Ralph Waite

Person

Ralph Waite

Acting June 22, 1928

White Plains, New York, USA

Ralph Waite (June 22, 1928 – February 13, 2014) was an American actor. His most famous role may be John Walton Sr. on the 1970s CBS TV series The Waltons, which he occasionally di…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy

8.2 2005 TV Show
Bones

Bones

8.2 2005 TV Show
NCIS

NCIS

7.6 2003 TV Show
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

7.6 2000 TV Show
The Bodyguard

The Bodyguard

6.7 1992 Movie
Cliffhanger

Cliffhanger

6.5 1993 Movie
Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke

7.7 1967 Movie
The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

5.8 1961 TV Show
Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

7.5 1984 TV Show
Bonanza

Bonanza

7.5 1959 TV Show
The Practice

The Practice

7.6 1997 TV Show
Five Easy Pieces

Five Easy Pieces

7.1 1970 Movie

Biography

A closer look

Read full biography

Ralph Waite (June 22, 1928 – February 13, 2014) was an American actor. His most famous role may be John Walton Sr. on the 1970s CBS TV series The Waltons, which he occasionally directed. He is also well known for his portrayal of the slave ship first mate Slater in the mini-series Roots. Later in his career, he appeared as Reverend Norman Balthus for 16 out of 24 episodes over the two seasons of the HBO series Carnivàle (2003–2005). He portrayed the recurring roles of Father Matt on the daytime serial Days of our Lives, of Jethro Gibbs's (Mark Harmon) father, Jackson Gibbs, on NCIS and of Seeley Booth's (David Boreanaz) grandfather, Hank Booth on Bones.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2012
    Gabe the Cupid Dog

    Movie R.L. Dutton

  2. 2011
    25 Hill

    Movie Ed

  3. 2010
    Letters to God

    Movie Mr. Perryfield

  4. 2009
    Ace Ventura Jr: Pet Detective

    Movie Grandpa Ventura

  5. 2008
    A Natural Born World-Shaker: The Making of 'Cool Hand Luke'

    Movie Self

  6. 2008
    Generation Gap

    Movie Chick

  7. 2007
    Cane

    TV show Father Mike

  8. 2007
    Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses

    Movie Jacob Brawley

  9. 2005
    Bones

    TV show Hank Booth

  10. 2005
    Grey's Anatomy

    TV show Irving Waller

  11. 2004
    Silver City

    Movie Casey Lyle

  12. 2003
    Blessings

    Movie Sheriff

  13. 2003
    NCIS

    TV show Jackson Gibbs

  14. 2003
    Carnivàle

    TV show Reverend Norman Balthus

  15. 2002
    Sunshine State

    Movie Furman Temple

  16. 2001
    Spirit

    Movie Jacob Hardesty

More credits
  1. 2000
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

    TV show Sheriff Montgomery

  2. 2000
    Timequest

    Movie The Traveler

  3. 2000
    The President's Man

    Movie President Mathews

  4. 1997
    The Third Twin

    TV show Senator Proust

  5. 1997
    A Walton Easter

    Movie John Walton

  6. 1997
    The Practice

    TV show Walter Josephson

  7. 1996
    The West

    TV show Self (voice)

  8. 1996
    Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

    Movie Shadow (voice)

  9. 1995
    The Outer Limits

    TV show Gene Morton

  10. 1995
    A Walton Wedding

    Movie John Walton

  11. 1995
    A Season of Hope

    Movie Sam Hackett

  12. 1994
    Sioux City

    Movie Drew McDermott

  13. 1994
    Sin and Redemption

    Movie Cal Simms

  14. 1994
    Keys

    Movie Dr. C.J. Halligan

  15. 1993
    A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion

    Movie John Walton

  16. 1993
    Cliffhanger

    Movie Frank

  17. 1993
    Time Trax

    TV show Lamont Carson

  18. 1992
    The Bodyguard

    Movie Herb Farmer

  19. 1991
    Wild by Law

    Movie Aldo Leopold (voice)

  20. 1990
    Crash and Burn

    Movie Lathan Hooks

  21. 1990
    Shannon's Deal

    TV show Harry

  22. 1990
    Sparks: The Price of Passion

    Movie Orville Lemon

  23. 1989
    Snake Treaty

    Movie

  24. 1988
    Good Old Boy

    Movie Narrator (voice)