Who was Ralph Waite? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 85

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Linda East (m. 1982), Beverly Waite (m. 1951 - div. 1966), Kerry Shear Waite (m. 1977 - div. 1981)

father: Ralph H. Waite

mother: Esther Mitchell

children: Sharon Waite

Born Country: United States

Actors American Men

Height: 6'0" (183 cm), 6'0" Males

Died on: February 13, 2014

place of death: Palm Desert, California, United States

Cause of Death: Illness

Notable Alumni: Yale Divinity School

U.S. State: New Yorkers

City: White Plains, New York

More Facts

education: Bucknell University, Yale Divinity School

Recommended For You

1

What are some notable TV shows Ralph Waite appeared in?

Ralph Waite is best known for his role as John Walton Sr. on the popular TV show "The Waltons." He also appeared in shows like "NCIS" and "Days of Our Lives."
2

Did Ralph Waite have any political involvement?

Yes, Ralph Waite was involved in politics and ran for Congress in California as a Democrat in the 1990s.
3

Was Ralph Waite involved in any charitable work?

Yes, Ralph Waite was known for his philanthropy and was involved in various charitable organizations, including those supporting veterans and children's causes.
4

Did Ralph Waite serve in the military?

Yes, Ralph Waite served in the United States Marine Corps before pursuing a career in acting.
5

What was Ralph Waite's approach to acting?

Ralph Waite was known for his method acting approach and dedication to his craft, often immersing himself fully in his characters.

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Rise to Stardom

At the age of thirty, Ralph Waite changed his career from book editor to actor. He started training with the great Lee Strasberg at the ‘Actors Studio’ in New York. He made his debut on stage as the chief of police in a production of ‘The Balcony’ (1960). This was followed by his Broadway debut in ‘Marathon ’33’ (December 22, 1963 – February 1, 1964). He also mesmerized Broadway audiences in ‘The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald’ (November 5, 1967 - November 11, 1967), ‘The Watering Place’ (March 12, 1969), ‘An American Daughter’ (April 13, 1997 - June 29, 1997), and many more.

He made his TV debut with the series ‘Look Up and Live’ in 1966. Ralph Waite made his movie debut in ‘Cool Hand Luke’ (1967). In the next few years, he was seen in series like ‘N.Y.P.D’ (1967 – 1968) and ‘Nichols’ (1971), to name a few. 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.

In 1972, Ralph Waite landed perhaps his most famous role of John Walton Sr. in the TV series ‘The Waltons’ (1972 – 1981). It made him a household name. He would reprise the role in the TV movie ‘The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons’ (1980). In 1977, he played the sadistic Slater, in the ‘Roots’ mini-series. He would again play John Walton Sr. in the TV movies ‘A Wedding on Walton's Mountain’, ‘Mother's Day on Walton’s Mountain’, and ‘A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain’, in 1982.

Ralph Waite’s next major role was in the blockbuster ‘The Bodyguard’ (1992). The movie made more than US $400 million against a budget of just US $25 million. It was his highest-grossing movie to date. He was next seen in the hit movie ‘Cliffhanger’ in 1993. In 1995, he was again seen in the TV movie ‘A Walton Wedding’. He also portrayed Reverend Norman Balthus in ‘Carnivàle’ (2003 – 2005). 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).

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Political Career

In the late 1950s, Ralph Waite started picketing for ‘National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’. He also ran for Congress as a ‘Democrat’, in California in 1990 for the Riverside County-based 37th district. He ran twice in 1998 for Palm Springs-based 44th and 39th districts. He lost all three times.

Family & Personal Life

Ralph Waite was born on June 22, 1928, in White Plains, New York, to Ralph H. Waite and Esther Mitchell Waite. He was the eldest of five children. Ralph joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served there from 1946 to 1948. He completed his graduation in 1952 from the Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. Following that, he gained a Master’s degree from the Divinity School at ‘Yale University’. He soon became a minister for United Church of Christ, Fishers Island. Unfortunately, he was appalled by the church’s hypocrisy and quit. He then became an assistant editor of religious books and also the publicity director at ‘Harper & Row’.

Ralph Waite got married to Beverly Hall on December 29, 1951. They had three daughters together, Sharon, Kathleen, and Suzanne. Sharon died of leukemia, at the tender age of nine, in 1964. The crisis led Ralph Waite to start drinking heavily. Additionally, his decision to start acting led to his divorce with Beverly in 1966.

Ralph married actress, Kerry Shear, on August 27, 1977, and this marriage too ended in a divorce on August 31, 1981. Thereafter, he married Linda East on December 4, 1982 and was with her until his death. He died on February 13, 2014 in Palm Desert, California.

Facts About Ralph Waite

In addition to his acting career, Waite was a skilled woodworker and enjoyed making furniture in his spare time.

Waite was a passionate advocate for social causes, including prison reform and environmental conservation.

He was known for his love of poetry and often incorporated it into his work and personal life.

Waite was an accomplished pilot and enjoyed flying small planes in his free time.

Ralph Waite Biography

You wanted to know

What are some notable TV shows Ralph Waite appeared in?

Did Ralph Waite have any political involvement?

Was Ralph Waite involved in any charitable work?

Did Ralph Waite serve in the military?

What was Ralph Waite's approach to acting?