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). So I drove out to Malibu, but we just looked at each other and said, Nah, I dont think so. So all of our lovemaking was on-screen!, Ralph, who had a reputation as a serious stage actor with no great love for children when the series debuted, probably experienced the biggest life change after falling in love with the rest of the Waltons cast. (CBS via Getty Images). "Ralph Waite will be honored in 'NCIS' season finale", "Presbyterian Church (USA) Ralph Waite finds a home in church", "R.I.P. And then suddenly you need to have all of this energy and pretend youre in the middle of a busy family dinner. But I was able to get a glimpse of things. Ralph took his work so seriously. 1 (January 1964) No. But he always did it with enormous gusto nonetheless. Born In: White Plains, New York, United States, Spouse/Ex-: Linda East (m. 1982), Beverly Waite (m. 1951 - div. Its true that Waite dealt with issues, including alcoholism, during his life and time on The Waltons. He also had lingering memories of a daughter, Sharon Waite, dying of leukemia when she was 9 years old. Ralph was also very passionate about politics, how people were treated and social justice. These Behind-the-Scenes Secrets About The Brady Bunch Will Blow Your Mind! So, hopefully, we'll be spreading that around with the concert. Norton played his daughter, Mary Ellen Walton. In politics, he ran for the House of Representatives; however, despite having the support of Hollywood friends like Al Pacino, he lost to Al McCandless. Waite also directed several episodes of the series during the nine seasons. I was always interested in everything that went on on set. But I think particularly as a young person, there are challenges that come with it. Waite then went to Alcoholics Anonymous and got himself sober. Not that it curved his dreamy nature. But it made everybody laugh. The death affected him deeply, and he sought refuge at the bottom of alcoholic drinks. This kept on even after his marriage withered completely in 1969. After the show ended, I went off to college and got my teaching credentials. And we just have to muddle through somehow as the song says until that happens. [3], 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%. | Photo: Getty Images. She was his favorite. Waite established the Los Angeles Actors Theatre in 1975. And I have enormous faith that we'll all be back together again. Among that group is Ralph Waite, who joined "NCIS" in 2008. And here we are six years later, with NCIS still on the air. He worked briefly as a social worker. . [9] Liam Waite, one of Waite's stepsons, is also an actor. He started training with the great Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York. Its a time to be together and it's really just all about love for us, as it is for everyone. | Photo: Getty Images. And it wasnt like a casual "Hey, how ya doing? It wasreally intent and him wanting to be sure that we were all good in our lives. He also acted in movies like The Pursuit of Happiness (1971) and The Magnificent Seven Ride (1972), Although never quite a leading star, he became a stalwart of the industry. From December 4, 1982, he was married to his third wife, Linda East, and she stayed with him for over 30 years until his death. Fox News: You've led such a successful career over the years. He would again play John Walton Sr. in the TV movies A Wedding on Walton's Mountain, Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain, and A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain, in 1982. It was what I did. The special, which also features Tony-winning star Kelli OHara, was filmed last year before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic impacted the country. Just like with Shear, the actor never had any more children with East. Waite died on Feb. 13, 2014, at 85 years old from age-related illnesses. Waite passed away on a Thursday in February 2014 at his home in South Palm Desert. Those two actors were Ralph Waite and Richard Thomas. Actor Ralph Waite, best known for playing John Walton Sr - Papa Walton - in the long-running TV show The Waltons, has died at the age of 85. . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail in 2019, Learned revealed the truth behind her and her late co-star's relationship. We stay in touch and that circle has never been broken. It was disappointing that no one even called to say, By the way, thank you. We were loved by the public, but we never felt the studio appreciated us., One time, Michael was gifted with a large arrangement of flowers from the producers, but she was aghast that nothing was sent to the young stars. He twice ran unsuccessfully for a Congressional seat -- in 1990 and 1998. He has appeared in all 414 episodes of the hit show and isnt showing signs of stopping. Ralph was a terrible singer. Fox News: What was it like working with Ralph Waite?Kami Cotler: Im the youngest of all the kids on the show, so my perspective comes from being a little kid. He completed his graduation in 1952 from the Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. Mark Harmon, the actor behind Gibbs and an executive producer on the long-running crime drama, is a powerhouse. And I think this particular iteration is going to really be a lovely offering this year for people. So when I went off to college, it seemed like education would be a really good way to learn more about American culture, live in different parts of the country, work with lots of people and be busy in that way, versus being busy on a TV set. And there were lots of writers writing from personal experiences. Waite was born to a construction engineer and was raised in suburban White Plains, N.Y., in an environment that was not very artistic and totally secular. In 1965, he earned excellent reviews for his role in "Hogan's Goat," which led him to move West. They will say John-Boy dies in the news when Im gone, says Richard. Even though Waite was gone, Thomas said they'd been very close, and their bond endured today. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! But also by the time The Waltons came along and was a hit, I'd been acting since I was 8years old. She reiterated what Waite had mentioned, that the show helped them heal, and they remained friends until his death. He was next seen in the hit movie Cliffhanger in 1993. I get to read "The Christmas Story" and a wonderful Pearl Buck story. He also appeared in a few films including On the Nickel (1980) which he wrote and directed.Throughout the run of the series, Waite continued to revert back to his theater roots from time to time. The pair had already welcomed three daughters by the time he earned his degree and became a minister in the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ. Before becoming a big celebrity, Waite graduated with a BA degree from Bucknell University. And, I defy adults to do well when they're suddenly hit with a lot of fame and notoriety. Sign up for our newsletter! Ralph Waite smokes a cigar and enjoys a game of pool with his buddies in a scene from the movie "The Secret Life of John Chapman," circa 1976 | Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images. Last December, Richard Thomas remembered him fondly while speaking to Fox News. Thomas spoke to Fox News about working alongside his TV father Ralph Waite, who passed away in 2014 at age 85, as well as his relationship with The Waltons cast today and celebrating Christmas in 2020. The star established the theater in 1975 and served as its director and founder. Please feel free to share these very heartfelt videos with your friends and look for more videos next week. Among the cast was a woman he had chemistry with, his onscreen wife, Michael Learned. Actress Judy Norton still finds herself having a lot of respect for her The Waltons co-star Ralph Waite, even though he had a dark side.. And while shes no longer pursuing acting, Cotler still vividly remembers bringing The Waltons to life and befriending Waite along the way. It was very easy for him. Michael [Learned] organized a dinner for us and we were over at her house. Ralph Waltie and Michael Learned in "The Waltons.". His other significant roles were as Hank Booth in the series Bones (2009 2013), Jackson Gibbs in NCIS (2008 2013), and Father Matt/Watt in Days of Our Lives (2009 2014). https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ralph-waite-47183.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century American Film & Theater Personalities. He soon became a minister for United Church of Christ, Fishers Island. Learned from The Waltons, which Waite starred on for nine years, called him a "good honest actor and good honest man." An Exclusive Interview with Ralph Waite The Waltons: Our producers had a unique opportunity to sit down with Ralph Waite during the shooting of Old Henry, an INSP original Short-Form series, to answer some of the questions that you recently submitted through the INSP Facebook page. Legal Statement. Once, we were interviewed as a cast and asked how our favorite character was on the show, Norton said. Actor Ralph Waite portrayed the patriarch of "The Waltons" for nine seasons. We've justgot to get through this. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 0:00 / 1:50 Ralph Waite on Life after The Waltons - Watch Old Henry at moments.org! | Photo: Getty Images. Executive Producer of Ralph Waite Productions from 1983 to 1984. He wanted things to be real and true. 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Among that group is Ralph Waite, who joined NCIS in 2008. In 1972, Waite landed the most significant role in his life, which opened Hollywood for him "The Waltons.". Ralph Waite was born in White Plains, New York on June 22, 1928. I love Christmas. The Brady Bunch Stars Have a Fun Reunion on Today See the Cast Now! All rights reserved. Michael Learned and Ralph Waite attend the signing of Mary McDonough's book at Book Soup on April 16, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. The show was what led him to kick his habit. said in an interview last year with local paper The . Our producers had a unique opportunity to sit down with Ralph Waite during the shooting of Old Henry, an INSP original Short-Form series, to answer some of the questions that you recently submitted through the INSP Facebook page. I loved Ralph a lot. They had three daughters together, Sharon, Kathleen, and Suzanne. or redistributed. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. Fox News: Why education?Cotler: I think acting was a great job for me as a child, but then I also had a very unusual situation in that I was on the same show for years and years. (Getty Images). According to an interview Learned gave with the Television Academy Foundation, she went in to audition for "The Waltons." Then, she was asked to do a screen test. Fox News: What was it about The Tabernacle Choir that made you want to ring in the holidays with them?Thomas: Well, of course, I've been listening to their magnificent singing my whole life and we had their Christmas album on the family record shelf while I was growing up. Behind the scenes, the children were treated poorly, one actor struggled with alcoholism and, despite the popularity of the show, nobody was paid what they were worth. On February 13, 2014, Waite sadly passed away at age 85 from natural causes in Palm Desert, California. In an interview with Assignment X in 2015, Harmon recalled how the show handled Waites departure. [3] He was a member of the Peninsula Players summer theater program during the 1963 season. The news was revealed by Steve Gordon, the Waite family's accountant. Peninsula Players 65th Anniversary Program, 1999. However, he's remembered more for his role on "The Waltons.". And the production company wasnt planning on casting Native Americans. One cast member from The Waltons says that star actor Ralph Waite was very passionate about politics and how people were treated. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Notable was his role as Pozzo in Waiting for Godot (1977), which was televised by PBS, and a return to Broadway with "The Father" in 1981. Fox News: Do you remember the last time you spoke to him?Cotler: Yes, very clearly. Fox News: How would you describe Ralph Waite when he wasn't playing your father on the screen?Thomas: Id made a picture with him years before [The Waltons], and he was an uncompromisingly honest artist and an actor. Waite was a great man who was loved by many people despite his faults. Thomas played John Walton Jr. His character is better known as John-Boy. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Ralph Waite was born on June 22, 1928, in White Plains, New York, to Ralph H. Waite and Esther Mitchell Waite. Fox News: How does it feel to know that this special is going to help bring a sense of hope to many who have endured so much loss this year?Thomas: Its been a really rough time for everybody, of course, and nothing can make it all go away and seem better. The star had also earned his degree and became a minister in the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church. Ralph Waite was a very complex man who lived a complicated life. He is survived by his third wife, Linda East, whom he married in 1982 and two daughters from his first marriage. The movie made more than US $400 million against a budget of just US $25 million. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The only reason he tried to act was that a friend suggested that he try acting school, which he did because he figured there was nothing to lose. Nothing eventually happened between them, but she was his friend for life. Waite said in the 1980 interview. He fell in love with the Waltons cast, and it helped him change. The actress admitted that they both ended up quitting smoking and got sober. And so as long as this creative process is growing and people are excited by that, as we are at the moment, well be doing it.. But no matter how much you know about Kelli and heard her sing before, when you get on stage and you hear that voice, it's a miracle all over again. The actor began dating Kerry Shear in 1975 after she pitched as a volunteer stage manager-actress at the LAAT. We were all sitting around Michaels living room. Not before he played Gibbs father on NCIS over nearly 10 episodes, however. He graduated from Bucknell, after which he met and married Beverly Hall, the daughter of religious writer Clarence Hall. East was his third wife, one he married after his second marriage to Kerry Shear fell through. It would be his defining role. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's definitely limiting. He had a lot of things in his personal life that he struggled with, so he had a dark side, Norton said to Everything Zoomer. He was ultimately defeated by Bono's widow, Mary Bono.Waite died in Palm Desert, California on February 13, 2014, at age 85. We're still a great big family, believe it or not. | Photo: Getty Images. Thereafter, he married Linda East on December 4, 1982 and was with her until his death. It's an astonishing combination. Meanwhile, at home, things were not going well with his wife, and he drank too much a problem that was greatly magnified after he lost his oldest daughter to Leukemia in 1964. By the time he was cast as John Walton on "The Waltons," he already had a reputation as a serious stage actor but had only been cast in one other TV show, a "Nichols" episode. He would play other roles, too, before his death. The two had a strange yet beautiful relationship where there was a lot of love and no sexual gratification. He continued to act well into his 80s, most notably playing the father of Mark Harmon on NCIS (2003).For many years, Waite had held passionate political ambitions. The 53-year-old mother of two has dedicated her life to education, specifically leading charter schools in Los Angeles. 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. And he said he sort of expected how "The Waltons" would be. Ralph Waite, who played the patriarch in "The Waltons," (left) passed away in 2014 at age 85. Actor: The Waltons. MORE: The Waltons Star Michael Learned Opens up for the First Time About Surviving Domestic Abuse, Eric recalls intense pressure to be on your spot, say your lines and dont make it difficult, but never received encouragement from the studio. In the next few years, he was seen in series like N.Y.P.D (1967 1968) and Nichols (1971), to name a few. We all did. This was enough to encourage him to move West where he began collecting bit parts in prestigious movies, including Cool Hand Luke (1967) and Five Easy Pieces (1970). Once owned a house in Rancho Mirage, California. In June 2013, INSP interviewed Waite while shooting "Old Henry," where he spoke about his life after "The Waltons." Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide 5 times. He completed his graduation in 1952 from the Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. She just pulled me into her lap. Kami Cotler today. Some of the things he accomplished include heading an alcohol and drug recovery program and helping to build low-income housing. For children, it's really complicated. When he passed away, NCIS decided to dedicate the entire Season 11 finale to Ralph Waites memory. He played the role of Jackson Gibbs, Leroys father, and appeared in 8 episodes of the show before he died in 2014. His eldest daughter, Sharon Waite, died of leukemia when she was 9 years old in 1964. I have the great pleasure every morning to get up and enjoy that drive to work and look forward to the people I work with, and I think many of us share that, and I think thats rare, he said. Theyre all phenomenally talented and managed to establish something that made it easy for all these children acting along with them to do a good job and to make it real. At age 30, however, he began to study acting and found his true life's passion.Waite made his professional NY debut in a 1960 production of "The Balcony" at the Circle in the Square and was seen on Broadway in "Blues for Mister Charlie" before earning fine reviews in 1965 alongside Faye Dunaway in "Hogan's Goat". Ralph Waite returns to guest star in his role as Gibbs's father, Jackson Gibbs on NCIS in Los Angeles on August 28, 2012 | Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS/Getty Images, These included 1977's "Roots," 1976's "The Secret Life of John Chapman," 1980's "OHMS," and "Angel City," to name a few. What's making me smile right now is the memory of working with the wonderful Michael Learned and the great Ralph Waite who played my parents, and what wonderful actors and people they were. Well, I think it was a fitting tribute to Ralph, and done in a very different way, and certainly for us, a different kind of season ending, Harmon said. A portrait of Michael Learned and Ralph Waite on the show "The Waltons." All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. Feeling disconnected from his role on the show and his real-life, Waite finally found the courage to quit drinking, according to co-star Judy Norton. Sadly, the actor's marriage failed along the way, and they got divorced in 1969. It's, I think, the 17th version of it. It took one day of sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by his onscreen family for him to feel fake, so he got himself sober. It's going to be awfully quiet this year. Ralph Waite's first major role was on "The Waltons". Besides his role as John Walton on "The Waltons," Waite had roles on other TV series like "Bones" and "NCIS." The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. And it was easy for me to let him be my dad for all those years. Besides his famous "Waltons" role, Waite also got to appear on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" and as a guest star on "NCIS" and "Bones." Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In 1972, Ralph Waite landed perhaps his most famous role of John Walton Sr. in the TV series The Waltons (1972 1981). Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Picture of Ralph Waite with other cast members on "The Waltons" | Photo: Getty Images. He made his TV debut with the series Look Up and Live in 1966. And then I opened up another middle school in LA where I was a principal for four, fiveyears. And everybody was very super gracious about letting this little girl climb all over their equipment and ask 100 questions. (CBS via Getty Images). Fox News: What surprised you the most about Kelli O'Hara while filming this special?Thomas: Nothing surprised me about Kelli because I've known Kelli and her family for many years, and I know what a magnificent artist she is, and also what a wonderful person. And Ralph Waite's hiatus showed him how out of touch people can be with the rest of the country. But he realized that, as he looked at each of us as we sat in the audience, that he still felt connected. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, I really cherish the time that we had together. Details, Pink Is a Total Rockstar! I sat and chatted with her until I was ready to move on to the next person. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Ralph, who had a reputation as a serious stage actor with no great love for children when the series debuted, probably experienced the biggest life change after falling in love with the rest of. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. All rights reserved. Fox News: Why does the show continue to resonate with audiences?Cotler: It represents a side of American life that isnt often represented, which is a big, working-class family living in a rural place. Fans of classic television will remember the late, great Ralph Waite as John Walton from The Waltons. But the prolific actor continued working all the way up until a few years ago. He came to acting relatively late in life. At the age of thirty, Ralph Waite changed his career from book editor to actor. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Following that, he gained a Masters degree from the Divinity School at Yale University. We had a lot of different things going on this year that were handled very well and I think thats great.. His hard work was rewarded when he started getting movie roles. In his second TV series The Mississippi (1982), which was produced by his company Ralph Waite Productions, he played a criminal lawyer who abandoned his practice (almost) for a leisurely life captaining a riverboat. The icon admitted she and her onscreen husband were deeply in love in real life. Closer Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. 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