. He began his career in 1979 alongside
. He is best known for his starring roles in the motion pictures
. Ward also acted in European movies.
. He is of part
American Indian descent. Before acting, Ward spent three years in the
. He was also a
. While in
films. Upon returning stateside in the early 1970s, Ward spent time working in experimental theater and doing some
work. He made his first American film appearance playing a cowboy in
(1975). His first major role came in the
. He was also notable as a violent
(1982). He then starred as astronaut
. The film was supposed to be the first of a series based on
series of novels. Though the movie was critically acclaimed and well-promoted, showing Ward on the cover of several movie magazines, it only grossed $15,000,000, which was not much in comparison to the James Bond movies. He confirmed that he did most of the dangerous stunts by himself. He also studied
Ward played in a few low-budget productions until he returned to major cinema in 1988 as a cop in
) and as cop Hoke Moseley, whose gun, badge and dentures are stolen, in Ward's own-produced motion picture
After playing H.P. Lovecraft in the 1991 HBO TV movie
, he decided to only play co-starring roles as a character actor in the thriller
. He also did a
Notable leading roles include Lt. Brann in the two-character-thriller
(for which the whole ensemble won a Golden Globe) (both 1993), a dangerous criminal in the comedy
(both 1996). He also appeared as Sheriff Bud Phillips in
In the new millennium Ward was seen in many motion pictures, but also in productions made for TV and Video. In 2000 he starred in the action-thriller
. He also co-starred in
. He had the starring role in
. Unfortunately the series was never made. So, after roles in
(all 2004) he took a short break from acting and returned as a guest in the TV series
(2009). He appeared in
Ward is divorced from Silvia Ward and is currently married to Marie-France Ward. He also has one son and lives in Venice, CA.
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1973 |
The Power of Cosimo (L'età di Cosimo de Medici) |
Niccolò de Conti |
TV |
| 1974 |
Cartesius |
|
TV |
| 1975 |
Hearts of the West Hearts of the West is a 1975 comedy film directed by Howard Zieff, and starring Jeff Bridges, Andy Griffith, Blythe Danner, and Alan Arkin. The story revolves around a wannabe 1930s writer who finds himself cast as a leading man in several B-movie westerns.... |
Sam |
|
| 1978 |
Tilt |
|
|
| Quincy M.E.: Even Odds |
Crane |
TV Episode |
| 1979 |
Escape from Alcatraz Escape from Alcatraz is a 1979 American thriller film, directed by Don Siegel and starring Clint Eastwood. It dramatizes possibly the only successful escape attempt from the maximum security prison on Alcatraz Island. The film co-stars Fred Ward, and also features Patrick McGoohan as the... |
John Anglin John William Anglin was an American criminal who took part in the June 1962 Alcatraz escape and was never seen again.- Alcatraz :... |
1 |
| The Incredible Hulk |
Henchman/Marvin |
2 TV Episodes |
| 1980 |
UFOria UFOria is a science fiction/comedy movie starring Fred Ward, Harry Dean Stanton, Harry Carey, Jr. and Cindy Williams. It was directed by John Binder.The film includes also guest appearances by Peggy McKay, Joe Unger, Hank Worden and Charlotte Stewart.... |
Waylon JenningsWaylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL... Imitator, Sheldon Bart |
|
| Carny Carny is a 1980 drama film about a waitress who joins a travelling carnival. It stars Gary Busey, Jodie Foster, and Robbie Robertson. It also includes an early role for Fred Ward.-Plot:... |
Jack |
|
| Cardiac Arrest |
Jamie |
|
| Belle Starr |
Ned Christie |
TV |
| 1981 |
Southern Comfort Southern Comfort is an American action/thriller film directed by Walter Hill, working from a script by Hill, longtime collaborator David Giler, and Michael Kane. It featured Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Alan Autry, Les Lannom, Peter Coyote, T. K... |
Cpl. Lonnie Reece |
|
| 1982 |
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann |
Lyle Swan |
|
| 1983 |
SilkwoodSilkwood is a 1983 American drama film directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Nora Ephron and Alice Arlen was inspired by the true-life story of Karen Silkwood, who died in a suspicious car accident while investigating alleged wrongdoing at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant where she... |
Morgan |
1 |
| Uncommon Valor Uncommon Valor is a 1983 action/war film written by Joe Gayton and directed by Ted Kotcheff, about a Marine officer who puts together a team to try to rescue his son, who he believes is among those still held in Laos after the Vietnam War... |
Wilkes |
5 |
| The Right Stuff |
Capt. Virgil Ivan Gus GrissomVirgil Ivan Grissom , , better known as Gus Grissom, was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force pilot... |
6 |
| 1984 |
Swing ShiftSwing Shift is a 1984 feature film directed by Jonathan Demme and produced by and starring Goldie Hawn with Kurt Russell. It also starred Christine Lahti, Fred Ward and Ed Harris... |
Archibald "Biscuits" Toue |
9 |
| 1985 |
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, also released as Remo: Unarmed and Dangerous, is a 1985 American film. The action–adventure-thriller film featured Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley and Kate Mulgrew, as well as many guest roles... |
Remo Williams, Samuel Edward Macon |
4 |
Secret AdmirerSecret Admirer is a 1985 romantic comedy film directed by David Greenwalt starring C. Thomas Howell, Lori Loughlin, Kelly Preston and Fred Ward. The screenplay was written by Greenwalt and Jim Kouf... |
Lt. Lou Fimple |
9 |
| Noon Wine Noon Wine is a 1937 short novel written by American author Katherine Anne Porter. It was published in 1939 as part of Pale Horse, Pale Rider , a collection of three short novels by the author, including the title story and "Old Mortality." A dark tragedy about a farmer's futile act of homicide that... |
Royal Earle Thompson |
TV |
| 1986 |
Florida Straits |
Lucky Boone |
TV, Later Cinema |
| 1987 |
The Price of Life |
|
Short feature |
| The Hitchhiker: Dead Heat |
Luther Redmond |
TV Episode |
| 1988 |
Catchfire Catchfire is a 1990 action-thriller-drama film starring Jodie Foster, Dennis Hopper, and Fred Ward. Several other notable actors have cameos. The film was disowned by its director, Hopper, before release and he is therefore credited under the fictional pseudonym Alan Smithee... |
Police Officer Pauling |
|
| The Prince of Pennsylvania The Prince of Pennsylvania is a 1988 comedic drama starring Keanu Reeves, Bonnie Bedelia, Fred Ward, and Amy Madigan. The Academy Award-nominated composer Thomas Newman wrote the music... |
Gary Marshetta |
|
| Big Business Big Business is a 1988 American comedy film farce starring Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin . It was produced by Touchstone Pictures, with the plot loosely based on The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare.... |
Roone Dimmick |
3 |
| Off Limits |
Sgt. Benjamin Dix |
4 |
| 1990 |
Henry & June Henry & June is a 1990 American film directed by Philip Kaufman and stars Fred Ward, Maria de Medeiros, and Uma Thurman. It is loosely based on the book of the same name by the French author Anaïs Nin, and tells the story of Nin's relationship with Henry Miller and his wife, June.-Plot:The story... |
Henry MillerHenry Valentine Miller was an American novelist and painter. He was known for breaking with existing literary forms and developing a new sort of 'novel' that is a mixture of novel, autobiography, social criticism, philosophical reflection, surrealist free association, and mysticism, one that is... , Soundtrack |
10 |
| Miami Blues |
Sgt. Hoke Moseley, Producer A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The... |
|
TremorsTremors is a 1990 American science fiction horror comedy film directed by Ron Underwood, based on a screenplay by Brent Maddock and S. S. Wilson, and starring Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross and Reba McEntire... |
Earl Bassett |
5 |
| 1991 |
Cast a Deadly Spell Cast a Deadly Spell is a Horror/Detective HBO movie with Fred Ward, Julianne Moore, David Warner and Clancy Brown. It was directed by Martin Campbell and written by Joseph Dougherty.-Plot:... |
Det. Harry Phillips Lovecraft Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction.... |
TV Event
|
| The Dark Wind The Dark Wind is the second Tony Hillerman novel to feature Officer Jim Chee. Recent college graduate Jim Chee has just taken a job with the Navajo Tribal Police in Arizona, where he helps keep the peace with his superior Captain Largo on land earmarked for joint use by the Navajo and the Hopi... |
Joe Leaphorn Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is a fictional character created by American mystery writer Tony Hillerman, one of two officers of the Navajo Tribal Police that feature in a number of novels. The other officer is Jim Chee.- Profile :... |
|
| 1992 |
Four Eyes and Six Guns Four Eyes and Six Guns is a Western movie starring Judge Reinhold, Patricia Clarkson and Fred Ward. It includes guest roles by Dan Hedaya, M. Emmet Walsh, John Gries and others.-Synopsis:... |
Wyatt EarpWyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known... |
TV |
| The Player The Player is a 1992 American satirical film directed by Robert Altman from a screenplay by Michael Tolkin based on his own 1988 novel of the same name.... |
Walter Stuckel |
4 |
| Equinox Equinox is a 1992 film written and directed by Alan Rudolph. It stars Matthew Modine in dual roles, along with Lara Flynn Boyle, Marisa Tomei, Lori Singer and Fred Ward. The film was shot in Minnesota and Utah and is set in the fictional urban city of Empire... |
Mr. Paris |
|
| Thunderheart Thunderheart is a 1992 American contemporary western mystery film directed by Michael Apted from an original screenplay by John Fusco. The film is a loosely based fictional portrayal of events relating to the Wounded Knee incident in 1973... |
Jack Milton |
5 |
Bob RobertsBob Roberts is a 1992 film written and directed by Tim Robbins. It is a satirical mockumentary, chronicling the rise of Bob Roberts, a conservative politician who is a candidate for an upcoming United States Senate election... |
TV News Anchor Chip Daley |
|
| 1993 |
Luck, Trust & Ketchup |
Himself |
Documentary |
| Short Cuts Short Cuts is a 1993 American drama film directed by Robert Altman. Filmed from a screenplay by Robert Altman and Frank Barhydt, it is inspired by nine short stories and a poem by Raymond Carver... |
Stuart Kane |
|
| Two Small Bodies Two Small Bodies is a 1993 thriller starring Fred Ward and Suzy Amis. It was directed by the stage director Beth B.-Plot:The story is loosely connected to the true story of the death of the two children of Alice Crimmins who were discovered missing on July 14, 1965.-External links:* *... |
Lieutenant Brann |
Festival event, also TV production |
| 1994 |
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult |
Rocco Dillon |
1 |
| 1995 |
Un bruit qui rend fou Un bruit qui rend fou is a 1995 crime thriller film with Fred Ward.- Plot :The complexly interwoven lives of the residents of an isolated Greek island form the basis of this psycho-sexual drama from iconoclastic film-maker Alain Robbe-Grillet... |
Frank, the sailor |
Festival event |
| 1996 |
The West |
Himself (voice) |
Documentary |
| Chain Reaction Chain Reaction is a 1996 American film starring Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman, Rachel Weisz, Brian Cox, Kevin Dunn and Fred Ward. It presents a fictional account of the invention of bubble fusion using sonoluminescence and the attempts by the United States Government to prevent the spreading of this... |
FBI Agent Leon Ford |
4 |
| Tremors 2: Aftershocks Tremors 2: Aftershocks is a 1996 action-horror-sequel to Tremors, in which the character of Earl Bassett, returning from the first movie, is hired to deal with a subterranean "Graboid" infestation at a Mexican oilfield. It was directed by S.S. Wilson, and stars Fred Ward, Christopher Gartin,... |
Earl Bassett |
Direct-to-video |
| 1997 |
…First Do No Harm |
Dave Reimüller |
TV Event |
| Best Men Best Men is a 1997 film directed by Tamra Davis and starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Luke Wilson, Andy Dick, Mitchell Whitfield, Fred Ward, Drew Barrymore, and Dean Cain.-Plot:... |
Sheriff Bud Phillips |
|
| Gun (TV Series) "Gun" was a television anthology series that lasted six episodes in 1997. Each episode involved the same semi-automatic handgun as an important part of the plot. The characters each episode were completely different and appeared unrelated to those who appeared in other episodes... : Father John |
John Farragut |
TV Episode |
| 1998 |
The Making of Tremors |
Himself/Earl Bassett (Archive Footage) |
Documentary |
| The Vivero Letter The Vivero Letter is an Adventure Movie starring Robert Patrick, Fred Ward and Tom Poster. This movie is based on the 1968 novel The Vivero Letter by Desmond Bagley.-Plot:... |
Andrew Fallon |
|
| Invasion: Earth (TV series) Invasion: Earth is a BBC science fiction TV series. It was made in collaboration with the Sci Fi Channel, and released in 1998 as six fifty minute episodes.-Creation and production:... |
Major General David Reece |
TV-Mini-Series |
| Dangerous Beauty Dangerous Beauty is a biographical drama film directed by Marshall Herskovitz. It is adapted from the non-fiction book The Honest Courtesan, by Margaret Rosenthal, , about the life of Veronica Franco , a courtesan in 16th century Venice.A stage musical version of the film premiered on July 25,... |
Domenico Venier |
16 |
| 1999 |
The Crimson Code The Crimson Code, also known as Red Team, is a 1999 crime thriller film starring Patrick Muldoon, C. Thomas Howell, Cathy Moriarty, Tim Thomerson and Fred Ward.-Story:... |
Randall Brooks |
|
| 2000 |
The Crow: Salvation The Crow: Salvation is a 2000 film directed by Bharat Nalluri. The film is the third in a series based on The Crow comic book by James O'Barr... |
John, the Police Captain |
|
| Ropewalk - Cast :*Peter Facinelli*Lena Headey*Ever Carradine*Fred Ward*Lesley Ann Warren*Michael Buie*Nathan Bexton*Clare Kramer*Max Perlich*Michele Hicks*Frank Vincent*Jayce Bartok*Alex Daunis- Trivia :... |
David's Father |
|
| The Chaos Factor The Chaos Factor is a 2000 action-thriller film starring Antonio Sabato Jr. and Fred Ward.-Plot:In this tense military thriller, intelligence officer Jack Poynt discovers evidence of a CIA-backed raid on a medical facility in Cambodia in 1972, which led to the torture and killing of a number of... |
Max Camden |
|
| Circus |
Elmo Somerset |
96 |
Road TripRoad Trip is a 2000 American comedy film written by Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong and directed by Todd Phillips.-Plot :The movie begins with Barry giving a tour of the University of Ithaca to some prospective students... |
Earl Edwards |
3 |
| Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis |
"Black Jack" Bouvier |
TV |
| 2001 |
Summer Catch Summer Catch is a 2001 romantic comedy film starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Jessica Biel, and Matthew Lillard. The story takes place on Cape Cod, but the majority of the film was shot in Southport, North Carolina.-Plot:... |
Sean Dunne |
6 |
Corky RomanoCorky Romano is a 2001 film starring former Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Kattan. Also starring are Fred Ward, Vinessa Shaw, Roger Fan, and Dave Sheridan. The movie was directed by Rob Pritts and was written by David Garrett and Jason Ward. It was filmed at Touchstone Pictures studios... |
Leo Corrigan |
3 |
| Joe Dirt Joe Dirt is a 2001 American comedy film starring David Spade, Dennis Miller, Christopher Walken, Brian Thompson, Brittany Daniel, Jaime Pressly, Erik Per Sullivan, Adam Beach and Kid Rock. The film was written by Spade and Fred Wolf.-Plot:... |
Joe's Dad |
4 |
| Full Disclosure Full Disclosure is a 2001 thriller film starring Fred Ward, Christopher Plummer, Rachel Ticotin and Penelope Ann Miller. It was directed by John Bradshaw.- Background :The film was shot in 1999... |
John McWhirter |
Nomination Video Premiere Award - Best Actor |
| Wild Iris |
Errol Podubney |
TV Event |
| Dice Dice is a Canada/UK co-produced drama television mini-series. It was directed by Rachel Talalay and written by A. L. Kennedy and John Burnside, inspired by cult 70s novel The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart.-Plot:... |
Gacy/Noah Aldis |
TV-Mini-Series |
| 2002 |
Live from Baghdad Live from Baghdad is a television movie produced in 2002 by HBO. It was directed by Mick Jackson and written by Robert Wiener . The movie was released during the prelude stage of the Iraq War.... |
(Archive Footage) |
TV Special/Documentary |
| Enough The score for Enough, composed by David Arnold, was released on June 4, 2002.#"Give Me a Sign"#"F.B.I.?"#"New Leaf"#"Slim and Joe"#"Get Out of the House"#"Goodbye Gracie"#"Training Day"#"Breaking In"#"Setting the Trap"#"Fight Club"... |
Jupiter |
5 |
| Sweet Home Alabama Sweet Home Alabama is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Andy Tennant and stars Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, and Patrick Dempsey. The film was released on September 27, 2002.-Plot:... |
Earl Smooter |
1 |
| Birdseye A.K.A. Birdseye is a Swiss 2002 criminal comedy film starring Fred Ward and many other award-winning actors.- Background :The film is a mockumentary and was shot in Zürich, Los Angeles and Colorado... |
Sheriff Nolan Sharpless |
|
| Abandon Abandon is a 2002 American thriller film released by Paramount Pictures and Touchstone Pictures. It was written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, starring Katie Holmes as a college student whose boyfriend disappeared two years previously... |
Lieutenant Bill Stayton |
7 |
| 2003 |
Masked & Anonymous |
Drunk |
45 |
| T-20 Years and Counting |
Gus GrissomVirgil Ivan Grissom , , better known as Gus Grissom, was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force pilot... /Himself (Archive Footage) |
Documentary |
| Realizing "The Right Stuff" |
Himself |
Documentary |
| "Masked & Anonymous" Exposed |
Special Thanks |
Documentary |
| 2004 |
The Last Ride This article is about the 2004 film. For the unrelated western novel, see The Last Ride.The Last Ride is an American TV action drama directed by Guy Norman Bee and starring Dennis Hopper, Will Patton, Nadine Velazquez and Fred Ward... |
Darryl Kurtz |
TV Event |
| 10.5 |
Roy Nolan |
TV Event |
| Coast to Coast Coast to Coast is 2003 television movie starring Richard Dreyfuss, Judy Davis, and Selma Blair, and directed by Paul Mazursky. It is based on the novel by Frederic Raphael, who also wrote film's screenplay... |
Hal Kressler |
TV Event |
| 2006 |
ERER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... |
Eddie |
3 TV Episodes |
Grey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... : What I am |
Mr. Denny Duquette, Sr. |
TV Episode |
| 2007 |
Feast of Love Feast of Love is a 2007 American drama film directed by Robert Benton, starring Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Billy Burke and Selma Blair... |
Bat |
|
| 2008 |
Management Management is a 2009 romantic comedy-drama directed by Stephen Belber and starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn. It premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and received a limited theatrical release on May 15, 2009.... |
Jerry |
|
| Exit Speed Exit Speed is an action-drama film by Sabbatical Pictures. The film was directed by Scott Ziehl, and stars Desmond Harrington, Julie Mond, Lea Thompson, Alice Greczyn, David Rees Snell and Fred Ward. This 90 minute action film was shown in Cannes in 2008. The film was made in the Dallas, Texas... |
Sergeant Archie Sparks |
|
| 2009 |
Armored Armored is a 2009 American crime thriller film directed by Nimród Antal, written by first-time screenwriter James V. Simpson, and starring Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne, Amaury Nolasco, Milo Ventimiglia, Skeet Ulrich, and Columbus Short... |
Ashcroft |
|
| L'affaire Farewell L'affaire Farewell is a 2009 French film directed by Christian Carion, starring Guillaume Canet and Emir Kusturica. The film is an espionage thriller loosely based on actions of the high-ranking KGB official, Vladimir Vetrov. It was released in the United States in June 2010, under the title... |
Ronald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor.... |
|
| The Wild Stallion |
Frank Mills |
|
| United States of Tara |
Frank |
2 TV Episodes |
| 2010 |
In Plain SightIn Plain Sight is an American dramatic television series on USA Network. The series revolves around Mary Shannon , a Deputy United States Marshal attached to the Albuquerque, New Mexico office of the Federal Witness Security Program , more commonly known as the Federal Witness Protection Program... |
Frank Jerome |
Episode 3.6 |
| 2011 |
30 Minutes or Less 30 Minutes or Less is a 2011 American action comedy crime film directed by Ruben Fleischer starring Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson... |
The Major |
|