Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide 5 times. After 50 years away from organized religion, Waite returned in 2010 and became an active member of Spirit of the Desert Presbyterian Fellowship in Palm Desert, California. Fox News: For those who will be watching The Tabernacle Choir for the first time, what do you hope they get from this experience?Thomas: If they're Christmas lovers like I am, I hope they have a wonderful Christmas moment and they're able to really indulge in the beauty of the holiday and the majesty of the singing and the whole experience and that that will enrich their Christmas holidays. What triggered his alcoholism more was when his oldest daughter, Sharon, then-9, passed away, and he left the ministry. does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. He'd hoped to gain the congressional district that included Palm Springs, Riverside, and Palm Desert, where he lived. Actress Judy Norton still finds herself having a lot of respect for her "The Waltons" co-star Ralph Waite, even though he had a "dark side.". And while shes no longer pursuing acting, Cotler still vividly remembers bringing The Waltons to life and befriending Waite along the way. He confessed that people saw him as an icon and hero when they recognized him. In the next few years, he was seen in series like N.Y.P.D (1967 1968) and Nichols (1971), to name a few. . Once, we were interviewed as a cast and asked how our favorite character was on the show, Norton said. And it wasnt until after he passed away that I thought, "He was checking in. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Waite was survived by his wife, Linda East; a daughter, Kathleen; a stepson, Liam; and three grandchildren. It's easy to lose perspective when surrounded by a community of like-minded people. 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. 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. He was part of my second family.. 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. Just before his death, his final role was on Days of Our Lives (1965). Waite died on Feb. 13, 2014, at 85 years old from age-related illnesses. 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. The actor lost himself to addiction following the loss of his little girl, but luckily for him, the "The Waltons" cast was around to help him battle it. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Enjoy! Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Ralph was also very passionate about politics, how people were treated and social justice. 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. Environmental charter schools. Fox News: How does it feel to know that this special is going to help bring a sense of hope to many who have endured so much loss this year?Thomas: Its been a really rough time for everybody, of course, and nothing can make it all go away and seem better. Ralph Waite as a guest star on NCIS season seven in Los Angeles on November 4, 2009, and him with actress Michael Learned in a scene on "The Waltons" circa 1973 | Photos: Cliff Lipson/CBS/Getty Images. In 1972, Waite landed the most significant role in his life, which opened Hollywood for him "The Waltons.". He also had recurring roles in NCIS as Jackson Gibbs, the father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, and Bones, as Seeley Booth 's grandfather. 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 He played the role of Jackson Gibbs, Leroys father, and appeared in 8 episodes of the show before he died in 2014. And he said he sort of expected how "The Waltons" would be. 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). He also ran for Congress as a Democrat, in California in 1990 for the Riverside County-based 37th district. In fact, he even demanded that the show cast Native Americans for specific parts. 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 took one day of sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by his onscreen family for him to feel fake, so he got himself sober. He didnt necessarily think at that moment he was doing a very good job. [1], Waite, the eldest of five children, was born in White Plains, New York, on June 22, 1928, to Ralph H. Waite, a construction engineer, and Esther (ne Mitchell) Waite. 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", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ralph_Waite&oldid=1141195580, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox military person with unknown parameters, Pages using infobox military person with embed, Internet Off-Broadway Database person ID same as Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 21:16. Kami Cotler sat down for an interview with Fox News back in 2019, five years after the death of Ralph Waite. These Behind-the-Scenes Secrets About The Brady Bunch Will Blow Your Mind! He completed his graduation in 1952 from the Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, he was appalled by the churchs hypocrisy and quit. He credited the show for being the reason he got sober, recalls Judy. Theres a lot of sitting around and waiting. 'THE WALTONS' STAR MICHAEL LEARNED TALKS REBOOT RUMORS, Ralph Waltie and Michael Learned in "The Waltons." 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. . On February 13, 2014, Waite died in Palm Desert, California, of natural causes at age 85. Fox News: How are you and your family coping with 2020?Thomas: We may have distance and separation, but we still have a connection. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. At one point, the US Marine Corps veteran became active in politics. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, He stood up and said, "No, these are parts for native people and its wrong to cast any other person in them.". Waite also founded the Los Angeles Actors Theatre in 1975 and served as its artistic director.The Waltons (1972), which earned him an Emmy nomination, ended in 1981 and Waite ventured on to other TV character roles during the 80s and 90s but less visibly. And that is fine with me. It's so wonderful. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! I help troubleshoot whatever exciting new problems might emerge. Courtesy of Kami Cotler. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. 1 (January 1964) No. [3], Waite ran unsuccessfully for Congress in California as a Democrat on three occasions: In 1990, he challenged veteran GOP incumbent Al McCandless in the Riverside County-based 37th district, losing by 5%. She revealed they were in love off . Thanks to her, he was introduced to the works of theological heavyweights like Niebuhr and Tillich. Unfortunately, that kept him busy for only a short period. On February 13, 2014, Waite sadly passed away at age 85 from natural causes in Palm Desert, California. The 53-year-old mother of two has dedicated her life to education, specifically leading charter schools in Los Angeles. He started training with the great Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York. Waite then went to Alcoholics Anonymous and got himself sober. Dec 22, 2021 04:35 P.M. Michael Learned and Ralph Waite had undeniable chemistry as love interests in "The Waltons." However, unknown to many, the romantic bond they shared on-screen uniquely translated into their real lives. And that the bonds we created in this fictional family were family-like connections. Family & Personal Life. Ralph was a really special guy, and I had a lot of admiration for him as well as a lot of love.. 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. It was what I did. 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. He passed away at midday on Thursday at his home in South Palm Desert, Steve. 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. Despite their feelings for the studio, there was genuine love among all the actors. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider. Waite made a go at marriage one more time before his death. Ralph Waltie and Michael Learned in "The Waltons.". Watching how Waite and actress Michael Learned, who played Olivia, interacted as a couple impressed Norton a lot. I loved Ralph a lot. Born In: White Plains, New York, United States, Spouse/Ex-: Linda East (m. 1982), Beverly Waite (m. 1951 - div. And we really bonded. And thats the normal part of being an actor. 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