Earl Henry Hamner Jr. ( born July 10 , 1923 ) , is an American television writer and producer ( sometimes credited as Earl Hamner ) , best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s on the long-running CBS series `` The Waltons '' and `` Falcon Crest '' .
Earl Henry Hamner Jr. ( born July 10 , 1923 in Schuyler , Virginia ) is an American television writer and producer ( sometimes credited as Earl Hamner ) . He is best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s on the long-running CBS series `` The Waltons '' and `` Falcon Crest '' .