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Ralph Waite

Ralph Waite

Actor · Died February 13, 2014, aged 85 · 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 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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 22, 1928
Died
February 13, 2014 (aged 85)
From
White Plains, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 72 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 35% in 30 days

What are Ralph Waite's films like?

Across their 30 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
32%
Morality
22%
Self
14%
Survival
12%
Society
9%
Power
7%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds15 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 12 · Serious 7 · Dark 10

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 24 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 12 · Charged 11 · Intense 6

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 19 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 13 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Mentor
5 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Herald
2 of 13
Ally
2 of 13
Shadow
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Warm
13
Melancholic
10
Contemplative
9
Hopeful
7
Other
20

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ralph Waite's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ralph Waite's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

72 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Gabe the Cupid Dog(2012)

    as R.L. Dutton

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • 25 Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Ed

  • Letters to God(2010)

    as Mr. Perryfield

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr.(2009)

    as Grandpa Ventura

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Generation Gap(2008)

    as Chick

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Cane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Mike

  • Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses(2007)

    as Jacob Brawley

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Hank Booth

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Irving Waller

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Silver City(2004)

    as Casey Lyle

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Blessings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Sheriff

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 7 episodes · as Jackson Gibbs

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Carnivàle(2003)

    Show 24 episodes · as Norman Belthus

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Timequest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as The Traveler

  • Sunshine State(2002)

    as Furman Temple

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Spirit(2001)

    as Jacob Hardesty

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Montgomery

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The President's Man(2000)

    as President Mathews

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Third Twin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Senator Proust

  • A Walton Easter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as John Walton

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Walter Josephson

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco(1996)

    as Shadow (voice)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Gene Morton

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • A Walton Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as John Walton

  • A Season of Hope(1995)

    as Sam Hackett

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Sioux City(1994)

    as Drew McDermott

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Sin and Redemption (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Cal Simms

  • Keys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dr. C.J. Halligan

  • A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion(1993)

    as John Walton

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Cliffhanger(1993)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Time Trax (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Lamont Carson

  • The Bodyguard(1992)

    as Herb Farmer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Wild by Law(1991)

    as Aldo Leopold (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Crash and Burn(1990)

    as Lathan Hooks

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Shannon's Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry

  • Sparks: The Price of Passion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Orville Lemon

  • Red Earth, White Earth(1989)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Good Old Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Crime of Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Frank Hayward

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as D.A. Paul Robbins

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • A Good Sport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Executive Producer · as Tommy O'Bannon

  • The Mississippi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 23 episodes · as Ben Walker

  • A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain(1982)

    as John Walton

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain(1982)

    as John Walton

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • A Wedding on Walton's Mountain(1982)

    as John Walton

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Gentleman Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Father Bernard Pagano

  • Angel City(1980)

    as Jared Teeter

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Waltons: A Decade of the Waltons(1980)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • On the Nickel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as C.G.

  • OHMS (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Floyd Wing

  • Red Alert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Henry Stone

  • Roots(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Slater

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Secret Life of John Chapman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as John Chapman

  • The Stone Killer(1973)

    as Mathews

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Kid Blue(1973)

    as Drummer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Trouble Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Pete Cockrell

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 210 episodes · Director · as John Walton Sr.

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Magnificent Seven Ride!(1972)

    as Jim Mackay

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Hot Summer Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as John

  • Chato's Land(1972)

    as Elias Hooker

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Nichols (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Burton

  • The Grissom Gang(1971)

    as Mace

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Lawman(1971)

    as Jack Dekker

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Sporting Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Olson

  • The Pursuit of Happiness(1971)

    as Detective Cromie

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Five Easy Pieces(1970)

    as Carl Fidelio Dupea

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Last Summer(1969)

    as Peter's father (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • A Lovely Way to Die(1968)

    as Sean Magruder

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Desperate Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Lt. Fredericks

  • Cool Hand Luke(1967)

    as Alibi

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Borgia Stick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Man from Toledo

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Hoby Miles

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles from 1959 to 2012; peak year 1971.

Biggest box office

The Bodyguard (1992)

$411M worldwide

Highest rated

Five Easy Pieces (1970)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

The Waltons (1972)

Film career

19592012

Peak 1971 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting72 of 72: 69 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thDirecting2 of 72: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 72: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 72: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

72 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew1980s14 · 14 acting · 2 crew1990s18 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s3 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
677292

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ralph Waite's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

Gabe the Cupid Dog (2012)

94th percentile spread · 54% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 25 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ralph Waite's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles40–71 · median 58 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles25–61 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles24–66 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles34–45 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles35–69 · median 49 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ralph Waite work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ralph Waite's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Earl Hamner Jr. shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles