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{{short description|American actor (1928–2014)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{refimprove|date=May 2014}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2021}}
{{Distinguish|Ralph White}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Ralph Waite
| name = Ralph Waite
| image = Ralph Waite.jpg
| image = Ralph Waite.jpg
| caption = Waite at the 40th anniversary of ''[[The Waltons]]'' on September 29, 2012
| caption = Waite at the 40th anniversary of ''[[The Waltons]]'' on September 29, 2012
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|6|22}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1928|6|22}}
| birth_place = [[White Plains, New York]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[White Plains, New York]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|2|13|1928|6|22}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|2|13|1928|6|22}}
| death_place = [[Palm Desert, California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Palm Desert, California]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[White Plains Rural Cemetery]]
| death_cause = Age-related illnesses
| alma_mater = [[Bucknell University]] and Yale Divinity School
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| occupation = Actor, political activist
| religion = [[Presbyterian]]
| years_active = 1954–2014
| resting_place =
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| occupation = Actor, voice artist, political activist
| spouse = {{plainlist|
| years_active = 1954–2014
* {{marriage|Beverly Waite|1951|1966|reason=divorced}}
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Kerry Shear Waite|1977|1981|reason=divorced}}
* Beverly Waite (1951–1966)
* {{marriage|Linda East|1982|}}
* Kerry Shear Waite (1977–1981)
* Linda East (1982–2014)
}}
}}
| children = 3 daughters (1 daughter deceased)
| children = 3
}}
| parents = Ralph H. Waite and Esther (née Mitchell) Waite}}
'''Ralph Waite''' (June 22, 1928 – February 13, 2014) was an American actor, best known for his lead role as [[List of The Waltons characters|John Walton Sr.]] on ''[[The Waltons]]'' (1972–1981), which he occasionally directed. He later had recurring roles as two other heroic fathers; in ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' as [[List of NCIS characters#Jackson Gibbs|Jackson Gibbs]], the father of [[Leroy Jethro Gibbs]], and in ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]'', as [[Seeley Booth]]'s grandfather. Waite had supporting roles in movies such as ''[[Cool Hand Luke]]'' (1967), ''[[Five Easy Pieces]]'' (1970), ''[[The Grissom Gang]]'' (1971), ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'' (1992), and ''[[Cliffhanger (film)|Cliffhanger]]'' (1993).<ref>{{cite news|title=Ralph Waite will be honored in 'NCIS' season finale|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/02/24/ralph-waite-will-be-honored-in-ncis-season-finale/5785555|publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=February 24, 2014}}</ref>

'''Ralph Waite''' (June 22, 1928 – February 13, 2014) was an American actor, voice artist, and political activist, best known for his role as John Walton, Sr. on ''[[The Waltons]]'', which he occasionally directed. In addition, Waite appeared in many guest roles on numerous television series, lastly in a recurring role in ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' as [[List of NCIS characters#Jackson Gibbs|Jackson Gibbs]], the father of [[Leroy Jethro Gibbs]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ralph Waite will be honored in 'NCIS' season finale|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2014/02/24/ralph-waite-will-be-honored-in-ncis-season-finale/5785555|publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=February 24, 2014}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Waite, the eldest of five children, was born in [[White Plains, New York]] on June 22, 1928, to Ralph H. Waite, a construction engineer, and Esther (née Mitchell) Waite.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/87/Ralph-Waite.html|title=Ralph Waite profile at|publisher=Filmreference.com|accessdate=August 12, 2010}}</ref> Too young for World War II, Waite served in the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] from 1946 to 1948, then graduated from [[Bucknell University]] in [[Lewisburg, Pennsylvania]]. He worked briefly as a [[social worker]]. Waite earned a master's degree from [[Yale University]] [[Yale Divinity School|Divinity School]] and was an ordained [[Presbyterian]] minister and religious editor at [[HarperCollins|Harper & Row, New York City]] before deciding on an acting career.<ref name="pcusa1">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcusa.org/news/2010/8/6/waltons-star-ralph-waite-finds-home-church|title=Presbyterian Church (USA) - Ralph Waite finds a home in church|publisher=Pcusa.org|date=August 6, 2010|accessdate=August 12, 2010}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Peninsula Players]] summer theater program during the 1963 season.<ref>Peninsula Players 65th Anniversary Program, 1999</ref>
Waite, the eldest of five children, was born in [[White Plains, New York]], on June 22, 1928, to Ralph H. Waite, a construction engineer, and Esther (née Mitchell) Waite.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/87/Ralph-Waite.html|title=Ralph Waite profile at|publisher=Filmreference.com|access-date=August 12, 2010}}</ref> He graduated from [[White Plains High School|White Plains Senior High School]] in 1946. Too young for [[World War II]], Waite served in the [[U.S. Marine Corps]] from 1946 to 1948, then graduated from [[Bucknell University]] in [[Lewisburg, Pennsylvania]]. He worked briefly as a [[social worker]]. Waite earned a master's degree from [[Yale University]]'s [[Yale Divinity School|Divinity School]] and was an ordained [[Presbyterian]] minister and religious editor at [[HarperCollins|Harper & Row, New York]], before deciding on an acting career.<ref name="pcusa1">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcusa.org/news/2010/8/6/waltons-star-ralph-waite-finds-home-church|title=Presbyterian Church (USA) – Ralph Waite finds a home in church|publisher=Pcusa.org|date=August 6, 2010|access-date=August 12, 2010}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Peninsula Players]] summer theater program during the 1963 season.<ref>Peninsula Players 65th Anniversary Program, 1999</ref>


Waite made his Broadway debut in ''[[Blues for Mister Charlie]]'', and would work on and off-Broadway steadily throughout the 1960s.
In 1963, Waite made his Broadway debut as the Minister in ''Marathon '33'', written and directed by [[June Havoc]].<ref>Playbill, vol. 1 (January 1964) No. 1, Marathon ’33, p. 27.</ref> He next appeared in ''[[Blues for Mister Charlie]]'', and worked on- and off-Broadway steadily throughout the 1960s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Byrge |first=Duane |date=February 13, 2014 |title='The Waltons' Actor Ralph Waite Dead at 85 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/waltons-actor-ralph-waite-dead-680278 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>


==Film work==
==Film work==
[[File:Waltons 1972.JPG|thumb|270px|From ''[[The Waltons]]'' (1972), L-R: Ralph Waite, [[Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas]], and [[Michael Learned]] ]]
His film work included roles in ''[[Cool Hand Luke]]'', ''[[Five Easy Pieces]]'', ''[[Lawman (film)|Lawman]]'', ''[[The Grissom Gang]]'', ''[[Chato's Land]]'' and ''[[The Stone Killer]]''. His later films included ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'', the part of Frank the helicopter pilot in the 1993 film ''[[Cliffhanger (film)|Cliffhanger]]'' and as the mysterious Time Traveller in the 2002 Science Fiction Historical Drama film [[Timequest (film)]] .

His film work included roles in ''[[Cool Hand Luke]]'', ''[[Five Easy Pieces]]'', ''[[Lawman (film)|Lawman]]'', ''[[Kid Blue]]'', ''[[The Grissom Gang]]'', ''[[Chato's Land]]'', and ''[[The Stone Killer]]''. His later films included ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'', the part of Frank the helicopter pilot in the 1993 film ''[[Cliffhanger (film)|Cliffhanger]]'', and as the mysterious time traveler in ''[[Timequest (film)|Timequest]]'' (2002).<ref>{{cite news |title=R.I.P. 'The Waltons' Patriarch Ralph Waite |url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/ralph-waite-dead-the-waltons-papa-john-683164/ |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=February 13, 2014 |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> He also voiced Shadow in ''Homeward Bound II''.


==Later stage work==
==Later stage work==
Waite scored a personal triumph when he created the role of Will Kidder in the Pulitzer Prize-winning ''[[The Young Man from Atlanta]]'', by playwright [[Horton Foote]], in 1995.
Waite scored a personal triumph when he created the role of Will Kidder in the Pulitzer Prize-winning ''[[The Young Man from Atlanta]]'', by playwright [[Horton Foote]], in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |last=Canby |first=Vincent |date=January 30, 1995 |title=THEATER REVIEW; Nameless Menace In Latest By Foote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/30/theater/theater-review-nameless-menace-in-latest-by-foote.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Waite was married three times, two marriages ending in divorce. He had three daughters from his first marriage. His eldest daughter, Sharon Waite, died of leukemia when she was 9 years old in 1964.<ref>[http://judson.org/images/Judson_House_21_Beverly_Waite.pdf Interview with Beverly Waite]; accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> [[Liam Waite]], one of Waite's stepsons, is also an actor. After 50 years away from organized religion, Waite returned in 2010 and became an active member of Spirit of the Desert Presbyterian Fellowship in [[Palm Desert, California]].<ref name="pcusa1"/>
Waite was married three times, two marriages ending in divorce. He had three daughters from his first marriage. His eldest daughter, Sharon Waite, died of leukemia when she was 9 years old in 1964.<ref>[http://judson.org/images/Judson_House_21_Beverly_Waite.pdf Interview with Beverly Waite] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207181503/http://www.judson.org/images/Judson_House_21_Beverly_Waite.pdf |date=December 7, 2012 }}; accessed May 19, 2014.</ref> Liam Waite, one of Waite's stepsons, is also an actor. After 50 years away from organized religion, Waite returned in 2010 and became an active member of Spirit of the Desert Presbyterian Fellowship in [[Palm Desert, California]].<ref name="pcusa1"/>


===Political involvement===
===Political involvement===
Waite ran unsuccessfully for [[United States Congress|Congress]] in California as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] on three occasions: In 1990, he challenged veteran GOP incumbent [[Al McCandless]] in the [[Riverside County]]-based 37th district, losing by five percentage points. In 1998, Waite ran in the special election for the then-[[Palm Springs]]-based 44th district left vacant by the death of incumbent [[Sonny Bono]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lyman|first=Rick|title=On Stage and Off|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/13/movies/on-stage-and-off.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|accessdate=August 30, 2012|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|date=February 13, 1998}}</ref> He was defeated in that election by [[Mary Bono]], Sonny's widow, and lost to her again that November.
Waite ran unsuccessfully for [[United States Congress|Congress]] in California as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] on three occasions: In 1990, he challenged veteran GOP incumbent [[Al McCandless]] in the [[Riverside County]]-based 37th district, losing by 5%. In 1998, Waite ran in the special election for the then-[[Palm Springs]]-based 44th district left vacant by the death of incumbent [[Sonny Bono]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lyman|first=Rick|title=On Stage and Off|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/13/movies/on-stage-and-off.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|access-date=August 30, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 13, 1998}}</ref> He was defeated in that election by [[Mary Bono]], Sonny's widow, and lost to her again that November.<ref>{{cite news |title='The Waltons' actor Ralph Waite dies at 85 |url=http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/02/14/the-waltons-actor-ralph-waite-dies-at-85/ |work=[[KSWB-TV|Fox 5 San Diego]] |date=February 14, 2014 |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>


On October 21, 1991, Waite introduced then-former California Governor [[Jerry Brown]] prior to the latter's speech announcing his candidacy for the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1992|1992 Democratic presidential nomination]].<ref>http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/BrownA</ref>
On October 21, 1991, Waite introduced former California Governor [[Jerry Brown]] prior to the latter's speech announcing his candidacy for the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1992|1992 Democratic presidential nomination]].<ref>[http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/BrownA Brown Presidential Campaign Announcement], Oct 21 1991</ref>


====Electoral history====
====Electoral history====
Line 86: Line 88:


==Death==
==Death==
On February 13, 2014, Waite died peacefully in [[Palm Desert, California]], of age-related illnesses at age 85.<ref>[http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2014/02/14/the-waltons-actor-ralph-waite-dies-at-85-in-palm-desert/5470743/ "The Waltons' actor Ralph Waite dies at 85 in Palm Desert"], "Mydesert.com", February 13, 2014</ref>
On February 13, 2014, Waite died in [[Palm Desert, California]], of natural causes at age 85.<ref>[http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2014/02/14/the-waltons-actor-ralph-waite-dies-at-85-in-palm-desert/5470743/ "The Waltons' actor Ralph Waite dies at 85 in Palm Desert."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514232411/http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2014/02/14/the-waltons-actor-ralph-waite-dies-at-85-in-palm-desert/5470743/ |date=May 14, 2014 }}, "Mydesert.com", February 13, 2014</ref> He is buried in [[White Plains Rural Cemetery]] in New York. The NCIS episode "Honor Thy Father", the season 11 finale, is dedicated to Waite's memory.


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
===Film===
'''Director'''
* ''[[On the Nickel]]'' (1980) (Also writer)


'''Actor'''
* ''[[Cool Hand Luke]]'' (1967) Alibi
{| class="wikitable"
* ''[[A Lovely Way to Die]]'' (1968)
|-
* ''[[Last Summer]]'' (1969)
! Year
* ''[[Five Easy Pieces]]'' (1970) Carl Fidelio Dupea
! Title
* ''[[Lawman (film)|Lawman]]'' (1971)
! Role
* ''[[The Grissom Gang]]'' (1971)
! Notes
* ''[[The Pursuit of Happiness (1971 film)|The Pursuit of Happiness]]'' (1971)
|-
* ''The Sporting Club'' (1971)
| 1967
* ''[[Chato's Land]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Girls on the Road]]'' (1972)
| ''[[Cool Hand Luke]]''
| "Alibi"
* ''[[The Magnificent Seven Ride]]'' (1972)
|
* ''[[Trouble Man (film)|Trouble Man]]'' (1972)
|-
* ''[[Hot Summer Week]]'' (1973)
| 1968
* ''[[Kid Blue]]'' (1973)
* ''[[The Stone Killer]]'' (1973)
| ''[[A Lovely Way to Die]]''
| Sean Magruder
* ''[[Red Alert (film)|Red Alert]]'' (1977)
|
* ''[[Angel City (film)|Angel City]]'' (1980)
|-
* ''[[OHMS (1980 film)|OHMS]]'' (1980)
| 1969
* ''[[On the Nickel]]'' (1980)
| ''[[Last Summer (1969 film)|Last Summer]]''
* ''[[Good Old Boy: A Delta Boyhood]]'' (1988) Narrator
| Peter's Father
* ''[[Red Earth, White Earth (film)|Red Earth, White Earth]]'' (1989) Martin
| Uncredited
* ''[[Crash and Burn (film)|Crash and Burn]]'' (1990)
|-
* ''[[Desperate Hours]]'' (1990)
| 1970
* ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]'' (1992) Herb Farmer
* ''[[Cliffhanger (film)|Cliffhanger]]'' (1993)
| ''[[Five Easy Pieces]]''
| Carl Fidelio Dupea
* ''[[Sioux City (film)|Sioux City]]'' (1994)
|
* ''[[Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco]]'' (1996) (voice)
|-
* ''The West'' (1996)
|rowspan=4|1971
* ''[[Sunshine State (film)|Sunshine State]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Timequest (film)|Timequest]]'' (2002)
| ''[[The Pursuit of Happiness (1971 film)|The Pursuit of Happiness]]''
| Detective Cromie
* ''[[Blessings (film)|Blessings]] (2003)
|
* ''[[Silver City (2004 film)|Silver City]]'' (2004)
|-
* ''[[Letters to God]]'' (2010)
| ''[[The Sporting Club (film)|The Sporting Club]]''
* ''[[25 Hill]]'' (2011)
| Olson
|
|-
| ''[[Lawman (film)|Lawman]]''
| Jack Dekker
|
|-
| ''[[The Grissom Gang]]''
| Mace
|
|-
|rowspan=3|1972
| ''[[Chato's Land]]''
| Elias Hooker
|
|-
| ''Hot Summer Week''
| John
|
|-
| ''[[The Magnificent Seven Ride!]]''
| Jim MacKay
|
|-
|rowspan=3|1973
| ''[[Trouble Man (film)|Trouble Man]]''
| Pete Cockrell
|
|-
| ''[[Kid Blue]]''
| Drummer
|
|-
| ''[[The Stone Killer]]''
| Mathews
|
|-
| 1980
| ''[[On the Nickel]]''
| C.G.
|
|-
| 1980
| ''[[Angel City (film)|Angel City]]''
| Jared Teeter
|
|-
| 1988
| ''Good Old Boy: A Delta Boyhood''
| The Narrator
|
|-
| 1989
| ''Red Earth, White Earth''
| Martin
|
|-
|rowspan=2|1990
| ''[[Crash and Burn (1990 film)|Crash and Burn]]''
| Lathan Hooks
|
|-
| ''[[Desperate Hours]]''
|
|
|-
| 1992
| ''[[The Bodyguard (1992 film)|The Bodyguard]]''
| Herb Farmer
|
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Cliffhanger (film)|Cliffhanger]]''
| Ranger Frank
|
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Sioux City (film)|Sioux City]]''
| Drew McDermott
|
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco]]''
| Shadow
| Voice
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Timequest (film)|Timequest]]''
| The Time Traveler
|
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Sunshine State (film)|Sunshine State]]''
| Furman Temple
|
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Silver City (2004 film)|Silver City]]''
| Casey Lyle
|
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Letters to God]]''
| Cornelius Perryfield
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[25 Hill]]''
| Ed
|
|-
| 2012
| ''Gabe the Cupid Dog''
| R.L. Dutton
|
|}


==Television==
===Television===
'''Director'''
{{div col}}
{| class="wikitable"
* ''[[Look Up and Live]]'' (1966)
|-
* ''[[The Borgia Stick]]'' (1967)
! Year
* ''[[N.Y.P.D. (TV series)|N.Y.P.D.]]'' 2 episodes
! Title
* ''[[Bonanza]]'' (1970) "The Lady and the Mark" – Hoby
! Notes
* ''[[Nichols (TV series)|Nichols]]'' (1971)
|-
* ''[[The Waltons]]'' (1972–81) John Walton, Sr.
| 1973-1980
* ''[[The Thanksgiving Story]]'' (1973)
* ''[[The Secret Life of John Chapman]]'' (1976)
| ''[[The Waltons]]''
| 16 episodes
* ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]'' (1977), Third Mate, Slater
|-
* ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'' (TV) (1977)
| 1983
* ''[[CBS: On the Air]]'' (1978)
| ''[[The Mississippi (TV series)|The Mississippi]]''
Angel City 1980
| Episode "Mardi Gras"
* ''[[The Gentleman Bandit]]'' (1981)
|}
* ''[[A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain]]'' (1982)
* ''[[A Wedding on Walton's Mountain]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain]]'' (1982)
* ''[[The Mississippi (TV series)|The Mississippi]]'' (1983) Ben Walker
* ''[[A Good Sport]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Growing Pains]]'' (1984) Rob
* ''[[Crime of Innocence]]'' (1985) Frank Hayward
* ''[[Reading Rainbow]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'' (1989) DA Paul Robbins
* ''[[Sparks: The Price of Passion]]'' (1990)
* ''[[A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion]]'' (1993)
* ''Keys'' (1994)
* ''[[Sin & Redemption]]'' (TV) (1994)
* ''[[Time Trax]]'' (1994)
* ''[[A Season of Hope]]'' (1995)
* ''[[A Walton Wedding]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Murder One (TV series)|Murder One]]'' (1996) Malcolm Dietrich
* ''[[A Walton Easter]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Orleans (TV series)|Orleans]]'' (1997)
* ''[[The Third Twin]]'' (1997) Senator Proust
* ''[[Chicken Soup for the Soul]]'' (1999)
* ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' (1999)
* ''[[The President's Man]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Spirit]]'' (2001)
* ''[[All My Children]]'' (2001) Bart
* ''[[Blessings (film)|Blessings]]'' (TV) (2003)
* ''[[Carnivàle]]'' (2003–2005)
* ''[[The Practice]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Cold Case]]'' (2007) Felton Metz
* ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI]]'' (2008) "Young Man with a Horn" as Sheriff Montgomery
* ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' (2008–2013) [[List of NCIS characters#Jackson Gibbs|Jackson Gibbs]] (8 episodes)
* ''[[The Cleaner (TV series)|The Cleaner]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Ace Ventura Jr: Pet Detective]]'' (TV) (2009)
* ''[[Kickin' It]]'' (2011) Principal Keener (7 episodes)
* ''[[Days of Our Lives]]'' (2009–2014) Father Matt (recurring)
* ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' (2009) "Tainted Obligation" as Irving Waller
* ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]'' (2009–2013) [[List of Bones characters#Hank Booth|Hank Booth]] (3 episodes)
* ''[[Off the Map (TV series)|Off the Map]]'' (2011) "On the Mean Streets of San Miguel" as Abuelito
{{div col end}}


'''Actor'''
===As director===
{| class="wikitable"
* ''[[The Waltons]]'' (TV series, 1973–80)
|-
* ''[[On the Nickel]]'' (1980)
! Year
* ''[[The Mississippi (TV series)|The Mississippi]]'' (TV series, 1983)
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Look Up and Live]]''
| Host
|
|-
| 1967–1968
| ''[[N.Y.P.D. (TV series)|N.Y.P.D.]]''
| Robert Stryker
|
|-
| 1970
| ''[[Bonanza]]''
| Hoby
| Episode "The Lady and the Mark"
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Nichols (TV series)|Nichols]]''
| Sam Burton
|
|-
| 1972–1981
| ''[[The Waltons]]''
| John Walton Sr.
|
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Roots (1977 miniseries)|Roots]]''
| Slater, First Mate
|
|-
| 1978
| ''CBS: On the Air''
| Himself
|
|-
| 1983
| ''[[The Mississippi (TV series)|The Mississippi]]''
| Ben Walker
|
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Reading Rainbow]]''
|
|
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''
| District Attorney Paul Robbins
|
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Time Trax]]''
| Lamont Carson
|
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Murder One (TV series)|Murder One]]''
| Malcolm Dietrich
|
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Orleans (TV series)|Orleans]]''
| Otis Leblanc
|
|-
|rowspan=3|1999
| ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''
| Gene Morton
|
|-
| ''[[Chicken Soup for the Soul]]''
| Dad
|
|-
| ''[[Rocket Power]]''
| Doc Freimouth
| Voice
|-
| 2001
| ''[[All My Children]]''
| Bart
|
|-
| 2003–2005
| ''[[Carnivàle]]''
| Reverend Norman Balthus
|
|-
| 2004
| ''[[The Practice]]''
| Walter Josephson
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Cold Case]]''
| Felton Metz
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI]]''
| Sheriff Montgomery
| Episode "Young Man with a Horn"
|-
| 2008–2013
| ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]''
| [[List of NCIS characters#Jackson Gibbs|Jackson Gibbs]]
| 8 episodes
|-
| 2008
| ''[[The Cleaner (American TV series)|The Cleaner]]''
| Jonus Mullins
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Kickin' It]]''
| Principal Keener
| 7 episodes
|-
| 2009–2014
| ''[[Days of Our Lives]]''
| Father Matt
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]''
| Irving Waller
| Episode "Tainted Obligation"
|-
| 2009–2013
| ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]''
| [[List of Bones characters#Hank Booth|Hank Booth]]
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Off the Map (TV series)|Off the Map]]''
| Abuelito
| Episode "On the Mean Streets of San Miguel"
|}


'''TV movies'''
===As producer===
{| class="wikitable"
* ''[[A Good Sport]]'' (1984) ([[executive producer]])
|-

! Year
===As writer===
! Title
* ''[[On the Nickel]]'' (1980)
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1967
| ''[[The Borgia Stick]]''
| The Man From Toledo
|
|-
| 1973
| ''[[The Thanksgiving Story]]''
|
|
|-
| 1976
| ''The Secret Life of John Chapman''
| John Chapman
|
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Red Alert (film)|Red Alert]]''
| Henry Stone
|
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Waiting for Godot]]''
| Pozzo
|
|-
| 1980
| ''[[OHMS (1980 film)|OHMS]]''
| Floyd Wing
|
|-
| 1980
| ''Angel City''
| Jared Teeter
|
|-
| 1981
| ''[[The Gentleman Bandit (1981 film)|The Gentleman Bandit]]''
| Father Bernard Pagano
|
|-
|rowspan=6|1982-1999
| ''A Wedding on Walton's Mountain''
|rowspan=6|John Walton Sr.
|rowspan=6|[[List of The Waltons episodes#Reunion movies (1982–1997)|Reunion movies]]
|-
| ''Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain''
|-
| ''A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain''
|-
| ''A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion''
|-
| ''A Walton Wedding''
|-
| ''A Walton Easter''
|-
|rowspan=2|1984
| ''A Good Sport''
| Tommy O'Bannon
| Also executive producer
|-
| ''Growing Pains''
| Rob
|
|-
| 1985
| ''Crime of Innocence''
| Frank Hayward
|
|-
| 1990
| ''Sparks: The Price of Passion''
| Orville Lemon
|
|-
|rowspan=2|1994
| ''[[Sin & Redemption]]''
| Cal Simms
|
|-
| ''Keys''
| Dr. C.J. Halligan
|
|-
| 1995
| ''A Season of Hope''
| Sam Hackett
|
|-
| 1997
| ''[[The Third Twin]]''
| Senator Proust
|
|-
| 2000
| ''[[The President's Man]]''
| President Mathews
|
|-
| 2001
| ''Spirit''
| Jacob
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Blessings (film)|Blessings]]''
| Sheriff
|
|-
|2007
|Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses
|Jacob
Brawley
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective]]''
| Grandpa Ventura
|
|-
|}


==Theatre==
==Theatre==
* ''[[Blues for Mister Charlie]]'' (1963)
* ''Marathon '33'' (1963)
* ''[[Blues for Mister Charlie]]'' (1964)
* ''[[Hogan's Goat]]'' (play) (1965)
* ''[[Hogan's Goat]]'' (play) (1965)
* ''[[The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (play)|The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald]]'' (1967)
* ''[[The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (play)|The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald]]'' (1967)
* [[Other People's Money]] (play, before the film) (1991, Trinity Repertory Company, Providence, RI)
* ''[[The Young Man From Atlanta]]'' (1995)
* ''[[The Young Man from Atlanta]]'' (1995)


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0906627}}
* {{IMDb name|0906627}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb|Ralph|Waite}}
* {{iobdb name|6477}}
* [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=wiarchives;cc=wiarchives;type=simple;rgn=Entire%20Finding%20Aid;q1=Ralph%20Waite;view=reslist;subview=detail;sort=freq;didno=uw-whs-tape00339a Ralph Waite] at the [[University of Wisconsin]]'s [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=wiarchives;view=reslist;subview=standard;didno=uw-whs-tape00339a;focusrgn=summaryinfo;cc=wiarchives;byte=50771135 Actors Studio audio collection]
* [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=wiarchives;cc=wiarchives;type=simple;rgn=Entire%20Finding%20Aid;q1=Ralph%20Waite;view=reslist;subview=detail;sort=freq;didno=uw-whs-tape00339a Ralph Waite] at the [[University of Wisconsin]]'s [https://web.archive.org/web/20131004223020/http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi/f/findaid/findaid-idx?c=wiarchives;view=reslist;subview=standard;didno=uw-whs-tape00339a;focusrgn=summaryinfo;cc=wiarchives;byte=50771135 Actors Studio audio collection]
* [http://www.biography.com/people/ralph-waite-20964813 Ralph Waite] on [[Biography Channel]]
* [http://www.biography.com/people/ralph-waite-20964813 Ralph Waite] on [[Biography Channel]]
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125110563/ralph-waite Ralph Waite] on [[Find A Grave]]


{{The Waltons}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American Presbyterian ministers]]
[[Category:American actor-politicians]]
[[Category:American actor-politicians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:Bucknell University alumni]]
[[Category:Bucknell University alumni]]
[[Category:Yale Divinity School alumni]]
[[Category:California Democrats]]
[[Category:California Democrats]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York]]
[[Category:Military personnel from New York (state)]]
[[Category:People from White Plains, New York]]
[[Category:Male actors from White Plains, New York]]
[[Category:American Presbyterian ministers]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:Yale Divinity School alumni]]

Latest revision as of 16:35, 27 November 2024

Not to be confused with Ralph White.

Ralph Waite
Waite at the 40th anniversary of The Waltons on September 29, 2012
Born(1928-06-22)June 22, 1928
White Plains, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 13, 2014(2014-02-13) (aged 85)
Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Resting placeWhite Plains Rural Cemetery
Alma materBucknell University and Yale Divinity School
Occupation(s)Actor, political activist
Years active1954–2014
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
Beverly Waite
​
​
(m. 1951; div. 1966)​
Kerry Shear Waite
​
​
(m. 1977; div. 1981)​
Linda East
​
(m. 1982)​
Children3

Ralph Waite (June 22, 1928 – February 13, 2014) was an American actor, best known for his lead role as John Walton Sr. on The Waltons (1972–1981), which he occasionally directed. He later had recurring roles as two other heroic fathers; in NCIS as Jackson Gibbs, the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and in Bones, as Seeley Booth's grandfather. Waite had supporting roles in movies such as Cool Hand Luke (1967), Five Easy Pieces (1970), The Grissom Gang (1971), The Bodyguard (1992), and Cliffhanger (1993).[1]

Early life

[edit]

Waite, the eldest of five children, was born in White Plains, New York, on June 22, 1928, to Ralph H. Waite, a construction engineer, and Esther (née Mitchell) Waite.[2] He graduated from White Plains Senior High School in 1946. Too young for World War II, Waite served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1946 to 1948, then graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He worked briefly as a social worker. Waite earned a master's degree from Yale University's Divinity School and was an ordained Presbyterian minister and religious editor at Harper & Row, New York, before deciding on an acting career.[3] He was a member of the Peninsula Players summer theater program during the 1963 season.[4]

In 1963, Waite made his Broadway debut as the Minister in Marathon '33, written and directed by June Havoc.[5] He next appeared in Blues for Mister Charlie, and worked on- and off-Broadway steadily throughout the 1960s.[6]

Film work

[edit]
From The Waltons (1972), L-R: Ralph Waite, Richard Thomas, and Michael Learned

His film work included roles in Cool Hand Luke, Five Easy Pieces, Lawman, Kid Blue, The Grissom Gang, Chato's Land, and The Stone Killer. His later films included The Bodyguard, the part of Frank the helicopter pilot in the 1993 film Cliffhanger, and as the mysterious time traveler in Timequest (2002).[7] He also voiced Shadow in Homeward Bound II.

Later stage work

[edit]

Waite scored a personal triumph when he created the role of Will Kidder in the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Young Man from Atlanta, by playwright Horton Foote, in 1995.[8]

Personal life

[edit]

Waite was married three times, two marriages ending in divorce. He had three daughters from his first marriage. His eldest daughter, Sharon Waite, died of leukemia when she was 9 years old in 1964.[9] Liam Waite, one of Waite's stepsons, is also an actor. After 50 years away from organized religion, Waite returned in 2010 and became an active member of Spirit of the Desert Presbyterian Fellowship in Palm Desert, California.[3]

Political involvement

[edit]

Waite ran unsuccessfully for Congress in California as a Democrat on three occasions: In 1990, he challenged veteran GOP incumbent Al McCandless in the Riverside County-based 37th district, losing by 5%. In 1998, Waite ran in the special election for the then-Palm Springs-based 44th district left vacant by the death of incumbent Sonny Bono.[10] He was defeated in that election by Mary Bono, Sonny's widow, and lost to her again that November.[11]

On October 21, 1991, Waite introduced former California Governor Jerry Brown prior to the latter's speech announcing his candidacy for the 1992 Democratic presidential nomination.[12]

Electoral history

[edit]
Year Office Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
1990 U.S House of Representatives
District 37 		Jeffrey Jacobs 29%
Ralph Waite 71% 		103,961 44.8% Bud Mathewson 27%
Al McCandless 73% 		115,469 49.8%
1998 U.S House of Representatives
District 44 (special election) 		Ralph Waite 24,228 28.8% Mary Bono 53,755 64%
1998 U.S House of Representatives
District 39 (general election) 		Ralph Waite 57,697 35.7% Mary Bono 97,013 60.1%

Death

[edit]

On February 13, 2014, Waite died in Palm Desert, California, of natural causes at age 85.[13] He is buried in White Plains Rural Cemetery in New York. The NCIS episode "Honor Thy Father", the season 11 finale, is dedicated to Waite's memory.

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]

Director

Actor

Year Title Role Notes
1967 Cool Hand Luke "Alibi"
1968 A Lovely Way to Die Sean Magruder
1969 Last Summer Peter's Father Uncredited
1970 Five Easy Pieces Carl Fidelio Dupea
1971 The Pursuit of Happiness Detective Cromie
The Sporting Club Olson
Lawman Jack Dekker
The Grissom Gang Mace
1972 Chato's Land Elias Hooker
Hot Summer Week John
The Magnificent Seven Ride! Jim MacKay
1973 Trouble Man Pete Cockrell
Kid Blue Drummer
The Stone Killer Mathews
1980 On the Nickel C.G.
1980 Angel City Jared Teeter
1988 Good Old Boy: A Delta Boyhood The Narrator
1989 Red Earth, White Earth Martin
1990 Crash and Burn Lathan Hooks
Desperate Hours
1992 The Bodyguard Herb Farmer
1993 Cliffhanger Ranger Frank
1994 Sioux City Drew McDermott
1996 Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco Shadow Voice
2000 Timequest The Time Traveler
2002 Sunshine State Furman Temple
2004 Silver City Casey Lyle
2010 Letters to God Cornelius Perryfield
2011 25 Hill Ed
2012 Gabe the Cupid Dog R.L. Dutton

Television

[edit]

Director

Year Title Notes
1973-1980 The Waltons 16 episodes
1983 The Mississippi Episode "Mardi Gras"

Actor

Year Title Role Notes
1966 Look Up and Live Host
1967–1968 N.Y.P.D. Robert Stryker
1970 Bonanza Hoby Episode "The Lady and the Mark"
1971 Nichols Sam Burton
1972–1981 The Waltons John Walton Sr.
1977 Roots Slater, First Mate
1978 CBS: On the Air Himself
1983 The Mississippi Ben Walker
1987 Reading Rainbow
1989 Murder, She Wrote District Attorney Paul Robbins
1994 Time Trax Lamont Carson
1996 Murder One Malcolm Dietrich
1997 Orleans Otis Leblanc
1999 The Outer Limits Gene Morton
Chicken Soup for the Soul Dad
Rocket Power Doc Freimouth Voice
2001 All My Children Bart
2003–2005 Carnivàle Reverend Norman Balthus
2004 The Practice Walter Josephson
2007 Cold Case Felton Metz
2008 CSI Sheriff Montgomery Episode "Young Man with a Horn"
2008–2013 NCIS Jackson Gibbs 8 episodes
2008 The Cleaner Jonus Mullins
2011 Kickin' It Principal Keener 7 episodes
2009–2014 Days of Our Lives Father Matt
2009 Grey's Anatomy Irving Waller Episode "Tainted Obligation"
2009–2013 Bones Hank Booth 3 episodes
2011 Off the Map Abuelito Episode "On the Mean Streets of San Miguel"

TV movies

Year Title Role Notes
1967 The Borgia Stick The Man From Toledo
1973 The Thanksgiving Story
1976 The Secret Life of John Chapman John Chapman
1977 Red Alert Henry Stone
1977 Waiting for Godot Pozzo
1980 OHMS Floyd Wing
1980 Angel City Jared Teeter
1981 The Gentleman Bandit Father Bernard Pagano
1982-1999 A Wedding on Walton's Mountain John Walton Sr. Reunion movies
Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain
A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain
A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion
A Walton Wedding
A Walton Easter
1984 A Good Sport Tommy O'Bannon Also executive producer
Growing Pains Rob
1985 Crime of Innocence Frank Hayward
1990 Sparks: The Price of Passion Orville Lemon
1994 Sin & Redemption Cal Simms
Keys Dr. C.J. Halligan
1995 A Season of Hope Sam Hackett
1997 The Third Twin Senator Proust
2000 The President's Man President Mathews
2001 Spirit Jacob
2003 Blessings Sheriff
2007 Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses Jacob

Brawley

2009 Ace Ventura Jr.: Pet Detective Grandpa Ventura

Theatre

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ralph Waite will be honored in 'NCIS' season finale". USA Today. February 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Ralph Waite profile at". Filmreference.com. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Presbyterian Church (USA) – Ralph Waite finds a home in church". Pcusa.org. August 6, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
  4. ^ Peninsula Players 65th Anniversary Program, 1999
  5. ^ Playbill, vol. 1 (January 1964) No. 1, Marathon ’33, p. 27.
  6. ^ Byrge, Duane (February 13, 2014). "'The Waltons' Actor Ralph Waite Dead at 85". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  7. ^ "R.I.P. 'The Waltons' Patriarch Ralph Waite". Deadline Hollywood. February 13, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. ^ Canby, Vincent (January 30, 1995). "THEATER REVIEW; Nameless Menace In Latest By Foote". The New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  9. ^ Interview with Beverly Waite Archived December 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine; accessed May 19, 2014.
  10. ^ Lyman, Rick (February 13, 1998). "On Stage and Off". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  11. ^ "'The Waltons' actor Ralph Waite dies at 85". Fox 5 San Diego. February 14, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  12. ^ Brown Presidential Campaign Announcement, Oct 21 1991
  13. ^ "The Waltons' actor Ralph Waite dies at 85 in Palm Desert." Archived May 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, "Mydesert.com", February 13, 2014
[edit]
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