Alma Gonzales: Where is Richard Thomas’ ex-wife Now?

Who was Richard Thomas’s first wife?

Alma Gonzales is the ex-wife of Richard Thomas. Alma Gonzales’ ex-husband is an American actor. He gained popularity for playing the leading role of budding author John-Boy Walton in the CBS drama The Waltons, for which he won an Emmy Award, and received a nomination for another and two Golden Globe Awards. More recently, the actor known for his works in Netflix’s Ozark and is touring with To Kill a Mockingbird as Atticus Finch.

Alma Gonzales: Bio Summary

Who is Alma Gonzales?

Alma Gonzales was born in Los Angeles United States of America. She is a native Californian whose parents were Mexican. While not much is known about her age, Alma’s famous ex-husband Richard Thomas is a 73-year-old as of 2024. He was Born Richard Earl Thomas on 13th June 1951 in New York City, New York, USA. Alma is believed to be in her late 60s as of 2023. She is a catholic and her ex-husband is Baptist.

How did Richard Thomas and his first wife Alma meet?

The couple first met during his TV years as John-Boy. Alma was a part-time waitress, secretary to a press agent, and saleswoman for an imported rug business. She also taught English to Chicanos. She caught the actor’s eye while she was dancing with friends at a Middle Eastern nightclub in L.A.

Thomas who could hold himself any longer introduced himself and joined Alma and her group in a folk dance. “I had never done that before,” he confesses. “But she was a wonderful dancer and had this beautiful smile.” He took her to a Betty Boop cartoon festival on their first date.

Fast forward, the couple bonded over their common interest and went on to get married in a beautiful ceremony in the presence of their friends, family, and loved ones. They were married on Valentine’s Day 1975. The following year, they had a son, Richard Francisco. Triplet daughters—Pilar Alma Thomas, Barbara Ayala Thomas, and Gweneth Gonzales Thomas—were born in 1981.

ALSO, READ; Pilar Alma Thomas, Richard Thomas’ daughter

At the time, Alma Gonzales’ then-husband was away from home. The movie star was filming in New York, but he had to drop everything for the sake of his girls. The couple’s triplets look so much alike that at first, they relied on earrings to tell them apart.

After the girls’ births, they were given the monikers John Girl I, John Girl II, and John Girl III by fans until Thomas announced their beautiful names which were gleaned from the family.

Talking about his wonderful family, the actor told All About the Waltons– “I get up every morning and thank God I have three beautiful little girls and a wonderful son, But I know who makes it all work—Alma. She’s a wife and a mother, and she has a great sense of pride and accomplishment in that. And she still remains her own woman.“

The family lived in a three-bedroom 1920s Spanish-style home in the Hollywood Hills. Although the couple planned to be together forever, things didn’t go as planned. Richard Thomas and Alma Gonzales ended it all after a marriage of 18 years in 1993.

The Waltons actor was shocked by Alma’s desire for separation as he thought they were going to spend the rest of their lives together. Alma also admitted that the March 1992 desire for divorce surprised her ex-husband Richard, however, she also added that if Richard were really in touch with her, he would have noticed things were not okay between them.

“I wasn’t very happy in the marriage. There is no single reason why one person’s needs get met, and the other person’s do not“- Alma Gonzales said per Tuko. Even with the surprises and shocking news, the former love birds managed to end their marriage amicably and shared custody of their four children, and since then, they have been doing well at co-parenting.

ALSO, READ; Barbara Ayala Thomas, Richard Thomas’ daughter

After their divorce, much was not heard from Alma Gonzales, she went out of the limelight. Alma Gonzales’s ex-husband, Thomas on the other hand now married Santa Fe art dealer Georgiana Bischoff on November 20, 1994, and their son, Montana, was born in 1996. Thomas and Georgiana currently reside in Manhattan, New York. Two of their children, Montana and Kendra, reside in New York City.