The Denver native was an ardent supporter of SAG-AFTRA and a co-creator of SAGindie.
His manager, Marsha McManus, confirmed the news toEntertainment Weekly.
A cause of death was not disclosed.
Tom Bower.Charley Gallay/Getty
Eventually, Dr. Willard and Mary Ellen married and had a son.
Bower was written off the show in 1978, which he linked to his request for a salary bump.
Charley Gallay/Getty
More recently, Bower worked with directorScott CooperonCrazy HeartandOut of the Furnace.
In the former film, he played the agent toJeff Bridges' country star, Bad Blake.
He also had a stint as the father ofBob Odenkirk’s title character on the AMC seriesLucky Hank.
Ralph Thomas Bower was born Jan. 3, 1938, in Denver.
Bower worked a series of odd jobs before relocating to Los Angeles to seek a career on screen.
Before his breakout onThe Waltons, he guest-starred onThe Rockford FilesandThe Bionic Woman.
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He was also an ardent supporter ofSAG-AFTRAand the efforts of the actors' union to protect its own.
He co-createdSAGindie, a union resource dedicated to helping independent filmmakers employ union actors.
Bower was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Ursula, who died last August.
