Jon Walmsley (Born February 6, 1956) is a British-American musician and actor, widely known for playing Jason Walton on the television series The Waltons.
Early life
Walmsley was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England on February 6, 1956. He was the only child of a grocer and his wife. His family moved to California when he was two years old, because his parents thought California would provide a healthier climate for the family. His father became a salesman.
While in school Walmsley learned to play the piano, guitar, banjo, harmonica, flute, and cello.
Acting career
Walmsley is known for his accomplishments as an actor, most notably a nine-season run as Jason Walton on The Waltons. He also returned for all of the Waltons reunion projects during the 1980s and 1990s.
He provided the voice of Christopher Robin for Disney's Academy Award winning Winnie the Pooh cartoons.
Musical career
Walmsley was a member of Richard Marx's touring band in the late 1980s, and appeared in at least two of Marx's music videos: "Should've Known Better" and "Too Late to Say Goodbye."
Other musicians Walmsley has worked with include the Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, Gregg Allman, Merle Haggard (on The Waltons), Denny Lane, Spencer Davis, Peter and Gordon, Jacki Lomax, Roger Daltrey, The Beach Boys, and Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean.
Personal life
In 1979, Walmsley married Lisa Harrison, who played his girlfriend Toni Hazelton on The Waltons. They have a daughter, Brighton. Walmsley and Harrison divorced in 2008.
Walmsley now resides in Cornwall, England with his second wife Marion, whom he married in 2008.
Filmography
1960s
Combat! (ABC military drama, 1966)
Daniel Boone (NBC western series, 1968)
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (musical film with Walter Brennan and Buddy Ebsen, 1968)
Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968) (voice)
My Three Sons (1968)
Adam-12 (NBC crime drama, 1969)
The Bill Cosby Show (1969)
1970s
My Three Sons (1971)
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971)
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (voice) 1972)
The Waltons (1972–1981)
The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1973–1974)
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) (voice)
Dinky Hocker (1979)
Family Feud (1979)
$weepstake$ (1979)
1980s
A Wedding on Walton's Mountain (1982)
Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain (1982)
A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain (1982)
Waiting to Act (1985)
1990s
A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993)
A Walton Wedding (1995)
A Walton Easter (1997)
2000s
O Christmas Tree (TV Special) (2002)
TV total German Talkshow (2004)
7th Heaven (2005)
8 Simple Rules (2005)
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2006)
Elf Sparkle Meets Christmas The Horse (animation) (voice) (2009)
2010s
Elf Sparkle And The Special Red Dress (animation) (voice) (2010)
Waltons (TV special) (2010)
The Today Show (2011)
Good Morning America (2013)
Musical works
The Waltons – TV Series (composer, musician) 1971–1981
7th Heaven – TV Series (musician) 1996–2007
Waltons' Christmas CD (composer, musician, producer) 1999
For the Love of May – Short Movie (composer, musician, producer) 2000
8 Simple Rules – TV Series (musician) 2002–2005
The Sunflowers – CD (musician, producer) 2005
Primal Twang – The legacy of the guitar DVD (musician) 2008
Love-in Show – A Musical Celebration DVD (musician) 2009
Secret Life of the American Teenager – TV Series (musician) 2008–2013
Elf Sparkle and the Special Red Dress – Animation (composer) 2010
The U.K. Beat – CD (composer, musician, producer) 2010
The Sunflowers – CD (Musician, producer) 2011
Christmas In America – single (composer, Musician, producer) 2014
Goin' To Clarksdale – CD (composer, musician, producer) 2017
A Joyful Noise – CD (composer, musician, producer) 2023