Job Actor
Years active 1929-1960
Known for Irish policemen, boxers, rugged warm-hearted westerners
Top Roles Policeman, Mike, Mounted Policeman, 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:

.

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.

BlogHub Articles:

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE BLOGATHON - A 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: 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:

By Caftan Woman on Aug 6, 2009 From Caftan Woman

April 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 .Nebraska born Bond was attending the University of Southern California when he and a fel... Read full article


See all articles

Ward Bond Quotes:

Joan of Arc: Don't swear, La Hire. But if you must, swear "by my staff".
La Hire: "By my staff!" What kind of an oath is that?


[repeated line]
Travis Blue, Elder Wiggs: Wagons West!


Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: Now I want yous all to cheer like Protestants!


read more quotes from Ward Bond...



Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
Also an Aries






See All Aries >>
Ward Bond on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame



See All Walk of Fame Stars >>
Ward Bond Facts
Was an epileptic, a closely guarded secret not made public until many years after his death.

Often played a policeman or soldier.

Bond's deep involvement in ultra-right-wing politics--and especially his enthusiastic efforts to blacklist suspected Communists and anyone with "progressive" political views in Hollywood--earned him the enmity of many in the film business. For several years he couldn't get any work in films other than those of his right-wing friends like John Wayne, and he believed that "liberal" producers and directors blacklisted him. Then in 1957, at the age of 54, he made an enormous comeback as Maj. Seth Adams in "Wagon Train" (1957), and was finally a star in his own right.

See All Related Facts >>
Cowboy Museum Hall of Fame

Also in the Cowboy Museum Hall of Fame





See All Cowboy Hall of Fame Inductees >>