Facts, Tid-Bits & Trivia

In honor of Ralph Waite’s birthday, we’re sharing fun facts and trivia to shed some light on the man behind one of TV’s favorite dads!

1. Ralph Waite was born in White Plains, NY, in Westchester County, a suburb just north of New York City.
2. Waite attended Yale Divinity School to become a Presbyterian minister. He left religious life to work in publishing, and finally finding his true calling as an actor.
3. He served as a U.S. Marine in 1948
4. Passionate about politics, Waite ran for Congress twice and was defeated both times. The final bid was in 1998 at the age of 70 when he hoped to fill the seat left vacant by singer, Sonny Bono, who was killed in a skiing accident. Bono’s widow won the election.
5. After playing John Walton, Sr, (Ranked #3 in TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time in 2004), Waite’s “father” roles were all widowers.