Ralph Waite
ActingAbout Ralph Waite
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.
Ralph Waite Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Ralph Waite reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Ralph Waite's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 36% of Ralph Waite's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains The Borgia Stick, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Ralph Waite Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Ralph Waite's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Ralph Waite has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Gabe the Cupid Dog | R.L. Dutton | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | 25 Hill | Ed | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Letters to God | Mr. Perryfield | Hit | Similar → |
| 2008 | Generation Gap | Chick | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses | Jacob Brawley | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Silver City | Casey Lyle | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Blessings | Sheriff | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Timequest | The Traveler | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | Sunshine State | Furman Temple | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Spirit | Jacob Hardesty | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | The President's Man | President Mathews | Flop | Similar → |
| 1997 | A Walton Easter | John Walton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco | Shadow (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | A Season of Hope | Sam Hackett | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | Sioux City | Drew McDermott | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | Sin and Redemption | Cal Simms | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | Keys | Dr. C.J. Halligan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1993 | A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion | John Walton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Cliffhanger | Frank | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | The Bodyguard | Herb Farmer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Wild by Law | Aldo Leopold (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | Crash and Burn | Lathan Hooks | Flop | Similar → |
| 1990 | Sparks: The Price of Passion | Orville Lemon | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Snake Treaty | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1988 | Good Old Boy | Narrator (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Crime of Innocence | Frank Hayward | Average | Similar → |
| 1982 | A Day for Thanks on Waltons Mountain | John Walton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain | John Walton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | A Wedding on Waltons Mountain | John Walton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1981 | The Gentleman Bandit | Father Bernard Pagano | Flop | Similar → |
| 1980 | Angel City | Jared Teeter | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | On the Nickel | C.G. | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | OHMS | Floyd Wing | Flop | Similar → |
| 1977 | Red Alert | Henry Stone | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Secret Life of John Chapman | John Chapman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Stone Killer | Mathews | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | Kid Blue | Drummer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Trouble Man | Pete Cockrell | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Magnificent Seven Ride! | Jim Mackay | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Chato's Land | Elias Hooker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Grissom Gang | Mace | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Lawman | Jack Dekker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | The Pursuit of Happiness | Detective Cromie | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Five Easy Pieces | Carl Fidelio Dupea | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | Last Summer | Peter's father (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | A Lovely Way to Die | Sean Magruder | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Desperate Hours | Lt. Fredericks | Flop | Similar → |
| 1967 | Cool Hand Luke | Alibi | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Borgia Stick | Man from Toledo | Super Hit | Similar → |
Ralph Waite - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Ralph Waite?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ralph Waite is "The Borgia Stick" with a rating of 7.8/10.
How many movies has Ralph Waite acted in?
Ralph Waite has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Ralph Waite?
Other notable films include "The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons", "Cool Hand Luke", and "A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion".