Ralph Waite Dead - 'The Waltons' Patriarch Dies at 85

Ralph Waite, who was most famous for playing the patriarch John Walton on the beloved series The Waltons, has died at the age of 85.

The actor died midday on Thursday (February 13) at his home in South Palm Desert, Calif., a representative of his family told The Hollywood Reporter.

Ralph was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1978 for his work on The Waltons, which he starred on for nine years. More recently, he has appeared as a guest star on many episodes of NCIS and has been a recurring star on the soap opera Days of Our Lives for the past few years.

We send our thoughts and prayers to Ralph‘s family and friends during this difficult time.