Job Actor
Years active 1929-1960
Known for Irish policemen, boxers, rugged warm-hearted westerners
Top Roles Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton, Bert, Mounted Policeman, Policeman, Mike
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.

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


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Ward Bond Quotes:

Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: Ah, yes... I knew your people, Sean. Your grandfather; he died in Australia, in a penal colony. And your father, he was a good man too.


James J. Corbett aka Gentleman Jim: The first time I saw you fight I was just a bit of a kid. There wasn't a man alive who could have stood up to you then. And tonight, well, I was just mighty glad that you weren't the John L. Sullivan of ten years ago.
John L. Sullivan: Is that what you're thinkin' now?
James J. Corbett aka Gentleman Jim: That's what I was thinking before I got into the ring with you.
John L. Sullivan: That's a fine decent thing for you to say, Jim. I don't knopw how we might have come out, oh, say, eight or ten tears ago. I... maybe I was faster then, but if I was, tonight you're the fastest thing on two feet


[Senator Blakely attempts to reason with hidden Indians]
Sen. Blakely: Indian brothers, hear me! I extend my hand to you in friendship. Soon I go to the tents of your many chiefs to speak of peace and smoke the pipe of everlasting brotherhood. The promises I make you will be honored. If you allow us to go in peace and safety, then my mission can be fulfilled. And once again, you can lay aside your war drums and return to your families, raise your corn and hunt your buffalo. Tell me that my words are not blown away with the wind. Tell me that I am heard. Tell me that you will leave here now in peace and go to your villages. Speak to me, Indian brothers, so that I may know, so that...
[an arrow strikes the Senator in the stomach]
Sen. Blakely: You were right, Miss Clarke. Words aren't enough. But perhaps they just didn't understand.


read more quotes from Ward Bond...



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Ward Bond on the
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Ward Bond Facts
Family rumor is that Bond was a roommate at USC with John Wayne, who convinced him to go into acting. They were apparently best friends; one of their favorite activities in their youth was to go to bars, get drunk, and start fights.

The muppet "Bert" on "Sesame Street" (1969) was rumored to be named after Bond's character (Bert the cop) in It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

Many sources incorrectly quote 1905, and/or Denver, Colorado, USA regarding his birth.

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Cowboy Museum Hall of Fame

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