why did michael learned leave the waltons

Michael Learned left the TV series "The Waltons" after eight seasons primarily because she found the role and the show's material had become boring and limiting. The grueling television shooting schedule and exhaustion played a major part in her decision to leave. She felt that by the eighth season, the show had run out of meaningful material for her character Olivia Walton, who was often left just in the background doing simple actions while the children told their stories. Learned expressed a desire for growth and new challenges, wanting to explore more complex roles rather than continuing in a long-running series that felt like a grind. Money was also a factor, although she said it was not her main motivation. Despite leaving, she maintained a deep affection for the show and returned for guest appearances and reunions later on.