Ralph White (October 23, 1930 - February 1963) is a character in Carrie (Novel) and an unseen character in Carrie (1976), The Rage: Carrie 2 and Carrie (2013). He is the father of Carrie White and the husband of Margaret White. He was not involved in raising Carrie, although all versions strongly suggest that it was through his blood that Carrie gained her powers.
Literary
Ralph White was a construction worker who came into contact with Margaret White in 1960. He was also a fundamentalist Christian and believed, as did his wife, that all forms of intercourse, even in marriage were sinful, as opposed to many other Christians who believe martial sex is something to be nurtured and enjoyed. Nevertheless, two years after meeting Margaret, he married her. After one night of raucous drinking with men, Ralph came home and heated by the booze, seduced Margaret, resulting in the forthcoming pregnancy of his daughter. A few months after the intercourse but shortly before the baby was born, some men were killed in a grisly construction accident, to include Ralph. As a result, Carrie was a posthumous child.
1976
Ralph is only mentioned by name during the film. Carrie revealed at one point, that "He Ran Away". Margaret tried to convince her child, that her husband was tempted by The Devil and taken away. Carrie, on the other hand, had a more realistic view of what transpired, feeling it was not a "Devil" but most likely another woman.
The Rage: Carrie 2
23 years later, Ralph was mentioned again by a woman named Barbara Lang, who was the mother of Rachel. Barbara said, that Ralph was the father of Rachel. Rachel herself possessed similar powers to Carrie and was also considered an outsider, although Rachel was more independent and outspoken than Carrie. Meanwhile, a grown up Sue Snell the only survivor of The Blank Prom tried to inform Rachel, that she and Carrie were half-sisters, but with different mothers.
2013
Ralph is mentioned by Estelle Horan before The White Commission, in a deleted scene of the 2013 remake.
Trivia
- In the book, Margaret remembers trying to murder Carrie soon after she was born and first used her powers, but claims that Ralph stopped her from doing so. Since Ralph died before Carrie was born, it's unclear how this was possible.