Ralph Waite

Ralph Waite net worth is $2 Million. Also know about Ralph Waite bio, salary, height, age weight, relationship and more …

Ralph Waite Wiki Biography

Ralph Harold Waite Jr. was born on 22nd June 1928, in White Plains, New York State USA, and was an actor, director and politician as well, possibly best known to the world for appearing in the role of John Walton, Sr. in the popular TV series “The Waltons” (1972-1981), and in films “The Bodyguard” (1992) as Herb Farmer, and as Frank in “Cliffhanger” (1993), among other roles. Ralph passed away in 2014.

Have you ever wondered how rich Ralph Waite was, at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Ralph`s net worth was as high as $2 million, earned through his successful career in the entertainment industry, during which he made more than 80 film and TV appearances. Also, Ralph also tried himself in politics, but without any major success.

Ralph is the first born child of Ralph H. Waite and his wife Esther. He served in the US Marine Corps for two years, before he enrolled at Bucknell University, located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. After graduation he found a job as a social worker, but then furthered his education, obtaining a master`s degree from Yale University Divinity School. He was then ordained a Presbyterian minister, while also working as a religious editor for Harper & Row.

Ralph decided to become an actor in the early ‘60s, and began with the Peninsula Players summer theater program through the 1963 season, and later started to feature on stage, before making his Broadway debut in “Blues for Mister Charlie” (1964). He remained active on stage during the ‘60s, but eventually became more focused on films and TV.

He made his first TV appearance in the series “Hawk” (1966), and just a year later made his film debut in the Stuart Rosenberg`s Oscar-winning “Cool Hand Luke”. Before the end of the decade, Ralph also had roles in “A Lovely Way to Die” (1968), starring Kirk Douglas, among other appearances, which only increased his net worth.

Ralph started the ‘70s quite successfully, landing appearances in such films as “The Pursuit of Happiness” (1971), “Chato`s Land” (1972) with Charles Bronson, and “Trouble Man” (1972), before he got the role of John Walton, Sr in “The Waltons” (1972-1981), which role celebrated him as an actor, and increased his net worth by a large margin, as he appeared in 196 episodes. While the show lasted, Ralph stayed active on the map, and made numerous film appearances, including in such films as “Kid Blue” (1973), then a lead role in “The Secret Life of John Chapman” (1976), and his directorial debut with “On the Nickel” (1980).

In the early 80s, Ralph had featured as John Walton in television films about the famous fictional family, such as “A Wedding on Walton`s Mountain” (1982), “Mother`s Day on Walton Mountain” (1982), “A Day for Thanks on Walton`s Mountain” (1982), but also had many other roles throughout the decade, including in such productions as “The Mississippi” (1983-1984) as Ben Walker, then “Crime of Innocence” (1985) starring Andy Griffith, and the “The River Pirates” in 1988, with Richard Farnsworth and Ryan Francis in lead roles. His net worth was rrising.

The next decade was one of the most successful ones for Ralph as he appeared in several high profile films, such as Mick Jackson`s Oscar-nominated “The Bodyguard” (1992) next to Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, then Renny Harlin`s “Cliffhanger” (1993), which also received Oscar Award nominations, with Sylvester Stallone and John Lithgow, “A Season of Hope” (1995), and the TV series “Murder One” (1996), in which he portrayed Malcolm Dietrich.

Ralph started the new millennium with a role in action thriller “The President`s Man” (2000), with Chuck Norris in the lead role, and two years later featured in the romantic drama “Sunshine State”. In 2003 he was cast as Reverend Norman Balthus in the TV series “Carnivale” (2003-2005), and had small roles in low-budget films such as “Silver City” (2004), and “Murder 101: If Whises Were Horses.

In 2008 he re-emerged as Jackson Gibbs in the popular crime drama TV series “NCIS” (2008-2013), while also securing the role of Father Matt in the soap opera “Days of Our Lives”, which he played from 2009 until 2014, increasing his net worth by a large margin. Ralph also had roles in films such as Bill Norton`s “Generation Gap” (2008), “Letter to God” (2010), and Corbin Bernsen`s “25 Hill” (2011), all of which added further to his net worth.

Regarding his personal life, Ralph was married three times. His first wife was Beverly Hall(1951-66); the couple had three children. Secondly, he married Kerry Shear Waite in 1977 and divorced four years later. Just a year later he married Linda East, with whom he remained until his death. Ralph passed away on 13th February 2014 at 85 years of age.

IMDB Wikipedia $2 million 1928 1928-06-22 2014 Actor Actors American Andy Griffith Beverly Waite Beverly Waite (m. 1951–1966) Bill Norton Bucknell University California Charles Bronson Chuck Norris Corbin Bernsen Esther Mitchell February 13 John Lithgow John Walton June 22 Kerry Shear Waite Kerry Shear Waite (m. 1977–1981) Kevin Costner Kirk Douglas Linda East Linda East (m. 1982–2014) Minister New York Palm Desert Politician Ralph H. Waite Ralph Waite Ralph Waite Net Worth Renny Harlin Richard Farnsworth Ryan Francis Social Worker Stuart Rosenberg Sylvester Stallone Television Director United States United States of America White Plains Whitney Houston Yale Divinity School 拉尔夫·韦特

Ralph Waite Quick Info

Full Name Ralph Waite
Net Worth $2 Million
Date Of Birth June 22, 1928
Died February 13, 2014, Palm Desert, California, United States
Place Of Birth White Plains, New York, United States
Profession Actor
Education Bucknell University, Yale Divinity School
Nationality American
Spouse Linda East (m. 1982–2014), Kerry Shear Waite (m. 1977–1981), Beverly Waite (m. 1951–1966)
Parents Ralph H. Waite, Esther Mitchell
Nicknames 拉尔夫·韦特
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0906627/
Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Waltons (1971) For playing: “John Walton, Sr.”., Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series Roots (1977) For playing “Third mate Slater”.
Nominations Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series
Movies The Waltons, NCIS, Cool Hand Luke, Carnivàle, The Bodyguard, Cliffhanger, On the Nickel, A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion, Lawman, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, The Grissom Gang
TV Shows Carnivàle, The Mississippi, The Waltons, NCIS, Roots

Ralph Waite Trademarks

  1. The role of John Walton Sr. on _”The Waltons” (1972)_.
  2. Deep grouchy voice
  3. Father roles post The Waltons as having been widowers.
  4. Playing fathers of families/children, and fathers of the church,

Ralph Waite Quotes

  • I’m not any more moral than my neighbors.
  • I was never taken to a play or concert or church. Yet I was a show-off, a dreamer, a storyteller.
  • I have vanity and greed enough for one person. But at the same time, I feel in my bones you lose a lot of life’s value if you don’t see yourself as a member of the family of man.
  • The beauty of life is in people who feel some obligation to enhance life. Without that, we’re only half alive.
  • ‘The Waltons’ was profoundly important after years of wandering around. I was 44 and cut off from family and friends. It nurtured me back to a sense of family and who I am. It was a transforming experience.
  • You only mature when you face problems you can’t deal with.
  • Just as theater has to be where people live, actors have to go out in the marketplace – not be cut off by a lens. Either an artist grows or he stagnates.

Ralph Waite Important Facts

  • Father of Sharon, Kathleen and Suzanne.
  • Began The Waltons (1971) at age 44.
  • Acting mentor and friends of Richard Thomas and Mary McDonough.
  • Did not want to play the lead role in The Waltons (1971) series, because he didn’t want to be committed in doing a long-running TV series, but Earl Hamner Jr. encouraged him to do so.
  • Graduated from White Plains High School in White Plains, New York, in 1946.
  • Friends with: Michael Learned, Ellen Corby, Will Geer, Joe Conley, Ronnie Claire Edwards, Noble Willingham, Wilford Brimley, William Schallert, Mary Jackson, Jack Warden, Edward Asner, Earl Hamner Jr., Harry Harris, Larry Hagman, Hal Williams, Nora Marlowe, Mark Harmon, David McCallum, Dinah Shore, John Ritter, Mariclare Costello, Lewis Arquette, Lynn Hamilton, Pearl Shear, John Aniston, and E.G. Marshall.
  • Best remembered by the public for his starring role as John Walton Sr. on The Waltons (1971).
  • Ralph Waite passed away on February 13, 2014, at age 85, and within five months of three other legends, also born in 1928, aged 85 or 86: Shirley Temple, James Garner and Maya Angelou. The Last of Whom he co-starred in the first episode of Roots (1977).
  • He was physically healthy and active until contracting pneumonia, which caused his death at age 85.
  • His grandson Jackson Waite is a successful producer.
  • Classmate of former news editor Milt Hoffman.
  • Was a staunch Democrat.
  • In 2008, veteran actor James Garner was planning to come out of retirement from on camera roles when he was cast in NCIS (2003), but having a stroke soon after being cast, prevented him from doing it. The role was ultimately given to Waite, who was also born in 1928, but whose health was holding up rather better at that time. In the end, Waite passed away five months before Garner.
  • Is almost 3 months younger than James Garner. He guest-starred with him on an episode of Nichols (1971), and died 5 months before him.
  • When Waite’s class had a 40th reunion in 1986, but he was starring in a play in New Haven. Unable to attend the main reunion dinner, he showed up for a brunch the following day.
  • His former mother-in-law, Pearl Shear, died in 2009 and lived to be age 91. Shear guest-starred on The Waltons (1971) with him.
  • Until his death, he resided in Palm Desert, California.
  • Served in the United Marine Corps for 2 years.
  • His eldest daughter, Sharon Waite, died of leukemia when she was 9 years old in 1964.
  • Met his first wife, Beverly Hall, in college. She inspired him to go into social work in New York’s Westchester County.
  • He was an active member of Spirit of the Desert Presbyterian Fellowship in Palm Desert, California.
  • His father, Ralph H. Waite, was a construction engineer, and his mother, Esther (née Mitchell) Waite, was a housewife.
  • Graduated from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work, and a Master’s Degree from Yale University Divinity School.
  • Became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ.
  • Before he was a successful actor and a political activist, he was a bartender.
  • His problems with alcohol began when his 9-year-old daughter, Sharon, passed away.
  • Met his second wife, Kerry Shear Waite, when she showed up as a volunteer stage manager/actress at the Los Angeles Actors Theatre.
  • Was a longtime volunteer and board member of the ABC Alcohol and Recovery Center in Indio, California, serving for years as president.
  • Just before his death, he attended the book signing of his ex-The Waltons (1971) co-star, Mary McDonough, in Los Angeles, California.
  • Before he was a successful actor, ordained minister and political activist, he was also a social worker.
  • Acting ran in his family.
  • Was named after his father.
  • Didn’t start acting until he was age 32.
  • Founder of the Los Angeles Actors Theater, which he financed in large part by himself.
  • Up until the ninth and final season, Waite had appeared in each and every episode of The Waltons (1971).
  • Had conducted a memorial service for his aunt, Grace Haviland Waite, at the Quaker Meeting House in Purchase, New York, in 1989.
  • Made his Broadway debut in Blues for Mister Charlie.
  • Founder of the popular eatery Don and Sweet Sue’s Cafe in Cathedral City, California.
  • Survived by his wife, one child, one stepson, three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
  • Upon his death, he was cremated. His remains were buried at the White Plains Rural Cemetery, White Plains, Westchester County, New York.
  • Longtime friend of Hal Williams.
  • In On the Nickel (1980), Waite played a recovering alcoholic, in real-life, he was also a former alcoholic.
  • Between Norman Lloyd, Angela Lansbury, Dick Van Dyke, Ernest Borgnine, Mickey Rooney, Betty White and Larry Hagman, Waite was one of the stars in Hollywood never to retire.
  • After his divorce, at age 38, he moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1966, to pursue a career in acting. His two daughters stayed with his ex-wife in New York.
  • He also became active in politics, picketing for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
  • Before he was a successful actor, ordained minister and political activist, he was the religious editor for book publisher Harper & Row.
  • Served in the United States Marine Corps.
  • The eldest of five children.
  • Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide 5 times.
  • Once owned a house in Rancho Mirage, California.
  • Executive Producer of Ralph Waite Productions from 1983 to 1984.
  • Ralph Waite passed away on February 13, 2014. Just before his death, his final role was on Days of Our Lives (1965).
  • Did not attend the funeral of Ellen Corby, when the actress passed away in 1999.
  • Ex-son-in-law of Pearl Shear.
  • Grandfather of Jackson Waite and Charlie Ray.
  • Stepgrandfather of two boys, by stepson Liam Waite, Tristan River Waite, born October 12, 1998, and Asher Sky Waite, born September 2001. The mother of both boys was Liam’s then fiancée Natasha Henstridge.
  • Stepfather of Liam Waite.
  • John Walton Sr., Waite’s character on The Waltons (1971), was ranked #3 by TV Guide in its list of the “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time” [20 June 2004 issue].
  • First ran for congress in 1990, as the Democratic nominee, only to lose against incumbent Representative Al McCandless (R).
  • Unsuccessfully ran for Congress in California to fill the unexpired term of the late Sonny Bono, achieving the Democratic nomination, then defeated by Mary Bono (Sonny’s widow), April 7, 1998.

Ralph Waite Filmography

Title Year Status Character Role
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2008 TV Series Sheriff Montgomery Actor
Generation Gap 2008 TV Movie Chick Actor
The Cleaner 2008 TV Series Jonus Mullins Actor
Cane 2007 TV Series Father Mike Actor
Cold Case 2007 TV Series Felton Metz ’07 Actor
Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses 2007 TV Movie Jacob Brawley Actor
Carnivàle 2003-2005 TV Series Reverend Norman Balthus Actor
Silver City 2004 Casey Lyle Actor
The Practice 2004 TV Series Walter Josephson Actor
Blessings 2003 TV Movie Sheriff Actor
Sunshine State 2002 Furman Temple Actor
Spirit 2001 TV Movie Jacob Actor
All My Children 2001 TV Series Bart Actor
Timequest 2000 The Time Traveler Actor
The President’s Man 2000 TV Movie President Mathews Actor
Chicken Soup for the Soul 1999 TV Series Dad Actor
Rocket Power 1999 TV Series Doc Freimouth Actor
The Outer Limits 1999 TV Series Gene Morton Actor
The Third Twin 1997 TV Movie Senator Proust Actor
A Walton Easter 1997 TV Movie John Walton Actor
Orleans 1997 TV Series Otis Leblanc Actor
Murder One 1996 TV Series Malcolm Dietrich Actor
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco 1996 Shadow (voice) Actor
A Walton Wedding 1995 TV Movie John Walton Actor
A Season of Hope 1995 TV Movie Sam Hackett Actor
Keys 1994 TV Movie Dr. C.J. Halligan Actor
Sioux City 1994 Drew McDermott Actor
Sin & Redemption 1994 TV Movie Cal Simms Actor
Time Trax 1994 TV Series Lamont Carson Actor
A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion 1993 TV Movie John Walton Actor
Cliffhanger 1993 Frank Actor
The Bodyguard 1992 Herb Farmer Actor
Crash and Burn 1990 Video Lathan Hooks Actor
Shannon’s Deal 1990 TV Series Harry Actor
Sparks: The Price of Passion 1990 TV Movie Orville Lemon Actor
Murder, She Wrote 1989 TV Series D.A. Paul Robbins Actor
Red Earth, White Earth 1989 TV Movie Martin Actor
The River Pirates 1988 Narrator Actor
Crime of Innocence 1985 TV Movie Frank Hayward Actor
Growing Pains 1984 TV Movie Rob Actor
The Mississippi 1983-1984 TV Series Ben Walker Actor
A Good Sport 1984 TV Movie Tommy O’Bannon Actor
A Day for Thanks on Walton’s Mountain 1982 TV Movie John Walton Actor
Mother’s Day on Waltons Mountain 1982 TV Movie John Walton Actor
A Wedding on Walton’s Mountain 1982 TV Movie John Walton Actor
The Gentleman Bandit 1981 TV Movie Father Bernard Pagano Actor
The Waltons 1972-1981 TV Series John Walton, Sr. Actor
Angel City 1980 TV Movie Jared Teeter Actor
The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons 1980 TV Movie John Walton, Sr. / Himself Actor
On the Nickel 1980 C.G. Actor
OHMS 1980 TV Movie Floyd Wing Actor
Waiting for Godot 1977 TV Movie Pozzo Actor
Red Alert 1977 TV Movie Henry Stone Actor
Roots 1977 TV Mini-Series Slater Actor
The Secret Life of John Chapman 1976 TV Movie John Chapman Actor
The Thanksgiving Story 1973 TV Movie Actor
The Stone Killer 1973 Detective Mathews Actor
Kid Blue 1973 Drummer Actor
Trouble Man 1972 Pete Cockrell Actor
The Magnificent Seven Ride! 1972 Jim Mackay Actor
Girls on the Road 1972 John Actor
Chato’s Land 1972 Elias Hooker Actor
Nichols 1971 TV Series Sam Burton Actor
The Grissom Gang 1971 Mace Actor
Lawman 1971 Jack Dekker Actor
The Sporting Club 1971 Olson Actor
The Pursuit of Happiness 1971 Detective Cromie Actor
Five Easy Pieces 1970 Carl Fidelio Dupea Actor
Bonanza 1970 TV Series Hoby Miles Actor
Last Summer 1969 Peter’s Father (uncredited) Actor
N.Y.P.D. 1967-1968 TV Series Robert Stryker Actor
A Lovely Way to Die 1968 Sean Magruder Actor
The Desperate Hours 1967 TV Movie Lt. Fredericks Actor
Cool Hand Luke 1967 Alibi Actor
The Borgia Stick 1967 TV Movie Man from Toledo Actor
Hawk 1966 TV Series Chauffeur Actor
Look Up and Live 1954 TV Series Host Actor
Days of Our Lives 2009-2014 TV Series Father Matt
Father Watt
Actor
NCIS 2008-2013 TV Series Jackson Gibbs Actor
Bones 2009-2013 TV Series Hank Booth Actor
Old Henry 2013 TV Short Henry Actor
Gabe the Cupid Dog 2012 R.L. Dutton Actor
25 Hill 2011 Ed Actor
Off the Map 2011 TV Series Abuelito Actor
Letters to God 2010 Cornelius Perryfield Actor
Grey’s Anatomy 2009 TV Series Irving Waller Actor
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr. 2009 TV Movie Grandpa Ventura Actor
The Mississippi 1983 TV Series 1 episode Director
On the Nickel 1980 Director
The Waltons 1973-1980 TV Series 16 episodes Director
The Waltons 1974-1978 TV Series performer – 2 episodes Soundtrack
On the Nickel 1980 Writer
A Good Sport 1984 TV Movie executive producer Producer
NCIS 2014 TV Series in memory of – 1 episode Thanks
Edición Especial Coleccionista 2014 TV Series in memory of – 1 episode Thanks
A Natural Born World-Shaker: Making ‘Cool Hand Luke’ 2008 Video documentary short special thanks Thanks
NCIS – Season 10: X Marks the Spot: A Look at Season X 2013 Video short Himself Self
A Walton’s Family Reunion 2010 TV Movie documentary Himself – Actor Self
A Natural Born World-Shaker: Making ‘Cool Hand Luke’ 2008 Video documentary short Himself Self
The West 1996 TV Series documentary Self
Wild by Law 1991 Documentary Aldo Leopold (voice) Self
Reading Rainbow 1987 TV Series Himself Self
Good Morning America 1978 TV Series Himself Self
CBS: On the Air 1978 TV Mini-Series documentary Self
CBS Galaxy 1977 TV Special Himself – Guest Self
Dinah! 1975-1977 TV Series Himself Self
The Mike Douglas Show 1976 TV Series Himself – Actor Self
The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015 TV Special Himself – In Memoriam Archive Footage
The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards 2014 TV Special Himself – In Memoriam Archive Footage
NCIS 2014 TV Series Jackson Gibbs Archive Footage

Ralph Waite Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie Category
1980 Special Mention Taormina International Film Festival On the Nickel (1980) Won
1980 Special Mention Taormina International Film Festival On the Nickel (1980) Nominated