Actor Ralph Waite has died at age 85.

Best known for his role as John Walton on the long-running CBS family drama The Waltons, Waite guested on such TV classics as Bonanza and N.Y.P.D. He later starred in the 1980s drama The Mississippi. Waite’s most recent roles were on Bones, NCIS and the daytime drama Days of Our Lives.

It’s been a sad week for classic TV fans, as we have lost Shirley Temple Black, Sid Caesar and now Ralph Waite. Our sympathies to their families and our thanks for bringing us such wonderful entertainment over the years.