He started with Broadway and slowly worked his way up. Fox News: Why does the show continue to resonate with audiences?Cotler: It represents a side of American life that isnt often represented, which is a big, working-class family living in a rural place. Its true that Waite dealt with issues, including alcoholism, during his life and time on The Waltons. He also had lingering memories of a daughter, Sharon Waite, dying of leukemia when she was 9 years old. I was probably 7. Thomas was Waite's co-star and on-screen son on "The Waltons," where he played John-Boy Walton. Michael [Learned] organized a dinner for us and we were over at her house. 'WALTONS' STAR MICHAEL LEARNED 'PROUD' OF NURSES, CAREGIVERS AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. And I basically support all three site leaders with whatever comes up. Ralph Waltie and Michael Learned in "The Waltons.". Family & Personal Life. Fox News: What surprised you the most about Kelli O'Hara while filming this special?Thomas: Nothing surprised me about Kelli because I've known Kelli and her family for many years, and I know what a magnificent artist she is, and also what a wonderful person. Waltons star shares fond memories of working with late actor Ralph Waite, Ed Sheerans wife diagnosed with tumor during pregnancy: Spiraling through depression, Prince Harry describes the rest of his life in five words amid 'Spare' fallout: 'Freedom', Chris Rock plans to address Will Smith Oscar slap in live Netflix special, Prince Harry apology 'demands' from King Charles, Prince William before coronation are 'delusional': experts, Brendan Fraser recalls near-death experience filming 'The Mummy' scene: 'I was choked out', Morgan Evans' dad recalls 'everything' being 'destroyed' in singer's life after Kelsea Ballerini divorce. The cast of the hit television series "The Waltons" poses for a promotional photo on January 1, 1972. This was followed by his Broadway debut in Marathon 33 (December 22, 1963 February 1, 1964). Ralph Waite was a very complex man who lived a complicated life. Fox News: What was it like working with Ralph Waite?Kami Cotler: Im the youngest of all the kids on the show, so my perspective comes from being a little kid. It was my work. said in an interview last year with local paper The . He said he loved being appreciated and loved by his fans and acting allowed him to be of service to his community. Waite was able to carry with him a certain grizzled, rumpled, craggy-faced, settled-in benevolence, although he was quite capable of villainy. 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. The show was what led him to kick his habit. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! He worked briefly as a social worker. And we really bonded. I sat and chatted with her until I was ready to move on to the next person. And that the bonds we created in this fictional family were family-like connections. Among that group is Ralph Waite, who joined "NCIS" in 2008. 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." This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Please feel free to share these very heartfelt videos with your friends and look for more videos next week. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This was not long before he passed away. 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. 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: 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. Then I helped launch a charter school in Los Angeles, which is how I ended up as a school leader. All Rights Reserved. You dont see those elements on television very often. However, we were able to do this concert last December before the pandemic hit, so we were all together in the theater, I mean, 20,000 people at each performance and everyone on stage together. The two had a strange yet beautiful relationship where there was a lot of love and no sexual gratification. But just the memory of working with all of those wonderful people, that's the thing that makes me happiest of all. However, he's remembered more for his role on "The Waltons.". Ralph Waite sits down for an exclusive interview with INSP to share his thoughts on life as an actor.Old Henry is an original short form limited series creat. Go Inside Dallas Star Linda Grays Condo! These were people sharing their own stories of being part of a struggling family or living in a rural place. See Her Beautiful Bikini Photos, Having Fun at the Beach! [3] He was a member of the Peninsula Players summer theater program during the 1963 season. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Peninsula Players 65th Anniversary Program, 1999. Served in the United States Marine Corps. Mark Harmon, the actor behind Gibbs and an executive producer on the long-running crime drama, is a powerhouse. Ralph Waite got married to Beverly Hall on December 29, 1951. In 1990, he ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat, challenging a four-term Republican incumbent. "Ralph Waite will be honored in 'NCIS' season finale", "Presbyterian Church (USA) Ralph Waite finds a home in church", "R.I.P. I think everyone will be able to enjoy it. She also inspired him to become a New York City social worker en route to the Yale Divinity School. ichael Learned and Ralph Waite while filming the episode "The Parting" on November 16, 1978. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This gave him courage, so he wrote a screenplay and showed it to producer Lee Rich, who ran Lorimar Productions with Merv Adelson. But behind-the-scenes, Michael, 79, and Ralph who passed away at age 85 in 2014 were much more than just an onscreen Mr. and Mrs. "It was a story about an enormous family and a mother . He was the eldest of five children. Market data provided by Factset. On February 13, 2014, Waite sadly passed away at age 85 from natural causes in Palm Desert, California. 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. [2] He graduated from White Plains Senior High School in 1946. He twice ran unsuccessfully for a Congressional seat -- in 1990 and 1998. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Ralph joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served there from 1946 to 1948. And there were lots of writers writing from personal experiences. 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 icon admitted she and her onscreen husband were deeply in love in real life. Ralph Waites next major role was in the blockbuster The Bodyguard (1992). ET on PBS. Thomas looked to Waite as a mentor on the shows set. That enduring familial affection, along with the pride of belonging to a show that resonated with viewers all around the world, makes everyone who was part of The Waltons feel privileged to have played a part in the show. He made his debut on stage as the chief of police in a production of The Balcony (1960). Fox News: Do you remember the last time you spoke to him?Cotler: Yes, very clearly. 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. In 1995, he was again seen in the TV movie A Walton Wedding. 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. WALTONS CHILD STAR KAMI COTLER REFLECTS ON LATE ACTOR RALPH WAITE 5 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH. 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 (1972-1981), which he occasionally directed. | Photo: Getty Images. So I drove out to Malibu, but we just looked at each other and said, Nah, I dont think so. So all of our lovemaking was on-screen!, 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 the Waltons cast. Fans Gush Keke Palmer Is Going to Be the Best Mom as She Shares Pic of Baby Boy, Mom of 7 Adopts Baby Abandoned by His Mother and Gets Fired for It, Jeremy Renner Shares Recovery Update Following Snowplow Injury: 'Whatever It Takes', Inside the Hidden Gay Lives of 'The Waltons' Grandparents Ellen Corby & Will Geer despite Their Marriages, Inside Dick Van Dyke & Decades Younger Wifes Home Where He Shows off Routine He Says Will Get Him to 100, Paul Newman Left 1st Wife to Marry Joanne Woodward Yet Felt Guilty about It His Whole Life, The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Before becoming a big celebrity, Waite graduated with a BA degree from Bucknell University. The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Then I was doubly blessed because I was working with a really nice group of people. And I think just acknowledging how unique our experience was and how enduring it was for each other. Actor Ralph Waite, best known for playing John Walton Sr - Papa Walton - in the long-running TV show The Waltons, has died at the age of 85. . Thomas spoke to Fox News about working alongside his TV father Ralph Waite, who passed away in 2014 at age 85, as well as his relationship with The Waltons cast today and celebrating Christmas in 2020. 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. The movie made more than US $400 million against a budget of just US $25 million. But for anybody, I think, it will be a wonderful opportunity to hear beautiful music. These Behind-the-Scenes Secrets About The Brady Bunch Will Blow Your Mind! When he passed away, "NCIS" decided to dedicate the entire Season 11 finale to Ralph Waite's memory. He was making sure everybody was good." He continued to act well into his 80s, most notably playing the father of Mark Harmon on NCIS (2003).For many years, Waite had held passionate political ambitions. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. 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. 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. Waite died on Feb. 13, 2014, at 85 years old from age-related illnesses. Theres a lot of sitting around and waiting. Sadly, the actor's marriage failed along the way, and they got divorced in 1969. He also had recurring roles in NCIS as Jackson Gibbs, the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and Bones, as Seeley Booth's grandfather. . NCIS Star Mark Harmon Emotionally Detailed How Ralph Waite Tribute Episode Came to Be in 2015. Ralph Waite might've been the ideal patriarch on "The Waltons," but he was married three times in real life and struggled with addiction. Ralph Waite, who was beloved to TV viewers as the ultimate father figure, John Walton, on The Waltons, has died. Closer Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. What triggered his alcoholism more was when his oldest daughter, Sharon, then-9, passed away, and he left the ministry. 1 (January 1964) No. or redistributed. We've justgot to get through this. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Market data provided by Factset. Old Henry is an original short form limited series. And it wasnt until after he passed away that I thought, "He was checking in. Learned from The Waltons, which Waite starred on for nine years, called him a "good honest actor and good honest man.". He lost all three times. He would reprise the role in the TV movie The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons (1980). Waite would drink at night and on the side. [8], Waite was married three times, two marriages ending in divorce. The running joke was that Lorimar was so cheap that their idea of a party was one can of beer and 13 straws! Michael tells Closer with a laugh. He also had recurring roles in NCIS as Jackson Gibbs, the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and Bones, as Seeley Booth 's grandfather. He worked at the Los Angeles Actors Theatre when he wasn't acting. 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. Maybe he knew he wasnt going to be around. [13] He is buried in White Plains Rural Cemetery in New York. So he did tell that story about how the acting and the pretend moment really informed his own choices in his real life with his actual children. I have the great pleasure every morning to get up and enjoy that drive to work and look forward to the people I work with, and I think many of us share that, and I think thats rare, he said. He completed his graduation in 1952 from the Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. What was she like?Cotler: I knew who Natalie Wood was because my father was in love with Natalie Wood. In 1998, Waite ran in the special election for the then-Palm Springs-based 44th district left vacant by the death of incumbent Sonny Bono. 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. We still have love. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. She just pulled me into her lap. Those included Roots (1977), for which he received an Emmy nomination, the title role in The Secret Life of John Chapman (1976), OHMS (1980), Angel City (1980) and The Gentleman Bandit (1981). In 1972, Waite landed the most significant role in his life, which opened Hollywood for him "The Waltons.". 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. They had three daughters together, Sharon, Kathleen, and Suzanne. Legal Statement. Feeling disconnected from his role on the show and his real-life, Waite finally found the courage to quit drinking, according to co-star Judy Norton. Ive been in this business long enough and worked enough jobs to appreciate that. Ralph Waite passed away on February 13, 2014. Playbill, vol. Thanks to her, he was introduced to the works of theological heavyweights like Niebuhr and Tillich. 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. 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. He then spent his young adult life trying to find his way. The Waltons: Judy Norton Discussed the Dark Side of Co-star Ralph Waite After His Death. Fox News: You've led such a successful career over the years. 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