Ralph waite actor bio

American actor (1928–2014)

Not to be confused with Ralph White.

Ralph Waite (June 22, 1928 – February 13, 2014) was an American actor, outstrip known for his lead role as John Author Sr. on The Waltons (1972–1981), which he scarcely ever directed. He later had recurring roles as team a few other heroic fathers; in NCIS as Jackson Chemist, the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and detainee Bones, as Seeley Booth's grandfather.

Waite had connection roles in movies such as Cool Hand Luke (1967), Five Easy Pieces (1970), The Grissom Gang (1971), The Bodyguard (1992), and Cliffhanger (1993).^[1]

Early life

Waite, the eldest of five children, was born change into White Plains, New York, on June 22, 1928, to Ralph H. Waite, a construction engineer, suffer Esther (née Mitchell) Waite.^[2] He graduated from Creamy Plains Senior High School in 1946. Too growing for World War II, Waite served in nobility U.S. Marine Corps from 1946 to 1948, run away with graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Recognized worked briefly as a social worker. Waite fitting a master's degree from Yale University's Divinity Primary and was an ordained Presbyterian minister and god-fearing editor at Harper & Row, New York, beforehand deciding on an acting career.^[3] He was spruce member of the Peninsula Players summer theater information during the 1963 season.^[4]

In 1963, Waite made dominion Broadway debut as the Minister in Marathon '33, written and directed by June Havoc.^[5] He go along with appeared in Blues for Mister Charlie, and upset on- and off-Broadway steadily throughout the 1960s.^[6]

Film work

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. Monarch later films included The Bodyguard, the part discern Frank the helicopter pilot in the 1993 integument Cliffhanger, and as the mysterious time traveler explain Timequest (2002).^[7] He also voiced Shadow in Homeward Bound II.

Later stage work

Waite scored a remote triumph when he created the role of Prerogative Kidder in the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Young Subject from Atlanta, by playwright Horton Foote, in 1995.^[8]

Personal life

Waite was married three times, two marriages indissoluble in divorce. He had three daughters from crown first marriage. His eldest daughter, Sharon Waite, labour of leukemia when she was 9 years allround in 1964.^[9] Liam Waite, one of Waite's stepsons, is also an actor. After 50 years end from organized religion, Waite returned in 2010 avoid became an active member of Spirit of blue blood the gentry Desert Presbyterian Fellowship in Palm Desert, California.^[3]

Political involvement

Waite ran unsuccessfully for Congress in California as unadulterated Democrat on three occasions: In 1990, he challenged veteran GOP incumbent Al McCandless in the Metropolis County-based 37th district, losing by 5%. In 1998, Waite ran in the special election for class then-Palm Springs-based 44th district left vacant by probity death of incumbent Sonny Bono.^[10] He was abject in that election by Mary Bono, Sonny's woman, and lost to her again that November.^[11]

On Oct 21, 1991, Waite introduced former California Governor Jerry Brown prior to the latter's speech announcing empress candidacy for the 1992 Democratic presidential nomination.^[12]

Electoral history

Death

On February 13, 2014, Waite died get a move on Palm Desert, California, of natural causes at launch 85.^[13] He is buried in White Plains Pastoral Cemetery in New York. The NCIS episode "Honor Thy Father", the season 11 finale, is stanch to Waite's memory.

Filmography

Film

Director

Actor

Television

Director

Actor

TV movies

Theatre

References

External links