Leta Powell Drake Interview with Ralph Waite (1980)

[@edmundpower1250]

What a lovely man and a superb actor and great father figure in the Waltons

[@stevejeffries1603]

Loved the chap he played and in real life he seems like a genuine person and a gentleman

[@Toywithme200]

loved him on the waltons. and the show was great!

[@adrinathegreat3095]

Playing the violent slave trader in roots was an example of being a good actor, actors simply play roles

[@Lildarlin1]

Most people don't know that John and Olivia Walton had a deep love offscreen. They were truly in Love. Once Michael Learned(olivia) said what we saw on screen with them kissing or anything was real love. They tried to make a go of it but they didnt think it would work and hurt the show. Also Olivia was a Massive Alcoholic until 1977. Her and John would go to lunch on set and come back "tipsy" after a few glasses of wine. One day John told her she needed to cut down on her drinking and he was the one to help her. John, (Ralph) had a drinking problem too but nothing as bad as Olivia. This is in a book Michael Learned (olivia Walton wrote. She even took a bottle of whisky in her coat to audition for the role of Olivia... This was a huge surprise to me,...but not the love part. I saw some things kinda (off script) that they left in between them,..a bit too close at times but the alcohol surprised me. I loved them dearly together. They helped each other with the alcohol. John (Ralph stopped drinking during the first season, but it took until 1977 until Olivia stopped. John helped her get sober... How beautiful they were together knowing what we saw on screen was real love

[@williamlinington9166]

It is sad he never received an Emmy for the Waltons.

[@christinewomack8999]

That's Ok, he is still known as one of the best actors of all time. I watched lots of movies with Ralph Waite. LOVE HIM💙

[@jamesrivera4947]

"Alibi," Cool Hand Luke 🎬

[@cookieseville5133]

Always had boyish looks. Very handsome. Watched the show over / over

[@reidwhitton6248]

I love Ralph Waite, and the father he played on The Waltons. He rarely let his emotions override good judgement and common sense. And he could smell a phony a mile away. He kept the family grounded.

[@rickmontgomery3037]

What a good man, sure miss him :(

[@sarahplainandtall9877]

He was the BEST TV DAD ever, but EMMY didn't like him. That's okay, that's only EMMY, but for the heart of millions of American viewers RALPH WAITE is one of the the BEST ACTORS of TV media.

[@rickyb6780]

Best tv dad! Ever!

[@nkv47]

He was a great Father on that show ..God bless the great Ralph Waite..

[@marionhudson4477]

I all way watch the Waltons start to finish.

[@tommydewayneisaacs2739]

I love John Walton, a mans man.

[@gilesglossop5071]

He was really evil in "Roots"! He comes across as a witty, aware and highly intelligent man

[@lianecornils6603]

Thats why you shouldnt watch it.

[@apc7077]

Was a great show to grow up with.. Thursday night tv

[@123canadagirl]

Always liked him as daddy Walton. He seems like a genuine person who struggled with slick but was able to get help. A good actor who could play diverse characters

[@m.e.d.7997]

Perfectly cast

[@cherylfarrell1274]

My favorite T.V. Father!!

[@spirit-walkerwaters4521]

What a wonderful man he was. So humble and honest about his humanity and struggles. My favorite of the Walton's actors.

[@niagregory2656]

handsome man

[@jamesrivera4947]

Mr. Waite's character, John Walton, Sr., was referred to as "Daddy," by his children, John by almost everyone else 😉

[@lmdmn1645]

So? Did you expect those who were not his children to call him Daddy and did you expect his children to call him John?

[@leonadams1942]

When did this interview air in 1980? What month and day?

[@bobbylincoln7869]

on the nickel was the movie

[@brianarbenz7206]

The show was a fairy tale. Everyone I know who grew up during the Depression has told me The Waltons were not at all like families in that time. Still, the show had its strengths and Ralph Waite was totally cool.

[@midgie4410]

The Walton's was anything but a fairy tale. They had real life struggles and problems like anyone else. My grandmother was born in 1923 and married in 1941. The Walton's were like her family. Poor,close knit family,attended church,had problems,got through the tough times,etc. People that say that isn't how it was and the Walton's is just a fairy tale,is probably jealous.

[@susanb2015]

Most people were starving. The Waltons had tons of food.

[@susanb2015]

​@@midgie4410My grandmother who lived through the Great Depression always said throwing food away was a sin.

[@brianarbenz1329]

@@midgie4410 My mother was born in 1924 and grew up in just about the same type of household in terms of family size, education and economic opportunities as the Waltons. She rolled her eyes at how non-authentic the show was. She said, oh that parents were really as warm and supportive as John and Olivia. Be assured, my Mom loved her parents all her life, but she said the 1930s was a time of children being seen and not heard. The warm talks between kids and parents in the Walton home were absolutely not typical in that genre. I don't mean to rag on the show -- as I said The Waltons had its strengths. But it was about 1970s nostalgia parameters, not about the 1930s.

[@lmdmn1645]

I didn't like him.

[@raphaelrodriande7233]

Ok russel crowe

[@mariagonzalez4136]

I always thought Russell Crowe and Ralph resembled one another.

[@bennyhillconsideredfunnier3356]

1980 was the good old days. At least compared to today. My sister never could stand Ralph Waite.

[@davesiler4064]

your sister was a bit strange!

[@adrinathegreat3095]

Perhaps her image of him is of the vicious slave trader in roots and being an Alcoholic in real life. Where some people only see him as the clean living john Walton. But in real life he was somewhere in the middle, Heavy drinking, smoking actor

[@brittoverbaugh4035]

2:35

[@marymagdalene3004]

Just could not stand this guy. Sorry folks!

[@lmdmn1645]

I hear you! I posted on here that I didn't like him.