Producers On The Waltons Tried Making Olivia Walton Look Older

by: Nina Ross
March 23, 2023

source: The Everett Collection

“The Waltons” was a popular television series that aired from 1972 to 1981. The show followed the lives of the Walton family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. One of the main characters on the show was Olivia Walton, the matriarch of the family. In later seasons, the producers of the show tried to make Olivia look older, and this is the story of how they did it.

The actress who played Olivia Walton, Michael Learned, was in her mid-30s when the show started. She was already a seasoned actress, having appeared on Broadway and in several television shows. However, the producers of “The Waltons” wanted her to look older, as they felt that it would be more realistic for the character.

The first thing the producers did was to change Michael Learned’s hairstyle. They gave her a shorter, more mature cut that was less fashionable than her previous style. They also added gray streaks to her hair, which helped to age her appearance.

In addition to the hairstyle change, the makeup department also worked to make Michael Learned look older. They used makeup to add lines and wrinkles to her face, which helped to give her a more aged appearance. They also used makeup to darken her eyebrows, which helped to make her look more serious and mature.

The costume department also played a role in aging Olivia Walton. They dressed Michael Learned in clothing that was more appropriate for an older woman. They chose outfits that were less fashionable and more conservative than what she had worn in earlier seasons.
The lighting on the show was changed to make Michael Learned look older. The lighting was made to be less flattering, which helped to accentuate her wrinkles and lines