Fred Ward Biography – Fred Ward Wiki
Fred Ward born Freddie Joe Ward was an American actor and producer. His career in acting started with a role in an Italian television movie in 1973, he long took parts in such diverse films as Escape from Alcatraz, Southern Comfort, The Right Stuff, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, Tremors and Tremors 2: Aftershocks, Henry & June, The Player, Swing Shift, and Short Cuts. Ward became an actor after studying at Herbert Berghof Studio and in Rome. While in Italy, he dubbed Italian movies and worked as a mime until he made his debut in two Roberto Rossellini films. Upon returning stateside in the early 1970s, Ward spent time working in experimental theatre and doing some television work. He made his first American film appearance playing a cowboy in Hearts of the West (1975). His first major role came in the Clint Eastwood vehicle Escape from Alcatraz (1979) as fellow escapee John Anglin.
Ward played a violent National Guardsman in Walter Hill’s Southern Comfort (1981). His first starring role in a motion picture was Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982). He then starred as astronaut Gus Grissom in The Right Stuff, in the action movie Uncommon Valor with Gene Hackman, and in the drama Silkwood (all 1983). After co-starring roles in Swing Shift (1984) and Secret Admirer (1985), he played the title hero in the action movie Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, which was directed by Guy Hamilton. The film was supposed to be the first of a series based on The Destroyer series of novels. Though the movie was well promoted and appeared on several movie magazine covers, it only grossed $15 million. He played in a few low-budget productions until he returned to major cinema in 1988 as a cop in Off Limits, as Roone Dimmick in Big Business, and as the father of Keanu Reeves’s character in The Prince of Pennsylvania.
In 1990, the late actor starred as Earl Bassett in the monster movie Tremors, as the American erotic writer Henry Miller in Henry & June (with Uma Thurman), and as cop Hoke Moseley in his self-produced Miami Blues (with Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh). That year he also played an FBI agent in Dennis Hopper’s film Catchfire. After playing private detective H.P. Lovecraft in the 1991 HBO film Cast a Deadly Spell alongside Julianne Moore,[9] Ward co-starred in the thriller Thunderheart, the Hollywood satire The Player, the mystery-drama Equinox and the TV western-comedy Four Eyes and Six-Guns, for which he won a Cable ACE Award. He also did a cameo in Bob Roberts, starring Tim Robbins.
Ward’s leading roles include Lt. Brann in the two-character-thriller Two Small Bodies, fisherman Stuart Kane in the Robert Altman film Short Cuts (for which the whole ensemble won a Golden Globe; both 1993), a dangerous criminal in the comedy Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult (1994), the sailor in the French-avant-garde-drama The Blue Villa (1995), his reprised role in Tremors II: Aftershocks and the special agent in Chain Reaction (both 1996). He also appeared as Sheriff Bud Phillips in Best Men, as Dave Reimüller in …First Do No Harm with Meryl Streep (both 1997), and as Domenico Venier in Dangerous Beauty (1998).
He was seen in many motion pictures, TV shows, and videos in 2000. He starred in the action-thriller The Chaos Factor and appeared in the gangster movie Circus, the teen movie Road Trip, and the horror sequel The Crow: Salvation. In 2001, Ward was nominated for a Video Premiere Award as the best male actor for the direct-to-video production Full Disclosure. He also co-starred in Joe Dirt, Summer Catch, Wild Iris, the mini TV series Dice, and the comedic Corky Romano.
In 2002, Ward appeared in Sweet Home Alabama, Enough and Abandon. He had the starring role in Birdseye and signed in for the TV pilot for the drama Georgetown with Helen Mirren, but the series was never made. After roles in The Last Ride, 10.5, and Coast to Coast (all 2004) he took a short break from acting and returned as a guest in the TV series Grey’s Anatomy and ER (2006 and 2007). He was next in the ensemble drama Feast of Love, the thriller Exit Speed, Management with Jennifer Aniston, The Wild Stallion DVD, and as the boss Ashcroft in Armored.
Ward guest-starred as Ronald Reagan in the French political thriller L’affaire Farewell (2009). He appeared in 30 Minutes or Less, and guest-starred in the TV series The United States of Tara, In Plain Sight, and Leverage in 2012. In 2013, he had a guest role in 2 Guns starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg.
Before acting, Ward spent three years in the United States Air Force. He was also a boxer (breaking his nose three times) and worked as a lumberjack in Alaska, janitor, and short-order cook. He studied acting at New York’s Herbert Berghof Studio after serving in the U.S. Air Force. While living in Rome, he dubbed Italian films into English and appeared in films by neorealist director Roberto Rossellini. Ward became an actor after studying at Herbert Berghof Studio and in Rome.
Fred Ward Age
He was born on December 30, 1942, in San Diego, California, United States, and died on May 8, 2022. At the time of his death, he was 79 years.
Fred Ward Wife
The late actor was a resident of the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles. His first marriage, to Carla Evonne Stewart in 1965, ended in divorce the following year. His second marriage was to Silvia Ward, with whom he had a son, Django. After they divorced, he married Marie-France Boisselle in 1995 and she filed for divorce in August 2013, but they reconciled later that year. They lived together until his death on May 8, 2022.
Fred Ward Son
He is survived by his only child, son, Django Ward who was born in his second marriage to Silvia Ward.
Fred Ward Parents
He was the son of Ward, Juanita Iown (Flemister), and Ward, Fred Frazier. He has English, and small amounts of Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), Scottish, German, and Welsh, ancestry.
Fred Ward Death
He died on Sunday, May 8, 2022, aged 79. No cause of death was given. His publicist Ron Hofmann confirmed to The Cardinal Facts that Ward died Sunday. The statement released said it was his wish for donations to be made to the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center.
Fred Ward Cause of Death
Fred died on May 8, 2022. He was 79. No cause of death was given.
Fred Ward Height
He stood at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall.
