Ralph Waite (June 22, 1928 – February 13, 2014) was an
American actor, voice artist, and political activist, best known for his role as John Walton, Sr. on
The Waltons, which he occasionally directed. In addition, Waite appeared in many guest roles on numerous television series, most recently in a recurring role in
NCIS as Jackson Gibbs, the father of
Leroy Jethro Gibbs.