Ralph Waite — Then
Ralph Waite, who acted as John Walton Sr., was one of the greatest characters in The Waltons. Long before Ralph Waite was hired to act in The Waltons, he had served in the Marines and later became a social worker before enrolling in divinity school at Yale University. He graduated from Yale Divinity School with a master’s degree. He made the decision to shift careers and become an actor.
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He began his acting career on Broadway before pursuing a career in movies. Set during the Great Depression and World War II, Ralph plays John Walton Sr., who manages a family sawmill and focuses on keeping his family together. With the aid of his son, he tries to eke out a living for his family by operating a timber mill.