Friday, February 14, 2014

Ralph Waite - #73

He was number 73 on the list. We can't believe how many on the list have passed away this month!


Waltons' patriarch Ralph Waite dies at 85


Ralph Waite, who played the kind-and-steady patriarch of a tight-knit rural Southern family on the TV series "The Waltons," died Thursday, his manager said. He was 85.

Waite, who lived in the Palm Springs area, died at midday, manager Alan Mills said. Mills, who did not know the cause of death, said he was taken aback because Waite had been in good health and still working.

Waite appeared last year in episodes of the series "NCIS," in which he played the dad of star Mark Harmon's character. He also appeared in "Bones" and "Days of Our Lives."

"The Waltons," which aired on CBS from 1972 to 1981, starred Waite as John Walton, and Richard Thomas played his oldest son, John-Boy, an aspiring novelist. The gentle family drama was set in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia.

His co-stars on Thursday praised both the actor and the man.

"I am devastated to announce the loss of my precious 'papa' Walton, Ralph Waite," said Mary McDonough, who played daughter Erin Walton. "I loved him so much; I know he was so special to all of us. He was like a real father to me. Goodnight Daddy. I love you."

Michael Learned, who played wife Olivia Walton, said she was "devastated" by the death of "a good honest actor and a good honest man."

"He was my spiritual husband," Learned said in a statement. "We loved each other for over forty years. He died a working actor at the top of his game. He was a loving mentor to many and a role model to an entire generation."

The show, which followed the Waltons' triumphs and setbacks through the Great Depression and World War II, was narrated by its rich-voiced creator, Earl Hamner Jr., who based it on his family memories.

It was a TV rarity, a respectful depiction of Southern country life, and proved so popular that it overpowered its hit comedy competition, NBC's "The Flip Wilson Show."

Waite, a native of White Plains, N.Y., served in the U.S. Marines before earning a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University and a master's degree from Yale University Divinity School, according to a 2010 profile by The Desert Sun.

He became an ordained Presbyterian minister and then worked at a publishing house, the paper said, before falling under the spell of acting. Waite appeared on the stage before moving onto the big screen with roles in 1967's "Cool Hand Luke" and 1970's "Five Easy Pieces," in which he played the brother of Jack Nicholson's character.

Waite received an Emmy nomination for "The Waltons" and another for his performance in the ABC miniseries "Roots."

Waite's role as a steady TV dad in the CBS drama was in contrast to his personal life that was undercut by alcoholism, Waite told The Desert Sun.

"I was a caring, responsible father to all of these kids. But I was drinking the night before and being a drunk on the side," he said, adding, "I found a way to get sober."

In 1990, Waite ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic challenger to a four-term Republican incumbent for the congressional district that included Riverside, Palm Springs and Palm Desert, where Waite lived.

In 1998, he vied for the congressional seat left open after Republican Sony Bono, another performer who turned to politics, died in a skiing accident. Bono's widow, Mary, won the special election.

Filmography

Film

    Cool Hand Luke (1967) as Alibi

    A Lovely Way to Die (1968) as Sean Magruder

    Last Summer (1969) as Peter's Father (uncredited)

    Five Easy Pieces (1970) as Carl Fidelio Dupea

    The Pursuit of Happiness (1971) as Detective Cromie

    The Sporting Club (1971) as Olson

    Lawman (1971) as Jack Dekker

    The Grissom Gang (1971) as Mace

    Chato's Land (1972) as Elias Hooker

    Hot Summer Week (1972) as John

    The Magnificent Seven Ride (1972) as Jim Mackay

    Trouble Man (1973) as Pete Cockrell

    Kid Blue (1973) as Drummer

    The Stone Killer (1973) as Mathews

    Red Alert (1977, TV movie) as Henry Stone

    OHMS (1980, TV movie) as Floyd Wing

    On the Nickel (1980) as C.G.

    Angel City (1980, TV movie) as Jared Teeter

    The Gentleman Bandit (1981, TV movie) as priest Bernard Pagano

    Good Old Boy: A Delta Boyhood (1988) as Narrator

    Red Earth, White Earth (1989) as Martin

    Crash and Burn (1990) as Lathan Hooks

    Desperate Hours (1990)

    The Bodyguard (1992) as Herb Farmer

    Cliffhanger (1993) as Frank

    Sioux City (1994) as Drew McDermott

    Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) as Shadow (voice)

    Timequest (2000) as The Time Traveler

    Sunshine State (2002) as Furman Temple

    Blessings (2003, TV movie) as Sheriff

    Silver City (2004) as Casey Lyle

    Letters to God (2010) as Cornelius Perryfield

    25 Hill (2011) as Ed

    Gabe the Cupid Dog (2012) as R.L. Dutton

 

Television

 

    Look Up and Live (1966) as Host

    The Borgia Stick (1967, TV movie) as Man from Toledo

    N.Y.P.D. (1967–1968) as Robert Stryker

    Bonanza (1970) "The Lady and the Mark" as Hoby

    Nichols (1971) as Sam Burton

    The Waltons (1972–1981) as John Walton Sr.

    The Thanksgiving Story (1973, TV movie)

    The Secret Life of John Chapman (1976, TV movie) as John Chapman

    Roots (1977) as Third Mate, Slater

    Waiting for Godot (1977, TV movie) as Pozzo

    CBS: On the Air (1978) as Himself

    Angel City (1980, TV movie) as Jared Teeter

    The Gentleman Bandit (1981, TV movie) as Father Bernard Pagano

    A Wedding on Walton's Mountain (1982, TV movie) as John Walton Sr.

    Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain (1982, TV movie) as John Walton Sr.

    A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain (1982, TV movie) as John Walton Sr.

    The Mississippi (1983) as Ben Walker Sr.

    A Good Sport (1984, TV movie) as Tommy O'Bannon

    Growing Pains (1984, TV movie) as Rob

    Crime of Innocence (1985, TV movie) as Frank Hayward

    Reading Rainbow (1987)

    Murder, She Wrote (1989) as DA Paul Robbins

    Sparks: The Price of Passion (1990, TV movie) as Orville Lemon

    A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993, TV movie) as John Walton Sr.

    Time Trax (1994) as Lamont Carson

    Sin & Redemption (1994, TV movie) as Cal Simms

    Keys (1994, TV movie) as Dr. C.J. Halligan

    A Season of Hope (1995, TV movie) as Sam Hackett

    A Walton Wedding (1995, TV movie) as John Walton Sr.

    Murder One (1996) as Malcolm Dietrich

    Orleans (1997) as Otis Leblanc

    A Walton Easter (1997, TV movie) as John Walton Sr.

    The Third Twin (1997, TV movie) as Senator Proust

    The Outer Limits (1999) as Gene Morton

    Chicken Soup for the Soul (1999) as Dad

    Rocket Power (1999) as Doc Freimouth (voice)

    The President's Man (2000, TV movie) as President Mathews

    All My Children (2001) as Bart

    Spirit (2001, TV movie) as Jacob

    Blessings (2003, TV movie) as Sheriff

    Carnivàle (2003–2005) as Reverend Norman Balthus

    The Practice (2004) as Walter Josephson

    Cold Case (2007) as Felton Metz

    CSI (2008) "Young Man with a Horn" as Sheriff Montgomery

    NCIS (2008–2013) as Jackson Gibbs (8 episodes)

    The Cleaner (2008) as Jonus Mullins

    Ace Ventura Jr: Pet Detective (2009, TV movie) as Grandpa Ventura

    Kickin' It (2011) as Principal Keener (7 episodes)

    Days of Our Lives (2009–2014) as Father Matt (recurring) (final appearance)

    Grey's Anatomy (2009) "Tainted Obligation" as Irving Waller

    Bones (2009–2013) as Hank Booth (3 episodes)

    Off the Map (2011) "On the Mean Streets of San Miguel" as Abuelito

 

As Director

    1973-1980 The Waltons (TV series)

    1980 On the Nickel

    1983 The Mississippi (TV series)

 

As Producer

    1984 A Good Sport (executive producer)

 

As Writer

    1980 On the Nickel

 

Theatre

    Marathon '33 (1963)

    Blues for Mister Charlie (1964)

    Hogan's Goat (play) (1965)

    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)

 

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