1 (January 1964) No. Norton, in an interview after Waites death in 2014, recalled the actor from the long-running CBS family drama. When he passed away, "NCIS" decided to dedicate the entire Season 11 finale to Ralph Waite's memory. I was pretty disciplined, but I just took it in stride. So when they called and invited me to be the reader for the current one and told me that Kelli O'Hara was going to be the singing artist guest, I just jumped at the chance. He graduated from Bucknell, after which he met and married Beverly Hall, the daughter of religious writer Clarence Hall. 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. (Getty Images). Closer Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. We all did. Richard Thomas (center) revealed he's still close with his "Waltons" family, especially Michael Learned (right). Ralph Waite got married to Beverly Hall on December 29, 1951. He started with Broadway and slowly worked his way up. We had a lot of different things going on this year that were handled very well and I think thats great.. The actress, best known for playing beloved matriarch Olivia Walton in "The Waltons," is starring in a new film titled "Second Acts," which explores how an elderly couple strikes up a love affair. On February 13, 2014, Waite sadly passed away at age 85 from natural causes in Palm Desert, California. I loved Ralph a lot. He made his TV debut with the series Look Up and Live in 1966. Even though his role in the series was more wholesome, he found himself at odds with it. For more exclusive news from Closer Weekly, be sure to sign up for our newsletter! Waite passed away on a Thursday in February 2014 at his home in South Palm Desert. WALTONS CHILD STAR KAMI COTLER REFLECTS ON LATE ACTOR RALPH WAITE 5 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH. What's making me smile right now is the memory of working with the wonderful Michael Learned and the great Ralph Waite who played my parents, and what wonderful actors and people they were. Fox News: Is it true youre a school principal now?Cotler: Im not at the very moment a school principal. Waite played patriarch John Walton Sr. on the show. During rehearsals, Ralph would just break into Eric Claptons "I Shot the Sheriff," which he sang terribly. 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. Details, Pink Is a Total Rockstar! Born In: White Plains, New York, United States, Spouse/Ex-: Linda East (m. 1982), Beverly Waite (m. 1951 - div. And so we're very lucky we were able to do it that way. I really cherish the time that we had together. is for general information purposes only. Unfortunately, he was appalled by the churchs hypocrisy and quit. Waite never knew he would go into acting. I think everyone will be able to enjoy it. He also had a recurring role on the offbeat HBO series Carnivle (2003) and in 2009 began putting time in on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives (1965) as Father Matt. Ralph Waite, who played the patriarch in "The Waltons," (left) passed away in 2014 at age 85. Besides his role as John Walton on "The Waltons," Waite had roles on other TV series like "Bones" and "NCIS." 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." He soon became a minister for United Church of Christ, Fishers Island. 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. Thomas was Waite's co-star and on-screen son on "The Waltons," where he played John-Boy Walton. Peninsula Players 65th Anniversary Program, 1999. The cast of the hit television series "The Waltons" poses for a promotional photo on January 1, 1972. The special, which also features Tony-winning star Kelli OHara, was filmed last year before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic impacted the country. said in an interview last year with local paper The . It was just one of the chapters of his life, and it preceded the tragedy that almost ruined his life. The movie made more than US $400 million against a budget of just US $25 million. Theyre all phenomenally talented and managed to establish something that made it easy for all these children acting along with them to do a good job and to make it real. 0:00 / 1:50 Ralph Waite on Life after The Waltons - Watch Old Henry at moments.org! All rights reserved. [7] He also voiced Shadow in Homeward Bound II. 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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. Ralph, who had a reputation as a serious stage actor with no great love for children when the series debuted, probably experienced the biggest life change after falling in love with the rest of. Ralph Waite's first major role was on "The Waltons". And we really bonded. And there was that ridiculous laugh when he was doing something silly like that. The opportunity toseepeople all together and sharing in something? I'd seen it aired. Fox News: Whats one memory of Waite that still resonates with you?Cotler: His singing. One cast member from The Waltons says that star actor Ralph Waite was very passionate about politics and how people were treated. To start it, he pumped in $50,000 of his own cash to produce and direct revivals of "The Hairy Ape" and "The Kitchen," in which he also acted. And while shes no longer pursuing acting, Cotler still vividly remembers bringing The Waltons to life and befriending Waite along the way. All rights reserved. By the time he was cast as John Walton on "The Waltons," he already had a reputation as a serious stage actor but had only been cast in one other TV show, a "Nichols" episode. And were standing by the raccoons grave and its pouring with pretend rain. In politics, he ran for the House of Representatives; however, despite having the support of Hollywood friends like Al Pacino, he lost to Al McCandless. 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". It has a great spiritual connection, whatever your faith background might be. Here are a couple of the interview segments. '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). In his second TV series The Mississippi (1982), which was produced by his company Ralph Waite Productions, he played a criminal lawyer who abandoned his practice (almost) for a leisurely life captaining a riverboat. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, We have three charter schools in LA. And I think we were very fortunate in having the actors that we had. NCIS Star Mark Harmon Emotionally Detailed How Ralph Waite Tribute Episode Came to Be in 2015. He was making sure everybody was good." 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. He also ran for Congress as a Democrat, in California in 1990 for the Riverside County-based 37th district. 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. Waite tried again in 1998; he ran against Mary Bono and lost to her twice. Ralph Waite was born in White Plains, New York on June 22, 1928. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ralph-waite-47183.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities, 21st Century American Film & Theater Personalities. A Palm Desert resident during his second attempt, the 70-year-old Californian was a Democratic hopeful for a seat left vacant by the late Sonny Bono after his fatal skiing accident in 1998. Notable was his role as Pozzo in Waiting for Godot (1977), which was televised by PBS, and a return to Broadway with "The Father" in 1981. And I had a good stable home life with parents who were also performers so they helped me through it. His hard work was rewarded when he started getting movie roles. We still have love. At one point, the US Marine Corps veteran became active in politics. 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. Throughout the seventies, he strove to expand outside his Walton patriarchal casting with other TV mini-movie endeavors. The couple tied the knot on August 27, 1977, and had no children together until their marriage ended in divorce on August 31, 1981. Picture of Ralph Waite with other cast members on "The Waltons" | Photo: Getty Images. In 1995, he was again seen in the TV movie A Walton Wedding. A lot of that was because of Ralph and his performance, she said. 12, 2022 Photos Latest Photos Emmy Awards Creative Arts Emmys Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards Hall of Fame Red Carpet Governors Ball Events Latest in Photos Waite was born to a construction engineer and was raised in suburban White Plains, N.Y., in an environment that was not very artistic and totally secular. It took one day of sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by his onscreen family for him to feel fake, so he got himself sober. Market data provided by Factset. It resonated with his being, and that was when he knew that he loved acting. . Behind the scenes, the children were treated poorly, one actor struggled with alcoholism and, despite the popularity of the show, nobody was paid what they were worth. Richard Thomas, Nortons co-star who played John-Boy for eight seasons on The Waltons, also recalled his time with Waite. Ralph Waite was born on June 22, 1928, in White Plains, New York, to Ralph H. Waite and Esther Mitchell Waite. Fox News: What was it about The Tabernacle Choir that made you want to ring in the holidays with them?Thomas: Well, of course, I've been listening to their magnificent singing my whole life and we had their Christmas album on the family record shelf while I was growing up. He worked at the Los Angeles Actors Theatre when he wasn't acting. Ralph Waite might've been the ideal patriarch on "The Waltons," but he was married three times in real life and struggled with addiction. In 1972, Waite landed the most significant role in his life, which opened Hollywood for him "The Waltons.". As a child, he never attended a play or concert, nor did he go to church. Just before his death, his final role was on Days of Our Lives (1965). 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. 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