Actor

1961-10-04 · United States · Male

2 series in the catalog

David W. Harper (born October 4, 1961) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Jim-Bob Walton on the television show The Waltons.

Early life

Harper was born on October 4, 1961 in Abilene, Texas. He is the son of actor Paul Harper and

Georglynn "Bunny" Scoggins Harper. He has an older sister Michelle.

Acting career

Harper's early roles included a TV pilot with Ernest Borgnine, and an episode of The Man and the City.

He appeared as Jim Bob, the second-youngest of seven siblings, in the made-for-television film The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971). When the film was turned into The Waltons television series in 1972, Harper reprised his role and remained with the series throughout its nine-season run.

When The Waltons ended in 1981, Harper appeared in the television miniseries The Blue and the Gray as a Union soldier, and was seen in the theatrical films Fletch and 3:15. Harper returned to his role as Jim-Bob in the Waltons made-for-television movies.

Later life

Harper is not currently active in show business, choosing to live a quiet, private life. He does, however, occasionally appear at Waltons-related functions, such as cast reunions and collectibles and memorabilia fairs. In 1992 Harper attended the opening of the Walton's Mountain Museum in Schuyler, Virginia. At that time he was working as a scenic painter in Los Angeles.

After working at a variety of jobs, including at the messenger service run by his Walton "brother" Eric Scott, he returned to school to study business.