The Waltons star Ralph Waite has died.
Ralph Waite, who played patriarch John Walton, Sr. on CBS' The Waltons, died on Thursday at the age of 85, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Waite starred on the long-running CBS series for nine seasons, playing the family man who worked at a lumber mill on Walton's mountain. The role earned him an Emmy nomination in 1978. The year prior, he was given an Emmy nomination for his supporting role in the mini-series Roots.
An accomplished actor, Waite also starred in classic films such as Cool Hand Luke, Five Easy Pieces, The Bodyguard and Cliffhanger. In 1990, he made an unsuccessful bid for a congressional seat in California's 37th District.
Waite continued working in his later years, appearing on Days of Our Lives, Bones and NCIS.