Again, he said he wanted more money to do it & they passed on him & brought in another actor for the . Still going strong, Tom just completed filming "Light of My Life", a movie written, directed and starred in by Academy Award winner Casey Affleck. The two balanced each other out. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Among them was Richard Thomas, 70, who narrated the new TV movie and starred in The Waltons as John Boy. When he hired Mary Ellen as his nurse, she made sure to soften his edges a bit. For her role as Ma Walton, Michael Learned earned four Golden Globe nominations and . A dedicated activist, Geer toured the United States with folk singers Woody Guthrie and Burl Ives, even recording an album with Guthrie in 1956. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Ashley Longworth Jr. The couple divorced, and Mary Ellen married an old flame in the second reunion movie. Corby worked steadily in features and television throughout the 1950s and 1960s, netting appearances in Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" and on dozens of series, including "The Andy Griffith Show" (as hubcab thief Mrs. Lesh), "I Love Lucy," "The Addams Family" (as Lurch's mother) and even "Batman.". Throughout the series, we see her grow from a very young child into a young woman. "I probably had to come back three or four times. Meet the Talented Emerging Artists You Should Be Listening to All Summer Long. He would remain a small screen favorite for the next two decades, thanks to series like "Hooperman," "Hearts Afire" (which netted him an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination) and "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter." Waltons in Star Hollow. Conley also made occasional appearances outside the "Waltons" universe, most notably in "Cast Away" in 2000. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In recent years, Thomas has remained busy with recurring roles on "The Americans," "Billions," and "NCIS: New Orleans." This was because of how he was written because Norton's character was so difficult to be within the long-term. Bower who also played a stunt pilot on "The Waltons" before signing on as Dr.Willard has been a familiar face to TV viewers since the early 1970s. Holding down the general store, post office, and auto repair shop on Walton's Mountain was good-natured Ike Godsey, played by veteran character actor Joe Conley. He has appeared in a wide variety of television and film roles, including Die Hard 2 and The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Far worst of all, the fever had settled in Marys eyes and Mary was blind.. Mary-Ellen finds out this is true and visits curt in Florida and comes to the realization that she and curt could never be in love again and that he did not want anything do with Mary-Ellen or their son again, and so she and Curt arrange a divorce. I did have quite an extensive audition period, Bower recalled. Cotler appeared in a handful of projects prior to "The Waltons," including a short-lived sitcom called "Me and the Chimp" which paired Ted Bessell from "That Girl" with a chimpanzee. Mary Ellen finds him after the war a bitterly changed man living in Florida. Because all of you had been together for a while. She died at the age of 89 from complications of heart failure on February 5, 2011. 5 Who is dr.curtis Willard in the Waltons? Veteran actor and activist Will Geer played the Walton family patriarch, Zebulon Tyler Walton (a.k.a. Mary Ellen decides to then study to become a doctor and she delivers 2 of Jasons children. It seems Richard Thomas simply left The Waltons more than 40 years ago to pursue other interests, as there have been no records of any sort of falling out he had with the show or the network. She also wrote several plays, as well as an autobiography and cookbook. Ellen Corby, who played Grandma Esther Walton, was the only adult actor to appear in both "The Homecoming" and the "Waltons" series. John and Olivia Walton had 8 children: John-Boy, Jason, Mary Ellen, Ben, Erin, twins Jim-Bob and Joseph (who died at birth), And Elizabeth. Ritter fell ill on the set of "8 Simple Rules" and was rushed to a hospital in Burbank, California. From the time (John-Curtis) was a toddler, we had Michael and Marshall Reed who were with us all the way through the nine seasons, Judy Norton shared on YouTube. Hayden Rorke (Colonel Coleman) 1987 age 76 of Cancer in Toluca Lake, CA. It was written that way [] It really went against type, and it went against clich.. Indeed, Waite's honest portrayal struck a chord with audiences around the world, and left a big impression on actor Richard Thomas, who played eldest son John-Boy on the series. He first appears in the two-part Season 3 episode "The Conflict," where he enflames already heated tensions between mountain folk and the government over a road project. He was a kind and funny man with a great social consciousness and a big heart," Thomas tells PEOPLE. A staple of Western-related events for the next decade, he died at the age of 93 at his home in Paso Robles, California, on February 22, 2019. This was because of how he was written because Nortons character was so difficult to be within the long-term. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. [1] He appeared in Chris Chan Lee 's 2006 film Undoing. ANSWER: Mary Ellen (Judy Norton-Taylor) married Dr. Curtis Willard in the 1977 season, and they had a baby. Eventually she remarries Arlington Westcott Jones Jonesy and together they have 2 children, Clay and Katie. Walmsley also worked extensively as a session musician for multiple television series, playing tracks featured on programs like "7th Heaven" (on which he also guest-appeared as a band member), "Beverly Hills 90210" and "The Secret Life of the American Teenager.". In her early years, she traveled with a carnival throughout her native Oklahoma as a knife thrower's assistant and also performed at mining camps. David W. Harper (Jim-Bob): After quitting acting and working a series of odd jobs including working for Scott's messenger company, he's returning to school to study business and history. Boone returns in Season 7's "The Moonshiner," in which Jason defends him after an arrest for making illegal liquor. After earning an Emmy Award and Golden Globe nomination for his performance on the series, Thomas worked steadily on television, including the TV movies and miniseries "The Red Badge of Courage," "Roots: The Next Generation," and the 1990 version of "It.". Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The episode "The Wedding" introduced him, and he and Mary Ellen married that same episode. The Waltons Star Tom Bower Called Joining the Cast Intimidating, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN80uB7j6MU, The Waltons Behind the Scenes With Guest Tom Bower (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN80uB7j6MU). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Also home of the Waltons Museum. 7. Id be eating a bushel of potatoes before the episode was through., So that was a great lesson, and there were a number of other things that were quite a teaching benefit, Bower added. She concluded, But I remember at some point in later years, an interview was done with Earl Hamner who created the show. All four Walton boys serve in the military as does Mary Ellen's husband. Edwards's acting career began on the New York stage in the early 1960s; television and films, including "The Waltons" and a recurring stint on "Designing Women," followed from the 1970s through the early 2000s. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Drama Family Romance Mary Ellen tracks down her husband, Curt, who was presumed dead after Pearl Harbor. He has no intention of returning to his family due to injuries he acquired in Pearl Harbor. Learned's Olivia was patient and gentle where her husband John could be tough, but she was also firm with her seven children and, when necessary, her neighbors on Walton's Mountain. Education instead became her primary interest. Fans were upset and wondered at the time why he suddenly left the program and this is what Bower revealed to be the reason why. In it, The Waltons star Tom Bower said that Curt was killed off after he asked for a raise. During the course of the film, it was revealed that it . Where was the Dayton peace agreement signed? Mary Ellen finds him after the war a bitterly changed man living in Florida. Cotler's interest in acting waned; as she said in a 2017 interview,"Most of the things I auditioned for were not well written, and I wasn't terribly eager to get those jobs.". Tom Bower grew up in Denver, Colorado, and thought he would have a career as an athlete, having played varsity baseball, basketball, golf, ran track, and just assumed a professional career would follow. Here's what the rest of The Waltons cast has been up to: Michael Learned (Olivia Walton): Toured with a stage production of Driving Miss Daisy and appeared in the independent film Afterlife. He made his Broadway debut in the 1960 production of "Marathon '33," and his feature film debut in "Cool Hand Luke" (opposite future "Waltons" guest star Morgan Woodward) in 1967. Virginia Walton was only ever depicted on screen as a baby (in the shows final two seasons) and a toddler in the 1982 reunion special Mothers Day on Waltons Mountain. Ralph was a little upset with me, said Bower, that I had become a little better groomed [] I had gotten a haircut, whereas in The Wedding it was a little bit tousled, and a little rugged in appearance. Richard Thomas played John-Boy in Seasons 1 through 6 of the series and three TV movie reunions of "The Waltons"; he was replaced in the role for Seasons 8 and 9 by actor Robert Wightman. Tom, at the ripe old age of 17, wasn't quite ready to take the city and Broadway by storm, but he was about to have a real adventure starting off with his enrollment at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. 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. So this was a way of really bringing it home [] these were things that would impact and show the effect in the community and on the family of the war.. Tom Bower grew up in Denver, Colorado, and thought he would have a career as an athlete, having played varsity baseball, basketball, golf, ran track, and just assumed a professional career would follow. After relocating from his native England to the United States, actor/musician Jon Walmsley worked as a voice-over performer, most notably as the voice of Christopher Robin in the Oscar-winning animated Disney featurette "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" in 1969. But, Judy Norton mentions that sending Curt to Pearl Harbor really brought the war home for the Walton family. The role gave Walmsey the opportunity to showcase his talents as both a musician and songwriter in numerous episodes. Case in point: Zeb's cousin, Boone Walton (played by Morgan Woodward), a loud-mouthed cuss who seemed to attract trouble like a magnet. In the show, Jonesy is the husband of Mary-Ellen Walton and a stepfather to John-Curtis Willard. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Tragedy appeared to strike in Season 7 when Curtis is declared a casualty during the attack on Pearl Harbor, but Mary Ellen discovered in Season 9 that her husband was still alive but deeply traumatized from his war experiences. | After Meeting Dr. Spencer, and quickly becoming Engaged to Marry, Mary Ellen started a job working for Dr. Curtis Willard, a new to town and Mysterious, sharply edged Doctor. How do you win an academic integrity case? Self - Narrator. According to a report in Distractify, one of the most popular theories about Virginia's demise claims that the young girl died by drowning. Why did Curtis Willard leave the Waltons? The Waltons: Tom Bower Says Curt Was Killed Off After He Asked For a Raise, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN80uB7j6MU&ab_channel=JudyNorton, The Waltons Behind the Scenes With Guest Tom Bower (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN80uB7j6MU&ab_channel=JudyNorton). Bower played Curtis Willard, the doctor who came to Walton's Mountain in season 5 of the show. Some 166 feature films and television shows later along with 87 or so theatrical productions behind him, Tom now splits his time between acting and producing. Im just happy that our show is in that category. Erin quits Pickett Metal Products when Jonesy is hired to replace her. She was later a guest star on series like "ER" and "The West Wing," while also reprising Erin for the "Waltons" reunion movies. 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of "TheHomecoming: A Christmas Story," which introduced television audiences to the Waltons, a large family living in Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains during the Great Depression. As Olivia Daly Walton, Michael Learned oversaw her sprawling extended family for six seasons, during which she netted six Emmy nominations (winning three), and four Golden Globe Awards. Tom BowerThe Waltons And he explained a principle that will be familiar to fans of the CBS drama Blue Bloods, with its epic family dinner scenes. Richard Thomas (John-Boy): Plays Frank Gaad on the FX drama The Americans. What happened at the end of the book A Child Called It? He didnt sugarcoat anything to make people feel better. However, fans came to know that she had died at the age of 17, int he fourth TV film, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion. Every 'Bachelor' and 'Bachelorette' Couple: Where Are They Now? I dont remember specifically. What happened to the mom and dad on the Waltons? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It does not store any personal data. My opinion is that The Waltons is a 50-year-old classic, said Thomas. Fans of the 1970s television drama The Waltons were saddened to learn of the passing of Ralph Waite on Thursday at age 85. Flossieskid's Corner. As the CW prepares a new version of "Homecoming" to celebrate the TV movie's semi-centennial, with a new cast tackling the iconic characters, now is a good time to look back and discover what happened to the original Waltons during and after their TV stardom. Judy Norton (Mary Ellen): Stars on the Canadian police series Bluff and wrote and stars in the indie film Finding Harmony. Curt is called to military service and is lost during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Waltons: Ralph Waite Didnt Like That Tom Bower Became Better Groomed in Season 2. "At . I think if I had to do it over again, I wouldve followed his advice.. She began her career on stage before moving into television in the 1950s; roles on "I Love Lucy" led to recurring appearances on "Gunsmoke," "All in the Family," and in 1979, a stint on "The Dukes of Hazzard" as Boss Hogg's wife, Lulu. Remembering the 59 Slain Victims of the Las Vegas Concert Massacre, 3 Years Later, Catching Up with the Cast of 'The Brady Bunch', Iconic Roles That Were 'Almost' Played by Someone Else. Tom Bower (born January 3, 1938 in Denver, Colorado) is an American actor. Waite earned an Emmy nomination for "The Waltons" and a second for "Roots" in 1977; he also directed numerous episodes of the series, which helped to pave the way for his feature directorial debut with the 1980 feature "On the Nickel." This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. John Ritter played the Reverend Fordwick from Seasons 1 through 5 of "The Waltons." Drew goes away to college. In addition to The Waltons, Waite appeared in Alex Haley's miniseries Roots, and had recurring roles on the soap opera Days of Our Lives and the hit CBS drama NCIS. Conley began acting as a child on radio, but paused his career for college and military service in the Korean War, during which he was wounded. It remains on the Warner . As the sisters thanked their guests for coming, the viewer can see that several unnamed guests have joined the crowd. In the show, Barker had a stuntwoman who walked the wings of the plane when it was in the air. Film work has afforded Tom and Urs the opportunity of travel to such far off places as China, Morocco, Poland, South Africa, Germany and oo-la-la, Paris, France, the U.K., Italy and Canada. For Tom Bower, who played Curt, Mary Ellens (Judy Norton) husband, on The Waltons, it wasnt easy joining the sprawling television clan. This was, of course, when another actor was cast as Curt. It reminded her of herself. Judy Norton said she was grateful that her character was allow to age in "The Waltons." "I was able to navigate those really awkward years while I was working on the series," she said. Mary Ingalls did indeed lose her sight when she was 14, in 1879. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Geer's career rebounded in the 1960s with a Tony nomination for the 1963 musical "110 in the Shade." The Waltons actor Tom Bower revealed a behind-the-scenes look into how he got cast on the long-running series. Enter Rose Burton, a cousin of Olivia's, who arrives on Walton's Mountain in need of a place to live with her children after fleeing an abusive husband. He gives her a ring and asks to marry her. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The couple marries and has a son, John, before Curtis joins the military. The character, played by actor/ventriloquist Edgar Bergen in the pilot TV movie, was a font of tall tales and homespun wisdom, like all good grandparents. Tom now splits his time between acting and producing. Deceased (19502021) What is wireless sensor networks with example? He also appeared in numerous stage productions, including runs on Broadway in "Fifth of July," David Mamet's "Race," and a 2017 production of "The Little Foxes," which earned him a Tony nomination. And I thought that, in terms of the show, it really brought the war home. Partial name or partial date of birth e.g. Curt was a bit of a rough doctor; he didnt care for his bedside manner, and gave it to people straight. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Bower played Curtis Willard, the doctor who came to Walton's Mountain in season 5 of the show. When the show ran its course after 25 episodes, Learned appeared in features like "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" and in recurring roles on "Scrubs" and several daytime soaps, including "General Hospital." By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. For nine seasons the actor played John Walton, Sr., a father of seven struggling to make ends meet during the Great Depression and World War II. Classics are eventually adapted, updated, remade and reexamined. And I hope the new version finds its audience as ours did in 1971. The episode The Wedding introduced him, and he and Mary Ellen married that same episode. Her combination of feistiness, warmth, and familial concern on the series earned her three Emmys and a Golden Globe, capping a long, diverse career in front of and behind the cameras in Hollywood. Think of it like getting a new step-parent, Norton said. He's also been the founder of three legitimate theatre companies including the MET Theatre, which included such associates as James Gammon, Tim Scott, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Holly Hunter, and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Beth Henley. | Why did the first curt leave the Waltons? However, he asked for the same small raise as he tells it. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Kami Cotler was cast as Elizabeth in "The Homecoming" and played her for the show's entire network run, as well as in six of the reunion TV movies. He did get very annoyed with her family being around though and I actually thought it would have been great to be around the family alot, IF the family was like the Waltons. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Tom Bower, Other Works However, Corabeth's personality quirks are the result of a long time spent in isolation while caring for her sickly parents; once on her own, it takes Corabeth a while to learn the rhythms of life on Walton's Mountain, but with the help of her family and especially husband Ike Godsey, she becomes a well-loved figure. Corby began acting in the late 1920s, though largely in bit and uncredited roles; she also worked as a script assistant during this period, until a supporting turn in the nostalgic "I Remember Mama" earned her an Oscar nomination in 1948. The character eventually found her way as an assistant plant manager at a defense company during World War II. McDonough who has also performed under the names Mary ElizabethMcDonough and Mary McDonough began her career as Erin Walton on "The Homecoming" and remained with "The Waltons" during its entire network run. Peggy Rea played Rose Burton in Seasons 8 and 9, as well as one TV movie. Why did the first curt leave the Waltons? Returning home to Denver each summer, Tom married his first wife and had a couple of kids. He joined the cast of "The Waltons" in 1975 and remained with the series until 1978, but also worked at a breathless clip before, during, and after his run on the program. Tom bower (born january 3, 1938, in denver, colorado) is an american actor. I think the hardest things to learn was what to do and what not to do when you had a big family dinner Would not get caught eating a lot of mashed potatoes. What happens to Curt and Mary Ellen in the Waltons? Bower is married to Veronica Wadley, Baroness Fleet, former editor of the London Evening Standard, and has four children. As mentioned before, Bowers appeared on The Waltons prior to becoming a series regular. From there, Fordwick adopts a more kind-hearted approach, which helps him meet and eventually marry Rosemary Hunter, the local schoolteacher. Conley was prepared to fall back on his second career when he was cast as Ike in 1972. Not to get into the cast and not to fit in once he got there. In fact, even though he left after five seasons, he returned with a few guest appearances in Season 6 and in a slew of 1990s movies adapted from the show. Whatever Happened To The Cast Of The Waltons? They suffered because their daughter and sister lost her husband, and it made the war very real for them. It was tough to talk to Curt. All Things Walton. It was a strong episode, I thought, said Norton, I thought it was a beautiful episode. When asked about what it was like to step into the cast, Bower explained: It was a little, a little intimidating because all of you had been together for a while, and you really had your drills down. Mary McDonough (Erin): Authored Lessons From the Mountain: What I Learned from Erin Walton . Drew later returns to Waltons Mountain to work in the mill, and Elizabeth tells her father that she will eventually marry Drew.Elizabeth Walton. Fans of the 1970s television drama The Waltons were saddened to learn of the passing of Ralph Waite on Thursday at age 85 . The show ends with John-Boy saying people like the Baldwin sisters inspired him to write a new book. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Why did Ralph Waite leave 'The Waltons'? On the surface, Ronnie Claire Edwards' Corabeth Walton is a world-class pill: tight-fisted with money, given to putting on airs around her extended family, and deeply eccentric. Erin announces that they are to be married on Saturday. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. - IMDb Mini Biography By: View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Although we appreciate all the love and support our viewers have given to The Waltons these past 50 years and hopefully many more years to come, you are welcome to embrace this new rendition, not as a copy, but as something new.. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Will passed away from respiratory failure on April 22, 1978, shortly after filming Season 6 of The Waltons. Tom Bower (who played Curt), told us at last year's Waltons reunion in California, that he was "killed" off because he wanted more money. But later in the series, its revealed that Olivia is being treated for tuberculosis at a sanatorium in Arizona. There hasn't been a full explanation on why Ralph Waite left The Waltons , just short of the ending of the show. Subsequent feature appearances included "The Bodyguard" and "Cliffhanger"; he also ran unsuccessfully for the California seat of the U.S. House of Representatives on three occasions between 1990 and 1998. "Pa" or "Grandpa"), from Seasons 1 through 6. Mary Ellen finds him after the war a bitterly changed man living in Florida. Waite added more film roles in the 1970s, including the 1971 Jack Nicholson drama "Five Easy Pieces," the gritty "Trouble Man," and two features opposite Charles Bronson "Chato's Land" and "The Stone Killer" before joining "The Waltons.". Though he has fewer feature credits, they do include some major hits like "Die Hard 2" and more recently, "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story.". What happened to Mary Ellen husband Jonesy on The Waltons? Many of the plotlines in the 172 episodes that featured Ike focused on his marriage to Corabeth Walton (Ronnie Claire Edwards), second cousin to John Sr. and as introverted and stubborn as Ike is outgoing and generous. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Bower played Curtis Willard, the doctor who came to Waltons Mountain in season 5 of the show. If you were watching The Waltons when it originally aired back in the 70s, you probably remember hearing the news that Will Geer the man who played Grandpa Zebulon Walton had died. Eric Scott (Ben): Owns Chase Messengers, a Los Angeles-based delivery service. Id be eating a bushel of potatoes before the episode was through.. But he persevered, and hes grateful he did. Just being about Will [Greer], what he knew about horticulture and unionism in America, or what he knew about Woody Guthrie, because Will was a very good friend of Woody. Photo: Brian Putnam/Filmmagic. She returned briefly in 1977 and eventually rejoined the cast, albeit as a recurring character, for the remainder of the series and in five of the six reunion movies. Then when they went to do the episode about Curt still being alive.they approached him about doing it.