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

[first lines]
Father Peter Lonergan, Narrator: Well, then. Now. I'll begin at the beginnin'. A fine soft day in the spring, it was, when the train pulled into Castletown, three hours late as usual, and himself got off. He didn't have the look of an American tourist at all about him. Not a camera on him; what was worse, not even a fishin' rod.


Sheriff Jeb McKane: [admiring a panther hide] Where'd you catch him, Ben?
Ben: Back in the swamp.
Marty McCord: How'd you get him?
Ben: We got him with a load of buckshot.
Tim Dorson: Oh, so you was with somebody.
Ben: I mean me and my dog.
Tim Dorson: I knowed you had a smart dog, Ben, but I never heard he could handle a shotgun.


Cmdr. Steele: [whispering to keep babies from crying] I heard every word you said. I've been trying to keep my nose out of your business, but I can't stand by any longer and watch you make a fool of yourself.
Lt. Mary Stuart: Commander Steele...
Cmdr. Steele: Of course he comes to you when he wants to play. Where do you want him to go? Some other woman? You married him for what he is and then tried to make something else out of him. Well, you couldn't, and you never will. You began to feel sorry for yourself. How long would you love him if he *did* cry on your shoulder? "You don't need me... maybe I shouldn't have let you shut me out." What kind of silly talk is that? And what does *pride* got to do with love? Don't worry, he won't be happy, but what is more important... he won't be back!


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Ward Bond on the
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Ward Bond Facts
Died at the Town House Motor Hotel, 2914 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas.

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).

Bond has been officially remembered with a TV star on Hollywood Boulevard, by being inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and by a Ward Bond Memorial Park in his birthplace of Benkelman, Nebraska. However, he is probably most fondly remembered for his enormous output of solid work, with great respect by the industry.

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Cowboy Museum Hall of Fame

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