Earl Hamner Jr.

Earl Hamner Jr.
Hamner on the set of The Waltons in 1976
Hamner on the set of The Waltons in 1976
BornEarl Henry Hamner Jr.
(1923-07-10)July 10, 1923
Schuyler, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMarch 24, 2016(2016-03-24) (aged 92)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationWriter, producer
Spouse
Jane Martin
(m. 1954)
Children2, including Scott Hamner
RelativesNora Spencer Hamner (aunt)

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. As a novelist, he is best known for Spencer's 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. at the beginning of most episodes to set the scene and provide context and occasionally at the end of the program.