NCIS has had a slew of cast members over the years, but some NCIS fans are curious about the actor who plays Leroy Gibbs’ father Jackson.
For nearly two decades, NCIS was led by Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon). Agent Gibbs recently resigned from the team. Throughout the series, viewers have met members of Gibbs’ family, including his mother Ann (Clare Carey) and his children.
Viewers, on the other hand, are curious about Gibbs’ father and the actor who plays him.
In NCIS, who plays Gibbs’ father..?
Ralph Waite, who appeared in eight episodes of the show, played Jackson Gibbs. The character first appeared in season six and made brief appearances in some of the subsequent seasons.
Jackson had served in the United States Army Air Force during WWII before returning home. Following the d3ath of his wife Ann, Jackson and Gibbs became estranged, and the two began to argue.
Later, when Jackson sought advice from Gibbs after k1lling a robber who was attempting to steal from his store, the pair appeared to make it up.
Waite d1ed in February 2014, at the age of 85, and the NCIS season 11 finale was dedicated to him as a tribute.
In Memory of Thy Father, Gibbs discovered Jackson had d1ed of a stroke, and the episode dealt with his passing.
Jackson also appeared in a flashback episode in which a young Gibbs and his father were walking through the woods.
Before joining NCIS, actor Waite was best known for his role as patriarch John Walton Sr in The Waltons, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
Waite was born in White Plains, New York on June 22, 1928. Waite was unsure of his career path after graduating from Bucknell University and worked in a variety of fields before discovering acting.
Waite has previously worked as a publicist, book editor, social worker, and Presbyterian minister, among other things.
He made his professional acting debut in a 1960 production of The Balcony and later appeared on Broadway in Blues for Mister Charlie.
Waite also appeared in Hogan’s Goat with Faye Dunaway before making the transition from stage to screen.
Among his major film roles were The Bodyguard, in which he co-starred with Kevin Costner and Whitey Houston, Cliffhanger, and On the Nickel.
From 1972 to 1981, he was a regular on The Waltons, appearing in over 200 episodes.
He went on to appear in the series The Mississippi after the wholesome show about America’s best-loved family ended.
Waite appeared in Murd3r, She Wrote, The Outer Limits, Grey’s Anatomy, Cold Case, and CSI in minor roles.
Waite later appeared in the HBO series Carnivàle, Days of Our Lives, Murd3r One, and Bones.
Waite worked on On The Nickel as a writer, A Good Sport as a producer, and The Waltons and The Mississippi as a director.
Along with acting, Waite pursued a political career, running for Congress twice in 1990 and 1998 but failing both times.
Related News – Be sure to get some more news when it comes to NCIS.