A familiar face from one of television’s most cherished shows of the 1970s made a rare appearance in Los Angeles this past Tuesday. The sighting of this former child star, who gained fame as the lovable red-headed Ben Walton on “The Waltons,” reminded fans of his enduring charm at the age of 67.
Stepping out in a laid-back style, the actor sported a Los Angeles Dodgers T-shirt paired with comfortably faded jeans. Despite the years, he still brandished the charismatic smile that charmed audiences during his early career days. Before his fame on “The Waltons,” he appeared on popular shows like “Bewitched” and “The Doris Day Show,” as well as in the film “The Million Dollar Duck.”
After “The Waltons” concluded its successful nine-season run in 1981, this actor took a brief detour into the retail sector. However, he soon made a surprising switch in his professional life.
Leaving the glitz of Hollywood behind, he embraced a new path as a delivery driver and eventually established his own messenger service throughout the Los Angeles area.
Can you guess the actor who became synonymous with the touching farewell, “Good night, John-Boy,” at the end of each episode of “The Waltons”?
Can you guess the actor who famously delivered the iconic sign-off, ‘Good night, John-Boy,’ at the end of The Waltons episodes?
A star from one of the most iconic television series of the 1970s was spotted out and about in Los Angeles on Tuesday during a rare public appearance
The former child actor, best known for playing beloved red-haired Ben Walton on The Waltons , looked youthful at 67 as he stepped out in casual attire
Dressed in a Los Angeles Dodgers T-shirt and faded jeans , the former star – who also appeared early in his career on Bewitched, The Doris Day Show, and in the film The Million Dollar Duck – still flashed his trademark Hollywood smile
Give yourself a point if you said Eric Scott.
In a March 2026 interview with That’s Classic, Scott opened up about the unexpected career shift that followed the end of The Waltons.
He explained that he initially tried his hand in retail, working ‘at the Broadway department store for a year’ after the series wrapped.
He added that he ‘wanted to see what’ being a salesperson was like, having only ever worked in television.
‘I went to all different departments. I gave it one year and I said, ‘You know what? I don’t like retail.’ I quit it,’ Scott said.
Looking back, the actor admitted he assumed another acting job would soon follow.
‘There was still that thought that maybe another show would come on, but nothing happened. So, I said, you know, I got to pivot. I got to make a living,’ he explained.
That pivot eventually led him to driving ‘for a messenger company’, a role he said offered more flexibility while still keeping one foot in the industry.
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Eric Scott ultimately left Hollywood behind to work as a delivery driver, later going on to run his own messenger service across the Los Angeles area; Above, in 2011
Scott also credited his mother’s presence on set with keeping him grounded during his time as a child star
The Waltons ended its nine-season run in 1981; Above, (back row) Michael Learned, Richard Thomas and Ralph Waite; (center row) Jon Walmsley, Ellen Corby, Will Geer, Kami Cotler and David W. Harper; (bottom row) Judy Norton Taylor, Eric Scott and Elizabeth McDonough)
Scott went on to describe his Ben Walton character as ‘very impulsive’ and often prone to poor decision-making
‘I thought there was a flexibility here,’ he explained.
Scott added that the move ultimately worked out better than expected, revealing that he now ‘own[s] the company.’
‘It was a strange transition,’ he said.
In the same interview, Scott was asked whether he shared any similarities with his Waltons character, with the actor joking that he didn’t think so.
‘Ben, honestly, was an idiot,’ Scott quipped.
He went on to describe his character as ‘very impulsive’ and often prone to poor decision-making.
‘He also was a lot more emotional than I am,’ he said. ‘I say that, [but] you ask my two daughters, I don’t know, they might disagree. Ben definitely did a lot of different kinds of things that I’d go, ‘What is he thinking? Why is he thinking this way?’’
Despite his critique, Scott said revisiting the series has become something of a personal time capsule, allowing him to reflect on his early acting work.
‘It’s fun to watch them now and look at them and see that’s my 16, 17, 18, 19 year old self interpreting a script and how different it would be looking at it now,’ he said.
Scott also credited his mother’s presence on set with keeping him grounded during his time as a child star.
‘My mom was on the set for me. And I thank her for being there. And talk about centering me,’ he said.
He added that she ensured he maintained a normal routine outside of filming.
‘She kept me very grounded, I finish up work and I’d still have to go clean up after the dog when I got home. And I went through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. I’m an Eagle Scout,’ Scott said.
Off-screen, Scott’s personal life has included both joy and tragedy.
He was briefly married to actress Karey Louis before later wedding Theresa Fargo, with whom he welcomed daughter Ashley.
Fargo tragically died in 1992 from acute myelomonocytic leukemia, shortly after giving birth; Ashley was delivered a month early by caesarean section so her mother could begin chemotherapy.
In March 2000, Scott went on to marry Cindy Ullman Wolfen. The couple share two children together – daughter Emma, born in 2001, and son Jeremy, born in 2004.
