Ralph Waite passed away

[chessie]

I just read that Ralph Waite has passed away. He was probably best known as the father in the 70s series The Waltons, but he had a long and varied career, and made guest appearances on a number of TV series. I enjoyed his role as Jethro Gibbs' father on NCIS.

It's sad to see so many talented members of that generation leaving us, seemingly all at once.

Carol

[njr]

He also played Seeley Booth's grandfather on Bones. I wonder if they will address his death on either show.

Nancy

[JH4HJ]

He was an excellent character actor with a long career in theater, movies and (probably best known for) TV. He will be missed.

Waite made his professional NY debut in a 1960 production of "The Balcony" at the Circle in the Square and was seen on Broadway in "Blues for Mister Charlie" before earning fine reviews in 1965 alongside Faye Dunaway in "Hogan's Goat". This was enough to encourage him to move West where he began collecting bit parts in prestigious movies, including Cool Hand Luke (1967) and Five Easy Pieces (1970). 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. Waite continued to thrive as well on the stage appearing in both contemporary plays ("The Trial of Lee Harvey Osward") as well as Shakespearean classics (Claudius in "Hamlet" and Orsino in "Twelfth Night").

I don't watch Bones often so I don't know how pivotal his character was on that series, but I can not imagine his passing will go unmentioned on NCIS. "Papa Gibbs" is an underlying influence even in episodes where his character does not appear.

Three wonderful performers in less than a week. So sad.

[JH4HJ]

NCIS: I was pleased to see the show weave Waite's passing into the season finale. Gibb's father died suddenly of a heart attack - and was remembered in flashbacks. They did a nice job. The episode was dedicated to him in an end credit.

[njr]

May 18, 2014 23:28:45 GMT -5 JH4HJ said:

NCIS: I was pleased to see the show weave Waite's passing into the season finale. Gibb's father died suddenly of a heart attack - and was remembered in flashbacks. They did a nice job. The episode was dedicated to him in an end credit.

It was a stroke, not a heart attack, but anyway, it was a good episode. At the end of one of the Bones episodes, they had a "In Memorium" panel for Mr. Waite. I wonder if they will say anything next season about "Seeley's grandfather" passing away.

Nancy