Hamner used family names to title his projects: Spencer (Spencer's Mountain) is the maiden name of his paternal grandmother Susan Henry Spencer Hamner. Date of birth: His mother, Doris (nee Giannini), was descended from an Italian immigrant who planted the vineyards in Thomas Jeffersons Monticello estate. He grew up in Nelson County, Virginia. When her tea supply ran short, her son Earl helped her with the tea budget, Schuyler, Virginia - The REAL Walton's Mountain. "I think she would have fought to find" Curt, Hawkes says. June 5, 2022 June 5, 2022. Earl describes Cliff as a "loving outdoor man. It seemed to Greenberg that a Waltons-themed museum might provide little Schuyler with enough income to keep a community center running. The Waltons struck a sentimental chord with US audiences after the turbulent 1960s and was also a success with viewers worldwide. The Family Tree (1978) Full Cast & Crew. "I came back and they'd changed the locks.". He was born in Schuyler, Virginia, where his father, Earl Sr, was a soapstone miner, having abandoned tobacco farming in the James river valley. Categories . Read a 1972 Los Angeles Times article about Earl Hamner and his family . youngsters growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia during the Depression. After five seasons, Richard Thomas left the Waltons to pursue other interests. He is the son of Earl Hamner Jr., who turned his autobiography into The Waltons. He liked to curse, hunt and drink. My "Since my position on family relationships and obligations is well known I am sure you will understand that I cannot continue to give you my support or allow you the use of my name.". ------------------ is robert hamner related to earl hamner. FLBTV - Classic Movies and Television Series a list of 736 titles created 18 Aug 2013 Earl Hamner Jr, who has died aged 92, created The Waltons, the hugely popular television series that ran for nine seasons from 1972. Earl Hamner has responded by yanking his belongings out of the museum, and helping to plan another 20 miles away in Lovingston, the Nelson County seat. white rabbit restaurant menu; israel journey from egypt to canaan map is robert hamner related to earl hamner. Hamner was born July 10, 1923, in Schuyler, Virginia to Doris Marion (ne Giannini) and Earl Henry Hamner Sr. Earl Jr. left home, served in World War II, and later, in New York, wrote "Spencer's Mountain," a novel modeled on his boyhood. The oldest of eight children, Hamner had four brothers and three sisters. Perhaps Mr. Hamner's earlier work is overshadowed by his success as writer, creator and narrator of "The Waltons . As a novelist, he is best known for Spencers Mountain, which was inspired by his own childhood and formed the basis for both the film of the same name and the television series The Waltons, for which he provided voice-over narration. My father, Earl Hamner, passed away today at 12:20 PM Pacific time. She was born November 29, 1957, in Buckhannon, WV, a daughter of the late Robert Harrison and Delena Lucille Smith. Earl Hamner wrote another letter, announcing that he would pull his belongings from the museum. "The Waltons" was born. It elected to do so, "knowing they would have to suffer the wrath of Earl," Whitehurst said. Audrey Hamner, on whom the character of Erin is based, lives in Vinton, Virginia, and has retired as a Donor Resources Consultant with the American Red Cross. A few doors down, the model for Ike Godsey ran a real-life country store. Some townspeople felt that Earl Hamner hadn't done as much as he might have. Finally, in late May, the center's membership was asked to vote on whether to keep Whitehurst as president. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. (July 10, 1923 - March 24, 2016) was an American television writer and producer (sometimes credited as Earl Hamner ). - Season One Earl describes Cliff as a "loving outdoor man. Earl Hamner blames "a small group of outsiders" for the town's pain. Doris Hamner was a proud, honest Baptist mother and wife who ruled the activities inside the Hamner home. Giannini (1885-1962), and Susan Henry Spencer Hamner (1890-1963). He reprised the theme in the 1964 "You Drive" episode of The Twilight Zone. After experiencing several . This morning, thirty-some years later, my husband texted me, saying, "Earl Hamner died. reconstituted family advantages and disadvantages; . 15 Dec 1897 d. 13 Mar 1965 Nora Spencer Hamner Mary Elizabeth Hamner ------------------ - Season Two She described herself as the "tomboy" of the family. Cliff died in 1990 and is survived by his three children, Diane, Cliff Jr. and Donna. Biography . From-time-to-time, the Hamners visit their home town of Schuyler, Erin Walton and Paul Matthews Northridge have professed their love and are ready to commit their lives to each other. The show was set in the Napa Valley of California. (clockwise from upper right) Six years older than the next sibling, Earl was certainly looked up to by the younger children. He served in France after the invasion of Normandy. After losing his job, Earl Sr. could only find work as a machinist at the DuPont factory in Waynesboro, Virginia, about 30 miles away. Like Mary Ellen, Hawkes itched to leave the mountains as a youngster. With Don Sipes he wrote a Hollywood mystery novel, Murder in Tinseltown (2000), and with Ralph Giffin a book about The Waltons, Goodnight John-Boy (2002). Little Tree is an 8-year-old Cherokee boy, who, during the time of the depression, loses his parents and starts to live with his Indian grandma and grandpa and learn the wisdom of the Cherokee way of life. Built in 1915, as a company house, by the local soapstone company. His latest book, the recently released "The Hollywood. On its face, the controversy grew from a letter Jim Hamner wrote last spring. Top row: Cliff, Place of death: "As soon as I found those two checks, I called Jim Hamner and said, 'Jim, we're in trouble,'" Mulkey recalled. Jump to another page (10) Earl Henry Hamner, Sr., was born on May 18, 1899, in Schuyler, Virginia, and his parents were Walter Clifton Hamner and Susan Henry (Spencer) Hamner. He subsequently attended Northwestern University and then graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in broadcast communications.[3][4]. www.opendialoguemediations.com. Earl Hamner, Jr. wrote eight episodes of the seminal series. Right: Earl with his mother and siblings in 1980 for the filming ------------------ Visit the Earl Hamner - Memorial Page or continue on to the next page The Hamner Family - The REAL Waltons or skip to Taking a bus from Waynesboro to Charlottesville and another stop along the way, Hamner's father would walk six miles to the family home to complete his weekly journey. Paul, James, Bill, Cliff (Jason). On Sundays after Doris had carted the children to church he could be found making his way down the same path towards the river for some fishing. )S@ /J^xZ-+ wd kjvN1P-Zf>0tax~x 'VO:A_pJ Mr. Hamner was a retired employee of the Alberene Stone Corp. "I had such a good life. A faithful friend as well as a brother." how to change button shape in android studio; Tags . Search Site Doris, Marian, Audrey, The Hamner's in 1973 - From Left: Cliff (Jason), Nancy (Elizabeth), Audrey (Erin) James (Jim Bob), Doris "Mother" Hamner (Olivia), In 1951 Hamner headed for New York, where he wrote for an NBC radio programme called Biography in Sound. Clifton Hamner (1856-1935). The house is billed as "The Original Walton's House" because "The Walton's" creator Earl Hamner . He is best known as the creator of the police procedural show S.W.A.T. That places him fourth in terms of production behind Serling, Beaumont and Matheson, respectively. He died surrounded by family playing his favourite John Denver music, according to the Facebook . Earl Hamner Jr., who created the popular television series The Waltons, has died at 92. In his four-hour Archive interview, Earl Hamner, Jr. (1923-2016) talks briefly about his earliest writing credits, for shows such as Today, Wide, Wide World and The United States Steel Hour. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. (July 10, 1923 - March 24, 2016) was an American television writer and producer (sometimes credited as Earl Hamner ), best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s as the creator of two long-running series, The Waltons and Falcon Crest. Earl Hamner Jr began his career in radio, but soon moved into television, writing for many shows, including The Twilight Zone. The beloved Waltons characters return in this heartwarming movie about love and loyalty. As fans of "The Waltons" will know, Hamner penned the book on which the popular family television show was based. Earl Henry Hamner Jr. (July 10, 1923 March 24, 2016) was an American television writer and producer (sometimes credited as Earl Hamner), best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s as the creator of two long-running series, The Waltons and Falcon Crest. While his face may not be as recognizable as other members of "The Waltons" cast, Earl Hamner Jr. played an essential role in the series. (2003), S.W.A.T. When a descendant of Anthony, Doris Marion Giannini, at the tender age of 16 . ". Little Tree is an 8-year-old . "If I'm going to go on a cruise," Hawkes says, "I'd rather go on my own. The television business was moving from live programmes in New York to film produced in Los Angeles, so in 1961, after publication of his novel Spencers Mountain, another Waltons precursor, Hamner moved his family to California; his memoir, The Avocado Drive Zoo (1999) recalls the move. Did you like this post? The children had plenty of freedom but were wise to follow rules and complete their chores beforehand. On March 24th, 2016 legendary film and TV writer and author Earl Hamner passed surrounded by his family near his home in Los Angeles. Writer Robert Edward Hamner ( 7 July 1928 - 25 April 1996; age 67) either wrote for or produced (or sometimes both) about thirty five different television series. "They tore that man to shreds," Mulkey said. He even became baptized and began to attend church. He was one of eight children and the son of a stone quarry worker. His mother's people, the Gianninis, came to America from the village of Lucca, Italy. With a click of a mouse, visitors can listen to an electronic-sounding version of the show's musical theme. Writer. Socrates and Plato are vilified, and the concept of a 'real' world beyond that which we see is scorned as a moral 'optical illusion'. Earl Hamner was born on May 18, 1899 in Schuyler, Nelson county, Virginia, United States. SCHUYLER By thousands the pilgrims come, into the Blue Ridge foothills in search of the quiet calm, the steadfast morality, the sweet, strong love that inspired TV's "The Waltons. Was The Waltons based on Earl Hamners life? Robert is related to Shannon T Hamner and John E Hamner as well as 3 additional people. TV Land Moguls released. TIMES STAFF WRITER. Earl Hamner Jr., who created the popular television series The Waltons, has died at 92. They intend to marry on Valentines Day which is coming up very soon. When her tea supply ran short, her son Earl helped her with the tea budget. After graduating from high school in 1947, Hawkes left for nursing school at the age of 16, about the same as the TV character makes a similar move. Stories were presented through the eyes of John Boy Walton, portrayed by Richard Thomas and, later, by Robert Wightman. It was in this profession that he finally found the love of his life in the form of Janet, and they eventually married. His latest book, the recently released "The Hollywood Zoo," is about Earl and his family pets, which Hawkes says have included dogs, cats, chickens and coyotes. is robert hamner related to earl hamner. CBS called us 'The Earl Hamner Jr. Net Worth is $9 Million Mini Biography He was also the Inventor and Executive Maker for the display "FALCON CREST" 1981 thru 1988. See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by . Earl Hamner was born and raised in Schuyler, Virginia. Hamner adapted the television series from the 1963 Henry Fonda movie "Spencer's Mountain." All the cast but Richard Thomas turned out. The board never authorized it. His son Scott announced on Facebook that Hamner had been suffering from cancer, and died at. Hamner narrated the first two Waltons specials, but was not involved in the ones that followed in the 1990s. Earl Hamner Jr. (John-Boy) Hamner then wrote the beach-blanket farce Palm Springs Weekend (1963), published You Cant Get There from Here (1965), and in 1968 scripted a television adaptation of Heidi, still infamous in the US because NBC cut off the final minutes of a crucial gridiron match to start its broadcast on schedule. Although Hawkes says she tries to keep her connection to the show quiet, she is not immune from a little family promotion. That trek back, through snow on Christmas Eve 1933, became the basis of Hamners novel The Homecoming (1970), from which he developed the Waltons. Lower Row: Earl, Paul, (written by) Cast (in credits order) Ralph Waite . Mary Ellen ended up staying with her second husband. The show was created by Earl Hamner, Jr., who had previously created The Waltons, which had just finished its final season in 1981. I didn't think girls had to be inside all the time," Hawkes says. This article about a television writer from the United States is a stub. - Season Nine In 1954, Hamner wrote "Hit and Run," an episode of the legal drama Justice. He and his wife, Doris -- the real-life Olivia -- lived with their eight children in the town's center. ", In the meantime, Mulkey was fired for insubordination. The series focused on the lives of John and Olivia Walton and their seven children, who lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the Great Depression. Scott Hamner (born 1956 [1] ), is an American television writer. When the mines in Schuyler closed down, Earl Sr found factory work 33 miles away, commuting weekly on buses, the nearest of which required a six-mile walk from the familys home in the hills. Hamners surviving three siblings Paul Hamner, Nancy Hamner Jamerson and Audrey Hamner were among the family members who attended the event in Schuyler right where it all started, said Paul Hamner, who came in from New Jersey for the occasion. Audrey was born in Schuyler, Virginia, daughter of the late Earl and Doris Hamner. Is Robert Hamner related to Earl Hamner Jr? Robert is related to Shannon T Hamner and John E Hamner as well as 3 additional people. Like residents of Colonial Williamsburg's historic area, James is accustomed to strangers at his house - though that happens less frequently since the Walton's Mountain Museum opened across the street in 1992, Hawkes says. September 14 marked the 25th anniversary of the first telecast. 18 May 1899 d. 1 May 1969 William Benjamin Hamner b. He speaks eloquently, with humility, from the heart, the words of a writer. His parents were Walter Hamner and Susan Spencer.. Goodnight John-Boy: A Memory Book of The Waltons, One of Television's Greatest Families. Before she and her husband came to Williamsburg in 1996, Hawkes guided bus tours of her hometown. During its nine year run on CBS, the program. [1] Earl Hamner Jr. Are any of Earl Hamners siblings still alive? ". Earl Hamner Jr Family Tree With Complete Detail, 5 Generations Family Tree You Will Like These Detail, Pierre Dupont Family Tree Check All Members List. Waltons,' and put us on television.". Earl Henry Hamner, Sr., passed away on May 1, 1969, in Schuyler . Marion Lee Hamner (19302004) . (created by) (as Earl Hamner) Robert Pirosh . His father used to say, "You will go to school until you can whip me.". Earl and Jim thought it was a great idea. - Season Six [1] He was best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s on the long-running CBS series The Waltons and Falcon Crest . Earl Hamner soon pledged his name, influence and belongings to a historical and cultural center that Greenberg has proposed. She described herself as the "tomboy" of the family. Although they were poor, education was extremely important in their family. The display starred Jane Wyman, Lorenzo Lamas, Robert Foxworth, and Susan Sullivan. Robert Penn Warren, Catherine Marshall, Cecille Haddix. What does Lo Debar represent in the Bible? Hawkes, a Williamsburg resident, ought to know. Earl henry hamner jr. (july 10, 1923 - march 24, 2022) was an american television writer and producer (sometimes credited as earl hamner), best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s on the long-running cbs series the waltons and falcon a novelist, he was best known for spencer's mountain, which was inspired by his own childhood and formed the "The board decided to terminate my leadership while I was on vacation," she said. Other than "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Sesame Street" and other public-television programs, she can't name many shows she likes. One of his scripts, You Drive, was an adaptation of Hit and Run. "We don't have cable in the house because of the violence it would bring in," she says. Doris Hamner continued to live in the family home after her husband Earl Sr. passed away. ABC Stage 67 "The People Trap" (teleplay by Hamner based on the story by Robert Sheckley) (Nov. 9, 1966; . Robert Brent Hall, an interior designer, remade classrooms into approximations of the Waltons' kitchen and living room, John-Boy's room, Ike Godsey's store. The model for Ben Walton came from two brothers. Dec. 7, 2001 12 AM PT. The New York transplant approached the Hamners. The Homecoming You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. "I learned recently that while representing me a member of my family was caused pain, humiliation and mental anguish at one of your meetings," he wrote the board. Read Full Overview Where can I watch the entire Dragon Ball series for free. He also wrote or co-wrote eight episodes of the CBS animal series Gentle Ben (19671969) and four episodes of the sitcom Nanny and the Professor (1970). Schuyler was a company town where the economy was based in soapstone mining by New Alberene Stone, and the town was hit hard by the Great Depression when the company and its mines closed. "The family members have taken on the persona of being the Waltons. Earl Hamner Jr., Creator of 'The Waltons,' Dies at 92 March 23, 2016, 9:00 PM Earl Hamner Jr., the homespun novelist from the backwoods of Virginia who drew upon his upbringing to create the. by Earl Hamner and Ralph E. Giffin | Oct 1, 2002. John Boy Walton and Earl Hamner Jr. are pretty much one and the same; now they are about to step on stage together for the first time. Hamner is survived by Jane, by their two children, Scott and Caroline, by a brother, Paul, and by two sisters, Audrey and Nancy. Then, a little more than 10 years ago, the county shut down the Schuyler school. But the faithful find the real-life Walton's Mountain an unfamiliar place these days: Schuyler is in the grip of a most unwholesome feud. Show creator: Earl Hamner Jr., shown in September 2012 in Los Angeles, died on Thursday aged 92. In 1943, in the middle of his sophomore year, Earl Hamner was drafted into the U.S. Army. The Waltons first aired over twenty-five years ago and nothing has since been the same enterprise vienna airport; kuding tea and kidney disease. He wrote for two series, Gentle Ben and Nanny and the Professor, before The Homecoming was broadcast as a Christmas special in 1971 and became a huge hit, leading to the debut of The Waltons as a series the next year. Did you like this post? He served in France after the invasion of Normandy. She was angry. They kept coming even after Doris Hamner died, and after the show went off the air in 1981. Clifton Hamner was the model for Jason. Fans of the show flocked to her little home in Vigirnia and she welcomed them with a pot of tea. Bill Hamner (l) died in 1989. "With the exception of the loss of friends and family, I've had . He was an American television writer and producer (sometimes credited as Earl Hamner), best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s on the long-running CBS series The Waltons and Falcon Crest. 725. Earl Hamner Jr. (Television Writer) Earl Hamner Jr. was an American television writer, novelist, and producer best known for his work in the 1970s long-running television series 'The Waltons'. He also wrote an excellent movie adaptation of the childrens novel Charlottes Web (1973), created the series Apples Way, which ran for four seasons from 1974, and scripted a number of TV movies including Lassie: A New Beginning (1978). In Earl Hamner: From Walton's Mountain to Tomorrow, readers will discover the integrated nature of his career, finding that there is no real conflict between the warm folksiness of The Waltons,. Long-time manager for B&L Coal and Rail, initially from the home office up in Barrow, PA. Former stable manager at a mine in Avalon, present and unharmed by that mine fire. Hamner's break came in 1959 when Rod Serling offered him a chance to write for "The Twilight Zone." "It came in the nick of time," Hamner related, "because we had spent all of our money and were living on handouts from Jane's aunt. - Season Four Doris Hamner, Earl, his son Scott, Jane his wife and Caroline, Earl's daughter. Earl Hamner, Jr. Obituary (March 24, 2016) Goodnight, Earl. He was 69. Born in Nelson County, Hamner served in the Army during World War II (1939-1945) before attending Northwestern University and the University of Cincinnati. [2] In April 2014, the church honored Earl with a special service in connection with the filming of Earl Hamner, Storyteller. He was 92. Lawrence Dobkin Writing Credits Earl Hamner Jr. Earl Hamner Jr. executive story consultant (as Earl Hamner) Doris Hamner technical consultant Carol Marie production coordinator , The father of Earl Hamner, Jr. and the inspiration for the character John Walton in the hit television program The Waltons. Ann was the daughter of John Lewis Cobbs, Sr. and Susannah Hamner. (1975) and Star Trek (1966). Next, he speaks about his experiences writing for the anthology series The Twilight Zone, and discusses each of the episodes he wrote. Earl H. Hamner > Schuyler Earl Henry Hamner died today at his home here. Unfortunately, Jim Hamner signed the letter as the museum's treasurer and printed it on museum letterhead. Los Angeles, California, USA It was based on his 1961 book called "Spencer's Mountain." Earl Hamner Jr., the writer who created the long-running CBS television family series "The Waltons," has died, according to multiple news sources, including The Associated Press. I did eight of those original episodes." (Now published under the title "Twilight Zone Scripts of Earl Hamner.") My father, Earl Hamner, passed away today at 12:20 PM Pacific time. Published by at 14 Marta, 2021. The Waltons ended its run in 1981 and Hamner moved seamlessly to a very different family saga, Falcon Crest, a Dallas-like tale of vicious infighting within a California wine-growing family inspired by his wifes ancestors. SCHUYLER On a sunny afternoon, family of the late Earl Hamner Jr. were joined Sunday by dozens of fans for the groundbreaking of a planned replica of the house made famous in "The Waltons,". The commissioning of the first series seemed to go against the grain of the rural purge that the CBS networks programme controller, Fred Silverman, had begun in 1970, dropping successful comedies and variety shows such as The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Hee Haw and The Jim Nabors Hour in pursuit of a younger audience. Earl Henry Hamner, writer, born 10 July 1923; died 24 March 2016, Creator of the US television show The Waltons, which was based on his childhood in Depression-era Virginia, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. ", Their quest ends in this old stone-cutting town on the Rockfish River. Earl Hamner, creator of the long-running CBS dramas The Waltons and Falcon Crest, died today of cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. This nostalgia was emphasised by Hamners voice, whose comfortable tones introduced each episode, making the connection to the Walton familys oldest son, the would-be writer John-Boy. Two years later the novel he had begun in the Ozarks, Fifty Roads to Town, was published. Earl Hamner lived through some of the hardest times this country has known. Earl remained in Hollywood after the series went off the air in 1981, though he visits Virginia from time to time. Positions held [ edit] The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (Actor, television movie: 1971) Berrenger's (Writer, 2 episodes: 1985) Boone (Writer, 2 episodes: 1983-84) What clothing brands were popular in the 50s? She was the model for Mary Ellen Walton. The Episodes Dad died peacefully in his sleep at Cedar Sinai Hospital. Worse, Jim Hamner's letter spoke on behalf of a woman who on Feb. 28 was sentenced to three years in prison, on a charge that she'd embezzled money from a Charlottesville firm. The family of Earl Hamner Jr. (right) served as inspiration for the long-running show "The Waltons." From left are: James Hamner, the real life Jim Bob; Nancy Hamner Jamerson, the character of . Hawke s, 67, describes herself as the same type of independent-minded young adult that actress Judy Norton-Taylor portrayed on the show. 1 . His first script acceptance for the series was his big writing break in Hollywood. . "Before that, they trampled through my mother's yard and looked in the windows," Hawkes says. Earl Hamner Jr. was the model for John Boy. Descriere: Nietzsche claimed that the "Twilight of the Idols" was a general introduction to his philosophy. The Hamners bought the home in 1929 when Earl Sr. worked as a machinist for The Alberene Stone Company. cousin Janet, sisters Nancy (Elizabeth), A film adaptation of Spencers Mountain, written and directed by Delmer Daves and starring Henry Fonda and Maureen OHara, appeared in 1963, by which time Hamner was writing for many shows, including his old friend Serlings brainchild, The Twilight Zone. "It has turned neighbor against neighbor. And worst of all, she had access to the community center's checks. Robert Edward Hamner (7 July 1928 25 April 1996; age 67) either wrote for or produced (or sometimes both) about thirty five different television series. Marion Hamner Hawkes inspired the character of Mary Ellen. He was a writer and producer, known for S.W.A.T. He was 92. His next series were less successful: Boone (1983), about a would-be cowboy, ran for one season, while Morningstar/Eveningstar, in which an orphanage merges with a retirement home, lasted for only seven shows in 1986. 6.0 Writer 2003 S.W.A.T. - Season Three Marian (Mary Ellen), brother James (Jim Bob), Paul Hamner (r) lives in Toms River, New Jersey and is retired from the Baker Shoe Store chain. Earl remained in Hollywood after the series went off the air in 1981, though he visits Virginia from time to time. Earl initially went by Robert (or "Bobby"), and was a foreman or supervisor at six mines with terrible disasters before the . Mrs. Hamner was a homemaker. F$-FzD^4VjUZ$ SdO.J!3kn [rT
TLh Here, author Earl Hamner Jr. -- the real-life John-Boy -- grew up in an unassuming, tin-roofed house crowded with siblings. Audrey Jane . "I was very outspoken, free-talking. Date of death: Earl Hamner Jr. has 22 books on Goodreads with 8493 ratings. Is Earl Hamner the creator of The Waltons still alive? Aside from Curt's death and a few minor points, Hawkes says, "the characters are very true.". "The idea would be to recreate the Waltons' homestead," Greenberg said. A replica of John Walton's truck sits outside. 150 3rd Avenue South, Suite 1700 Nashville, TN 37201 615.244.4994 He was 92 and had been diagnosed with cancer in June 2014, according to a Facebook post by his daughter. Hamner based the grandparents in his popular television series The Waltons (1972) on his own maternal Italian-American grandparents Ora Lee and A. Gianniny, an Anglicized version of the Italian name Giannini. ------------------ Known for being sex- and violence-free, the show became a hit, eventually knocking its main competition, NBC's "The Flip Wilson Show," off the air. And some found Hamner too controlling, too insistent that the community center's board -- which oversaw the museum -- do things his way.