Posted on 02/14/2014 4:20:33 AM PST by massmike
Ralph Waite, known to millions as John Walton Sr. on the warmhearted 1970s TV series The Waltons – and, more recently, as the Mark Harmon character's father, Jackson "Jack" Gibbs, on the CBS hit NCIS – died at his Palm Desert home at about 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the Desert Sun. He was 85.
Reacting to the news of her costar's death, Michael Learned, who played Olivia Walton, Waite's onscreen wife on The Waltons, told PEOPLE Thursday evening, "I'm a little emotional right now. It's such a shock."
Of Waite's work, she said, "I don't think people realized the skill behind what he was doing. He had such a great heart. ... Ralph had suffered a lot of great tragedy in his life, but he always overcame it and was there for everyone. I just will miss him terribly. We were kind of like a celibate husband and wife. We never crossed that line, but we were dear, loving friends."
(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...
Darn good actor. Loved him as Jethro’s dad on NCIS, and he had a number of good (if small) movie roles. Cliffhanger and Cool Hand Luke come to mind there.
He seemed like a nice man.
Funny, Shirley Temple just passing away at the same age, yet these two seemed like different eras to me. I was surprised to learn that Shirley Template was even still alive, and just as surprised to know that Ralph Waite was the same age.
Former minister and a leftist, but also a good actor. RIP.
Didn’t watch Walton’s in our home because the patriarch was a fag communist.
Also played one of the slavers in Roots.
Didn’t watch Walton’s in our home because the patriarch was a fag communist.
Missed a family wholesome show. No wonder they don’t make them anymore with people like you not watching them.
Got compassion much?
That’s one of the side effects of having standards. You may notice, not everyone has that problem.
Before becoming an actor, Waite served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1946 to 1948.
I never knew what political leanings he had - and I'm glad. I still love to watch that show when it comes on Christian TV.
I try to seperate the artist from the politics - if not I'd never be able to enjoy John Steinbeck novels, The Clash music, or a Jacques-Louis David painting.
Actually that statement, as is the headline, is slightly misleading.
Will Geer played the so-called "patriarch" on the show, in the character of the father of Ralph Waite.
And Will Geer joined the Communist Party in 1934.
Don't know if he was a fag, though.
Doubt it, since he was considered somewhat of a horn dog whilst he was traveling around with Woodie Guthrie and that ilk.
Don't know if he was a fag, though.
Whether or not Will Geer was actually a homosexual is open to debate. What is not debatable, however, is the fact that he was an early "gay rights activist"...
the infowarrior
I rented the waltons season 1 a few months ago.....
... took it straight back to the store....
... it was so leftist, so PC, so predictable .. then I read up on the show’s producers... lefties all of them.
The Waltons can’t hold a candle to “Little House” for example.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.