Job Actor
Years active 1929-1960
Known for Irish policemen, boxers, rugged warm-hearted westerners
Top Roles Mounted Policeman, Policeman, Mike, Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton, Bert
Top GenresDrama, Romance, Comedy, Crime, Western, Action
Top TopicsBook-Based, World War II, Romance (Drama)
Top Collaborators (Director), (Producer), (Director), (Producer)
Shares birthday with Paul Robeson, Brandon De Wilde, Jean-Paul Belmondo  see more..

Ward Bond Overview:

Legendary character actor, Ward Bond, was born Wardell E. Bond on Apr 9, 1903 in Benkelman, NE. Bond appeared in over 270 film and TV roles. His best known films include Drums Along the Mohawk (as Adam Hartman), The Maltese Falcon (as Detective Tom Polhaus), The Searchers (as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton), Mister Roberts (as Chief Petty Officer Dowdy) --- and It's a Wonderful Life (as Bert). You can also catch a glimpse of him in It Happened One Night (as the first bus driver, uncredited) and Bringing Up Baby (as the motorcycle copy at the jail, uncredited). He is most famously known for his TV role as Major Seth Adams in Wagon Train (1957-1961). Bond died at the age of 57 on Nov 5, 1960 in Dallas, TX and was cremated and his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean between Newport Beach and C.

MINI BIO:

After a start in small roles, Bond was often cast as Irish policemen or boxers, and was also employed by director John Ford in progressively juicier parts, usually as rugged, warm-hearted westerners. He also enjoyed great success as the wagonmaster in TV's Wagon Train.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Illustrated Dictionary of Film Character Actors).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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He was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Television. In addition, Bond was inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum . Bond was never nominated for an Academy Award.

Ward Bond BlogHub Articles:

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE BLOGATHON - A 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Ward Bond and Frank Faylen as Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver

on Dec 11, 2021 From Caftan Woman

Ari, The Classic Movie Muse is hosting the It's a Wonderful Life Blogathon, A 75th Anniversary Celebration. Click HERE to access the tributes to Capra's Classic. Assuming you have lost count of the number of times you have watched the movie, spoilers abound.It's a Wonderful Life is a story of dreams... Read full article


For Your Consideration: Ward Bond

By Caftan Woman on Aug 6, 2009 From Caftan Woman

Ward BondApril 9, 1903 - November 5, 1960Caftan Woman has been watching movies again, and again she has found a performance overlooked at Award time. This time back in 1952 by prolific character actor Ward Bond.Nebraska born Bond was attending the University of Southern California when he and a fel... Read full article


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Ward Bond Quotes:

Ike Botkin: Ain't nobody ever cut 5 centers, lessen' it were Daniel Boone.


Elder Wiggs: [to Travis] Hey, you wouldn't, uh, happen to know that San Juan River country, would you?
Sandy: Yeah, we know it. What about it, Grandpa?
Elder Wiggs: [Taking offense] Now look here, don't you be grandpa-ing me, you young whippersnapper! I'll bull you off that fence and fan your britches for you! Goddarn...


James J. Corbett aka Gentleman Jim: I've seen you around San Francisco a few times but from a long distance, of course.
John L. Sullivan: Well, seein' me from a long distance is a smart idea, young fella.


read more quotes from Ward Bond...



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Ward Bond on the
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Ward Bond Facts
Entered films in 1928 while attending the University of Southern California.

In The Wings of Eagles (1957), Bond played his friend, director John Ford, under the character name John Dodge (the name itself was a play on American automobile names. Ford was a real-life friend of the film's subject character). The set dressing, wardrobe, and Oscars in the scene are all actually Ford's.

Although John Ford mocked many actors mercilessly (including John Wayne), Bond probably was on the receiving end of the worst verbal punishment from the director (who counted Bond among his favorite actors). At Bond's funeral, Ford walked up to Andy Devine and said, "Now YOU'RE the biggest asshole I know."

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Cowboy Museum Hall of Fame

Also in the Cowboy Museum Hall of Fame





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