Father Of "The Waltons" Dies At 85...

© CBS / Ralph Waite

Ralph Waite, Papa Walton on 'The Waltons,' dead at 85

Feb. 13, 2014, 8:40 PM EST

Courtesy of:  By Josh Dickey and Tim KenneallyTheWrapRalph Waite, a prolific television actor who played John Walton, Sr. - Papa Walton - on the CBS series "The Waltons," has died. He was 85.
Waite died around 2 p.m. Thursday, his church confirmed to TheWrap.
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The White Plains, N.Y., native served in the Marine Corps and had a variety of occupations -- including as a Presbyterian minister and a social worker -- before dabbling in theater in the early 1960s. He was already in his 30s when he made it to Broadway, including a starring turn opposite Faye Dunaway in "Hogan's Goat." From there he was emboldened to move West, appearing on stage and screen, including rules in "Cool Hand Luke" and "Five Easy Pieces." But it wasn't until "The Waltons" that Waite found fame. Playing a Depression-era homesteader John Walton, Waite, by then in his mid-40s, directed several episodes of the show that would thrive for nine seasons on CBS. Besides taking numerous roles in television, Waite ran unsuccessfully for Congress in California three times as a Democrat.