Thereafter, he married Linda East on December 4, 1982 and was with her until his death. Ralph Waite passed away on February 13, 2014. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's definitely limiting. 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. 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. Michael Learned and Ralph Waite at the signing of Mary McDonough's book "Lessons From the Mountain: What I Learned From Erin Walton" on April 16, 2011, in West Hollywood, California | Photo: Brian Putnam/FilmMagic/Getty Images. [5] He next appeared in Blues for Mister Charlie, and worked on- and off-Broadway steadily throughout the 1960s.[6]. And so this felt like exactly what I wanted to do. The show aired from 1972 until 1981. Ralph has a lovely response as John Walton. Waite also directed several episodes of the series during the nine seasons. Ralph Waite, who played the patriarch in "The Waltons," (left) passed away in 2014 at age 85. He was frustrated when he realized that his sense of "social justice" was too rigorous for his congregation. I think I was giving away cocktail umbrellas that I had stolen from everybodys glasses and giving them out to people I wanted to meet. Some of the things he accomplished include heading an alcohol and drug recovery program and helping to build low-income housing. We're still a great big family, believe it or not. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. The Emmy-winning actor, who famously played John-Boy Walton in the hit 70s series The Waltons,"is hosting Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir, an Americana-themed special that aims to celebrate soulful holiday traditions, songs and stories. Waite played patriarch John Walton Sr. on the show. Fox News: How are you and your family coping with 2020?Thomas: We may have distance and separation, but we still have a connection. [2] He graduated from White Plains Senior High School in 1946. Intense togetherness and then moving on to the next thing. I get to read "The Christmas Story" and a wonderful Pearl Buck story. Are you OK?" This gave him courage, so he wrote a screenplay and showed it to producer Lee Rich, who ran Lorimar Productions with Merv Adelson. But he realized that, as he looked at each of us as we sat in the audience, that he still felt connected. Learned from The Waltons, which Waite starred on for nine years, called him a "good honest actor and good honest man.". 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. Child star Kami Cotler shares memories of Ralph Waite, best known for playing big-hearted patriarch John Walton in The Waltons, who passed away in 2014. See GMA Host Lara Spencers Bikini Photos, Why Did Sara Haines Disappear During an Episode of The View? And I think we were very fortunate in having the actors that we had. It made him a household name. The star established the theater in 1975 and served as its director and founder. The two had a strange yet beautiful relationship where there was a lot of love and no sexual gratification. He would tell each one of us, "How are you? Waite was survived by his wife, Linda East; a daughter, Kathleen; a stepson, Liam; and three grandchildren. Ralph Waite, the big-hearted patriarch John Walton in the 70s Depression-era series The Waltons,passed away five years ago, on Feb. 13, 2014 at age 85 and one co-star who grew up with him still has vivid memories of the beloved actor. 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. EXCLUSIVE: Richard Thomas wants to offer a joyful holiday during a grim year. It was very easy for him. He then spent his young adult life trying to find his way. Closer Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. In 1972, Waite landed the most significant role in his life, which opened Hollywood for him "The Waltons.". 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). We were both single, Michael says. Sadly, the actor's marriage failed along the way, and they got divorced in 1969. 8 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT 'THE WALTONS'. Please feel free to share these very heartfelt videos with your friends and look for more videos next week. 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. Ralph married actress, Kerry Shear, on August 27, 1977, and this marriage too ended in a divorce on August 31, 1981. Thomas looked to Waite as a mentor on the shows set. WALTONS STAR MICHAEL LEARNED SAYS SHE AND TV HUSBAND RALPH WAITE WERE IN LOVE. It was just one of the chapters of his life, and it preceded the tragedy that almost ruined his life. She went to the producers and said, These kids have given you years of their lives and you cant even get them something? remembers Judy Norton, who played eldest daughter Mary Ellen. But there is one major caveat. 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. Ralph Waite was a very complex man who lived a complicated life. In June 2013, INSP interviewed Waite while shooting "Old Henry," where he spoke about his life after "The Waltons." When Waite turned 30, he started studying acting after a chance encounter with an acting class. 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. 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. He graduated from Bucknell, after which he met and married Beverly Hall, the daughter of religious writer Clarence Hall. Ralph was unfailingly honest and demanding as an actor, Thomas toldSmashing Interviews. She combines the voice of a diva, of a great singing diva with the girl next door persona. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Environmental charter schools. He made his debut on stage as the chief of police in a production of The Balcony (1960). You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! One of those films, the coming-of-age Last Summer (1969) starred an up-and-coming talent named Richard Thomas, who, of course, would figure prominently in Waite's success story in years to come. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2014. Ralph was a terrible singer. In the TV-movie pilot, the roles of John and Olivia Walton were played by Andrew Duggan and Patricia Neal. Fox News: For those who will be watching The Tabernacle Choir for the first time, what do you hope they get from this experience?Thomas: If they're Christmas lovers like I am, I hope they have a wonderful Christmas moment and they're able to really indulge in the beauty of the holiday and the majesty of the singing and the whole experience and that that will enrich their Christmas holidays. ichael Learned and Ralph Waite while filming the episode "The Parting" on November 16, 1978. Love Ralph Waite as much as we do? Thats a rare situation for a TV show to find itself in. is for general information purposes only. Fox News: Looking back, how did he feel about "The Waltons" after it came to an end?Cotler: He said something really interesting about it. I sat and chatted with her until I was ready to move on to the next person. Maybe he knew he wasnt going to be around. He worked at the Los Angeles Actors Theatre when he wasn't acting. Here are a couple of the interview segments. The actor began dating Kerry Shear in 1975 after she pitched as a volunteer stage manager-actress at the LAAT. 'The Waltons' Patriarch Ralph Waite", "THEATER REVIEW; Nameless Menace In Latest By Foote", "The Waltons' actor Ralph Waite dies at 85 in Palm Desert. Waite said in the 1980 interview. And I have enormous faith that we'll all be back together again. Waite was a great man who was loved by many people despite his faults. Legal Statement. All rights reserved. Ralph Waite as John Walton in the episode "Children's Carol," in the series "The Waltons," on September 20, 1977, in Los Angeles | Photo: CBS/Getty Images, His move earned him acting roles in big films like 1970's "Five Easy Pieces" and 1967's "Cool Hand Luke." And it was easy for me to let him be my dad for all those years. 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. They will say John-Boy dies in the news when Im gone, says Richard. He experienced a fair amount of tragic happenings in his lifetime, but he nonetheless lived the way he desired so that when he finally died at age 85, he left a legacy. Norton also recalls him with his blue eyes, which he would call the baby blues.. He said he loved being appreciated and loved by his fans and acting allowed him to be of service to his community. Acting on a TV show can be quite dull. Watching how Waite and actress Michael Learned, who played Olivia, interacted as a couple impressed Norton a lot. Occupations came and went, including social worker, religious editor for Harper & Row, and even Presbyterian minister after spending three . We ended up getting a little muffin basket with, like, three muffins in it., MORE: The Waltons Richard Thomas on Early Fame, I Dont Know How Young Stars Today Survive!. But for anybody, I think, it will be a wonderful opportunity to hear beautiful music. His attention was focused on the betterment of people of color by picketing for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Educated at Bucknell University where he graduated with a BA degree, Waite existed rather aimlessly as a young adult while trying to find his way in the world. In New York's White Plains on June 22, 1928, Ralph Harold Waite Jr.'s parents, Ralph H. Waite Sr. and Esther Waite, welcomed a future star. Despite their feelings for the studio, there was genuine love among all the actors. Fox News: You must have many, but what's one memory from your time filming The Waltons that makes you smile today?Richard Thomas: There are many, many memories that make me smile. He passed away at midday on Thursday at his home in South Palm Desert, Steve. It's easy to lose perspective when surrounded by a community of like-minded people. . The news was revealed by Steve Gordon, the Waite family's accountant. And he said he sort of expected how "The Waltons" would be. Here are the next three interview segments. He played the role of Jackson Gibbs, Leroy's father, and appeared in 8 episodes of the show before he died in 2014. In 1965, he earned excellent reviews for his role in "Hogan's Goat," which led him to move West. But I was able to get a glimpse of things. I made a lot of Christmas movies. Sharon died of leukemia, at the tender age of nine, in 1964. 57.8K subscribers Subscribe 13K views 9 years ago Ralph Waite sits down for an exclusive interview with INSP to share his thoughts on faith. Outside entertainment, Waite demonstrated his usefulness in politics and community work. 1 (January 1964) No. Ive been in this business long enough and worked enough jobs to appreciate that. And the way Ralph told the story, he realized he was kneeling in the mud talking to me, that he had a responsibility to raise his children. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In 1977, he played the sadistic Slater, in the Roots mini-series. Even though his role in the series was more wholesome, he found himself at odds with it. Closer Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. And it wasnt until after he passed away that I thought, "He was checking in. [1], 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 (ne Mitchell) Waite. You can see in Ralphs performances, the way he prepared, the way that he directed this was not a game we were playing. Ralph Waite, who was beloved to TV viewers as the ultimate father figure, John Walton, on The Waltons, has died. He would play other roles, too, before his death. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. And were standing by the raccoons grave and its pouring with pretend rain. But when we would be filming around the kitchen table, hed be full of energy and often tell us bawdy jokes., She remembers Waite having quite a laugh that stood out from other The Waltons cast members. He said Waite was demanding, sweet, and kind. 2. NCIS Star Mark Harmon Emotionally Detailed How Ralph Waite Tribute Episode Came to Be in 2015. Waite was a great man who was loved by many people despite his faults. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. I love Christmas. He was a sweet, affectionate, funny man, too. The special, which also features Tony-winning star Kelli OHara, was filmed last year before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic impacted the country. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! And I think this particular iteration is going to really be a lovely offering this year for people. It depends on how stable your home life is. He also portrayed Reverend Norman Balthus in Carnivle (2003 2005). | Photo: Getty Images. So, hopefully, we'll be spreading that around with the concert. All rights reserved. 'WALTONS' STAR JUDY NORTON REVEALS HER ONE BIG REGRET, Set in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II, the show follows the Walton family, consisting of John (Ralph Waite) and Olivia (Michael Learned), their seven children, and John's parents Zebulon "Zeb" Tyler (Will Greer) and Esther (Ellen Corby). And I think offering this concert in a fully live form is going to give people a lot of comfort and make them just feel like they're in the room with lots of people, which is what we all need. Waite continued to thrive as well on the stage appearing in both contemporary plays ("The Trial of Lee Harvey Osward") as well as Shakespearean classics (Claudius in "Hamlet" and Orsino in "Twelfth Night").Stardom came for him in the form of the gentle, homespun Depression-era series The Waltons (1972). He later left the ministry, upset with what he saw as hypocrisy in the church, and went to work for Harper & Row as an editor for religious books. Looking back, how did you escape that so-called child curse that we tend to hear about?Thomas: [I think] youre lucky enough to have success in the business at any age. They had three daughters together, Sharon, Kathleen, and Suzanne. Waite then went to Alcoholics Anonymous and got himself sober. | Photo: Getty Images. As the year comes to an end, the 69-year-old has been reflecting on cherished memories, particularly those from his time filming The Waltons, which focuses on a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. (YouTube). After the show ended, I went off to college and got my teaching credentials. | Photo: Getty Images. By 1960, he'd already made his professional acting debut in New York's "The Balcony" production at the Circle in the Square. It would be his defining role. Waite had already developed his drinking problem by that time, and it got worse after 1964. 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. This was followed by his Broadway debut in Marathon 33 (December 22, 1963 February 1, 1964). One cast member from The Waltons says that star actor Ralph Waite was very passionate about politics and how people were treated. He also had recurring roles in NCIS as Jackson Gibbs, the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and Bones, as Seeley Booth 's grandfather. Norton, in an interview after Waites death in 2014, recalled the actor from the long-running CBS family drama. That we were happy and situated. We still have love. He got the company going by personally investing $50,000 to direct, perform, and produce "The Hairy Ape and The Kitchen.". He ran twice in 1998 for Palm Springs-based 44th and 39th districts. | Photo: Getty Images. He was the show-off, the dreamer, and the storyteller who always had his head in the clouds. For children, it's really complicated. You dont see those elements on television very often. Before becoming a big celebrity, Waite graduated with a BA degree from Bucknell University. He has appeared in all 414 episodes of the hit show and isnt showing signs of stopping. WALTONS CHILD STAR KAMI COTLER REFLECTS ON LATE ACTOR RALPH WAITE 5 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Market data provided by Factset. Fox News: Whats one memory of Waite that still resonates with you?Cotler: His singing. In a May 2020 TV Line interview, Waite's other "Waltons" co-star, Michael Learned (Olivia Walton), shared some little-known information about her late on-screen husband. Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir airs Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. 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. Ralph Waite. In the late 1950s, Ralph Waite started picketing for National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. said in an interview last year with local paper The . As a child, he never attended a play or concert, nor did he go to church. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. On February 13, 2014, Waite sadly passed away at age 85 from natural causes in Palm Desert, California. And so we're very lucky we were able to do it that way. Among that group is Ralph Waite, who joined NCIS in 2008. It's going to be awfully quiet this year. [9] Liam Waite, one of Waite's stepsons, is also an actor. In New York's White Plains on June 22, 1928, Ralph Harold Waite Jr.'s parents, Ralph H. Waite Sr. and Esther Waite, welcomed a future star. Richard Thomas (center) revealed he's still close with his "Waltons" family, especially Michael Learned (right). Ralph Waite as a guest star on NCIS season seven in Los Angeles on November 4, 2009, and him with actress Michael Learned in a scene on "The Waltons" circa 1973 | Photos: Cliff Lipson/CBS/Getty Images. 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". 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.". Ralph Waltie and Michael Learned in "The Waltons.". It was one of our weddings I cant remember who it was but he got up and said normally as an actor, we get together with a group of people, you create an ensemble, you have this very intense personal experience for a matter of weeks, and then you all go your separate ways. He fell in love with the Waltons cast, and it helped him change. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. So as long as the cast and crew are happy with the creative work theyre doing, NCIS will likely stick around. Waite passed away on a Thursday in February 2014 at his home in South Palm Desert. Market data provided by Factset. All rights reserved. The icon admitted she and her onscreen husband were deeply in love in real life. And I had a good stable home life with parents who were also performers so they helped me through it. For example, one time he advocated very strongly about casting because there were certain parts that called for Native Americans. "The Waltons" was one of the defining television shows of the early '70s. In 1998, he tried to get a congressional seat that was left open after Republican Sonny Bono passed away in a skiing accident. 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." The star revealed that people were so touched by the show that they would walk up to him and thank him. The actress admitted that they both ended up quitting smoking and got sober. He didnt necessarily think at that moment he was doing a very good job. In a 2019 interview, five years after Waite's death, Learned dropped the bombshell generations of "The Waltons" fanatic anticipated. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. 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). 1981), place of death: Palm Desert, California, United States, education: Bucknell University, Yale Divinity School, (American Actor Best Known for His Lead Role as John Walton SR. in the TV Series The Waltons), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKClNogLrIc, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ralph_Waite.jpg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J4flaQzNJM. The Brady Bunch Stars Have a Fun Reunion on Today See the Cast Now! Elizabeth asks the question, "Why do the things you love have to die?" 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. Waite tried again in 1998; he ran against Mary Bono and lost to her twice. [3] He was a member of the Peninsula Players summer theater program during the 1963 season. This was not long before he passed away. Then I was doubly blessed because I was working with a really nice group of people. The news was revealed by Steve Gordon, the Waite family's accountant. Legal Statement. ET on BYUtv and will be available to stream for free the following day on the BYUtv app. He completed his graduation in 1952 from the Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. 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 (19721981), which he occasionally directed. (CBS via Getty Images). We've justgot to get through this. We stay in touch and that circle has never been broken. 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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. He was the eldest of five children. And then I opened up another middle school in LA where I was a principal for four, fiveyears. He then became an assistant editor of religious books and also the publicity director at Harper & Row. "Ralph Waite will be honored in 'NCIS' season finale", "Presbyterian Church (USA) Ralph Waite finds a home in church", "R.I.P. He'd hoped to gain the congressional district that included Palm Springs, Riverside, and Palm Desert, where he lived. In fact, he even demanded that the show cast Native Americans for specific parts. And we just have to muddle through somehow as the song says until that happens. I'd seen it aired. A lot of that was because of Ralph and his performance, she said. Fox News: You had the chance to meet Natalie Wood. Occupations came and went, including social worker, religious editor for Harper & Row, and even Presbyterian minister after spending three years at the Yale School of Divinity. And, we watch our Christmas shows as a family.