The Waltons star Ralph Waite, who more recently recurred on Bones and NCIS, has died at the age of 85.
Waite portrayed John Walton Sr. for nine seasons on the CBS Depression-era drama and in three NBC telefilms. After the series wrapped, he appeared on Murder One, Carnivàle and the miniseries Roots among others.
Bones fans will recognize Waite as Booth’s grandfather and caretaker Hank. He also played dad to Mark Harmon’s character Gibbs on NCIS, and recurred on Days of Our Lives as Father Matt.
Bones executive producers Hart Hanson and Stephen Nathan issued the following statement:
“All of us at Bones mourn the loss of Ralph Waite. We loved having him on set and in many ways his character was the moral center of our show as Booth’s plainspoken, loving, war hero grandfather. The entire Bones family sends condolences to his family and loved ones.”
While the NCIS cast and crew issued this remembrance:
R.I.P. Ralph Waite