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‘The Waltons’: Why Jason Actor Jon Walmsley Moved Out of United States in 2018

Jon Walmsley, the actor who played second-oldest brother Jason on “The Waltons,” has been living anonymously in Cornwall since October of 2018.

Walmsley was actually born in Britain. His parents moved from Lancashire to California when Walmsley was a toddler, the Daily Mail reported in 2019.

The actor and musician says he fell in love with Cornwall after vacationing there. Now he and his wife Marion have retired to Cornwall.

‘The Waltons’ Actor Jon Walmsley Goes Unrecognized

Perhaps it’s because he looks different now. Or maybe it’s because “The Waltons” was never that big in Cornwall. But either way, Walmsley manages to live the life of an average citizen there.

“I don’t really get recognized as I changed my look a few years ago and now look quite different than on The Waltons,” Walmsley told the Daily Mail. “It’s an advantage for me, as I’m a real people-watcher. It’s an old acting habit. People tend to behave differently around a celebrity.”

“I love to get into conversations with strangers and I much prefer to be judged on my own merits rather than on any preconceptions,” he added.

As a newcomer to the area, Walmsley sings Cornwall’s praises. He and Marion love its proximity to the sea, the path along the coast, the moors, the forests, the farms, the farm animals and the wild ponies, not to mention the local cuisine.

“We had been coming here on holiday for years and it began to feel like home,” he said. Since their arrival in Cornwall, “Marion and I have busied ourselves with starting a new life – opening a bank account, buying a car, registering with the National Health Service and enjoying the spectacular coastal paths, moors, historic churches and pubs of Cornwall.”

After Show, Walmsley Became a Musician

Over the years, Walmsley has worked with artists ranging from Richard Marx, Brian Setzer, The Doobie Brothers, Gregg Allman, Merle Haggard and Roy Acuff to The Beach Boys’ Al Jardine and Strawberry Alarm Clock. He is a songwriter and producer and also plays multiple instruments.

In 2002, Walmsley got together with three other musicians in Los Angeles to form The U.K. Beat, a band that plays covers from the 1960s British rock invasion. But his musical style is eclectic and includes classic rock, blues, country and standards.

But since he got to Cornwall, Walmsley has spent more time hanging out with ewes, taking gorgeous seaside strolls and enjoying a pint than acting or making music. All in a typical day for a retiree.