Ralph waite biography filmography
Ralph Waite was born in White Plains, New York on June 22, 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. 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. At age 30, however, he began to study acting and found his true life's passion. American actor (–) Not to be confused with Ralph White. Ralph Waite Waite at the 40th anniversary of The Waltons on September 29, White Plains, New York, U.S. Palm Desert, California, U.S. Beverly Waite &#; &#; Kerry Shear Waite &#; &#; Linda East &#; Ralph Waite (June 22, – February 13, ) was an American actor, best known for his lead role as John Walton Sr. on The Waltons (–), 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 (), Five Easy Pieces (), The Grissom Gang (), The Bodyguard (), and Cliffhanger (). Waite, the eldest of five children, was born in White Plains, New York, on June 22, , to Ralph H. Waite, a construction engineer, and Esther (née Mitchell) Waite. He graduated from White Plains Senior High School in Too young for World War II, Waite served in the U.S. Marine Corps from to , 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. He was a member of the Peninsula Players summer theater program during the season. In , Waite made his Broadway debut as the Minister in Mara Honor Thy Father (May 13, ) Season 11, Episode 24 - Jackson Gibbs (archive footage), In Memory Of Jackson Gibbs (archive footage), In Memory Of See fewer 9 1 70 The Woman in White (Oct 21, ) Season 9, Episode 6 - Hank Booth Hank Booth See fewer 3 1 1 1 Lie with Me (Oct 14, ) Season 1, Episode 13 - Jonus Mullins Jonus Mullins See fewer 1 The Perfect Son (Dec 11, ) Season 1, Episode 12 - Father Mike Father Mike See fewer 1 World's End (Nov 4, ) Season 5, Episode 7 - Felton Metz '07 Felton Metz '07 See fewer 1 New Canaan, CA (Mar 27, ) Season 2, Episode 12 - Reverend Norman Balthus Reverend Norman Balthus See fewer 16 Avenging Angels (Jan 18, ) Season 8, Episode 12 - Walter Josephson Walter Josephson See fewer 1 3 1 1 1 7 Keys () Quick facts for kids Ralph Waite Waite at the 40th anniversary of The Waltons on September 29, White Plains, New York, U.S. Palm Desert, California, U.S. Beverly Waite Kerry Shear Waite Ralph Waite (June 22, – February 13, ) was an American actor, best known for his lead role as John Walton Sr. on The Waltons (–), which he occasionally directed. He also had recurring roles in NCIS as Jackson Gibbs, the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and Bones, as Seeley Booth's grandfather. Waite had supporting roles in movies such as Cool Hand Luke (), Five Easy Pieces (), The Grissom Gang (), The Bodyguard (), and Cliffhanger (). Waite, the eldest of five children, was born in White Plains, New York, on June 22, , to Ralph H. Waite, a construction engineer, and Esther (née Mitchell) Waite. He graduated from White Plains Senior High School in Too young for World War II, Waite served in the U.S. Marine Corps from to , 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. He was a member of the Peninsula Players summer theater program during the season. In , Waite made his Broadway debut as the Minister in Marathon '33, written and directed by June Havoc. He next appeared in Blues for Mister Charlie, and worked on- and of
Waite made his professional NY debut in a 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 alongside Faye Dunaway in "Hogan's Goat". This was enough to encourage him to move West where he began collecting bit parts in prestigious movies, including Cool Hand Luke () and Five Easy Pieces (). One of those films, the coming-of-age Last Summer () starred an up-and-coming talent named Richard Thomas, who, of course, would figure prominently in Waite's success story in years to come. 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 (). In the TV-movie pilot, the roles of John and Olivia Walton were played by Andrew Duggan and Patricia Neal. The Earl Hamner Jr. series, however, would welcome Waite along with Michael Learned, and make both, as well as Richard Thomas playing their son John-Boy, household names. Waite also directed several episodes of the series during the nine seasons. Throughout the seventies, he strove to expand outside his Walton patriarchal casting with other TV mini-movie endeavors. Those included Roots (), for which he received an Emmy nomination, the title role in The Ralph Waite
Born ()June 22, Died February 13, () (aged&#;85) Resting place White Plains Rural Cemetery Alma&#;mater Bucknell University and Yale Divinity School Occupation(s) Actor, political activist Years&#;active – Political party Democratic Spouses Children 3 Early life
Ralph Waite (I) (–)
Past Television (59 titles) Episodes
(TV Series) - Jackson Gibbs (9 episodes, ), In Memory Of (1 episode, ) Jackson Gibbs (9 episodes, ), In Memory Of (1 episode, ) See fewer
(TV Series) - Hank Booth (3 episodes, ) Hank Booth (3 episodes, ) See fewer
(TV Series) - Jonus Mullins (1 episode, ) Jonus Mullins (1 episode, ) See fewer
(TV Series) - Father Mike (1 episode, ) Father Mike (1 episode, ) See fewer
(TV Series) - Felton Metz '07 (1 episode, ) Felton Metz '07 (1 episode, ) See fewer
(TV Series) - Reverend Norman Balthus (16 episodes, ) Reverend Norman Balthus (16 episodes, ) See fewer
(TV Series) - Walter Josephson (1 episode, ) Walter Josephson (1 episode, ) See fewer
(TV Movie) - Dr. C.J. Halligan Dr. C.J. Halligan See fewer
(TV Serie Ralph Waite facts for kids
Born ()June 22, Died February 13, () (aged 85) Resting place White Plains Rural Cemetery Alma mater Bucknell University and Yale Divinity School Occupation Actor, political activist Years active – Political party Democratic Spouse(s) Children 3 Military career Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Marine Corps Early life