John Walton Jr. (Richard Thomas, pilot, seasons 1–5, two guest shots in season 6; and three 1990s movies; Robert Wightman, seasons 8–9, 1982 movies). This first Walton child is known throughout the series as "John-Boy," is born in 1916, is the eldest son, and is child of Olivia Walton (née Daly) and John Walton Sr. John-Boy is based on author Earl Hamner Jr., who narrates the opening and closing of each episode as the present day adult John-Boy. The main character of the series, who is also the oldest of seven surviving children, aged 17 in season one (15 in the pilot), John-Boy is a serious thinker and avid reader with a passion to become a writer. He constantly records his thoughts about his family, friends, and circumstances, and writes stories in a journal/diary. Normally a calm, quiet sort, John-Boy occasionally displays a touch of his father's and brother Ben's fiery tempers, and can become defensive and indignant when a situation warrants it. He is sensitive and empathetic, although he can occasionally be gullible, selfish, and self-absorbed. He is deeply touched by tragic events, such as when watching the Hindenburg disaster unfold and being injured trying to rescue people from it. Prior to World War II breaking out, John-Boy is the only member of his family seriously concerned about the rise of Adolf Hitler, and is infuriated when his community attempts to burn German books in response to hearing about Nazis doing the same to American books. After becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college, he moves to New York City to fulfill his dream of becoming an author. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlists in the military and writes as a war correspondent for the U.S. Army's newspaper "Stars and Stripes."