He was also known for his portrayal of the slave ship third mate Slater, in the mini-series Roots. "This is life and death," he continues, "and real characters, and people dealing with real things. Monreal wrote Waite's swan song, "Better Angels," and was subsequently drafted to work on this post­humous finale, since she had spent so much time with the actor last fall. "And then, right away, you say, 'How do we honor this?' NCIS' cast and crew issued a statement after Waite's death: "Everyone at NCIS is deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague Ralph Waite. I said, 'She's a playwright.' © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He was 85. A time jump, a milestone episode, and more, Here's what other shows ranked in the top 10. Quickly, they decided Waite deserved more than a featured rerun or nominal dedication, even if that meant putting off an homage for three months. That phrase, real characters, may be, by definition, an oxymoron, but not to the millions of viewers who consider the fictional folks on NCIS to be family. ), Sign up and add shows to get the latest updates about your favorite shows - Start Now. Waite, the eldest of five children, was born in White Plains, New York, on June 22, 1928, to Ralph H. Waite, a construction engineer, and Esther Waite. (Disclosure: TV Guide is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of ViacomCBS. ", Says Harmon, "Ralph loved Gina. "But when someone said, 'Action,' and the camera got turned on, you'd better be bolted to the floor, because he was going to take you into the next county.". Waite appeared on NCIS as the father of main character Leroy Jethro Gibbs, portrayed by Mark Harmon. Off camera, there was no escaping that the 85-year-old was feeling his years. NCIS Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll), who lost his wife a year ago, urges him away from D.C. and toward Stillwater. But there won't be any loose ends or jangled nerves at the close of May 13's finale, which honors the late actor Ralph Waite and sends his character, Jackson Gibbs, to his final resting place. Ralph Waite, Mark Harmon Though NCIS season finales are known for being action-packed cliff-hangers, the final episode of Season 11 may have fans reaching for tissues rather than sitting on … "You'd see little crinkles, little skips, little different things — nothing too bad," Harmon says. "I knew coming in that I wanted to write a Jackson story," she says, "because, like probably all of America, I was in love with that character — this very vulnerable but strong being who is difficult and complex and wonderful. He certainly had an eye for the ladies and beauty, but he also recognized her writing right off, and during 'Better Angels,' he talked about her to me. Download the TV Guide app for iPhone, iPad and Android! When Harmon learned of Waite’s death in February, he called executive producer Gary Glasberg and together the two discussed how to properly honor the actor.