Ward Bond

Biography

Ward Bond was an American actor who worked mostly in supporting roles across more than 200 films and starred on the NBC series Wagon Train. Born in Benkelman, Nebraska, he played football for the University of Southern California and got his screen start in John Ford's Salute in 1929. Ford and Frank Capra cast him often, in films such as Drums Along the Mohawk, Fort Apache (1948), The Quiet Man (1952), The Searchers (1956), It Happened One Night (1934) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Among his other pictures were Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Sergeant York (1941), and Rio Bravo (1959). He was often typecast as either friendly lawmen or brutal henchmen. He took the lead role of Major Seth Adams on Wagon Train in 1957 and remained with it until his death in 1960. Thirteen of his films received Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards.

57years old at death

Born April 9, 1903Benkelman
Died November 5, 1960Dallas
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Wardell E. Bond (birth name)Also credited as Wardell Edwin Bond

Movie Career

Films: 72
Career span: 43 years1928 to 1971

Genres

Drama64%, 46 films
Western29%, 21 films
Romance26%, 19 films
Comedy24%, 17 films
Crime17%, 12 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A first
Ward Bond shows up in the casts of more films on the American Film Institute's "100 Years... 100 Movies" list, in its original and 10th-anniversary versions, than any other actor, though he was always a supporting player. Those films include It Happened One Night, Gone with the Wind and The Searchers.
A change of course
Bond played football at the University of Southern California, where he was a starting lineman on the school's first national-championship team in 1928. Future USC coach Jess Hill was a teammate.
Big break
Bond and the entire USC football team were hired to appear in the 1929 film Salute, where he and John Wayne befriended director John Ford.
A first
Bond had roles in 13 movies that received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, among them Arrowsmith, Lady for a Day, and Mister Roberts.

Ward Bond movies on Netflix

Directed by John Ford1971IMDb rating 7.7
Alias Jesse James1959IMDb rating 6.4as Major Seth Adams
Rio Bravo1959IMDb rating 7.9as Pat Wheeler
The Wings of Eagles1957IMDb rating 6.6as John Dodge
The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton
A Man Alone1955IMDb rating 6.5as Sheriff Gil Corrigan
Mister Roberts1955IMDb rating 7.6as Chief Petty Officer Dowdy
The Long Gray Line1955IMDb rating 7.2as Captain Herman Kohler
Johnny Guitar1954IMDb rating 7.6as John McIvers
Blowing Wild1953IMDb rating 6.4as Dutch Peterson
Hondo1953IMDb rating 7.0as Buffalo Baker
The Quiet Man1952IMDb rating 7.7as Father Peter Lonergan
On Dangerous Ground1951IMDb rating 7.2as Walter Brent
Only the Valiant1951IMDb rating 6.5as Cpl. Timothy Gilchrist
Operation Pacific1951IMDb rating 6.6as John "Pop" Perry
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye1950IMDb rating 7.1as Inspector Charles Weber
Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3as Lee
Wagon Master1950IMDb rating 7.1as Wiggs / Elder Wiggs
3 Godfathers1948IMDb rating 7.0as Perley 'Buck' Sweet
Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4as Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
The Time of Your Life1948IMDb rating 6.2as McCarthy (a blatherskite)
The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3as James Calvert, aka 'El Gringo'
Unconquered1947IMDb rating 6.9as John Fraser
Canyon Passage1946IMDb rating 6.9as Honey Bragg
It's a Wonderful Life1946IMDb rating 8.6as Bert
My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7as Morgan Earp
Dakota1945IMDb rating 6.0as Jim Bender
They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2as 'Boats' Mulcahey C.B.M.
Tall in the Saddle1944IMDb rating 6.9as 'Judge' Robert Garvey
The Fighting Sullivans1944IMDb rating 7.4as Lt. Cmdr. Robinson
A Guy Named Joe1943IMDb rating 6.9as Al Yackey
Hello, Frisco, Hello1943IMDb rating 6.5as Sharkey
Slightly Dangerous1943IMDb rating 6.7as Jimmy
Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5as John L. Sullivan
The Falcon Takes Over1942IMDb rating 6.4as Moose Malloy
Sergeant York1941IMDb rating 7.7as Ike Botkin
Swamp Water1941IMDb rating 7.0as Tim Dorson
The Maltese Falcon1941IMDb rating 7.9as Detective Tom Polhaus
The Shepherd of the Hills1941IMDb rating 6.9as Wash Gibbs
Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3as Lov Bensey
Kit Carson1940IMDb rating 6.3as Ape
Santa Fe Trail1940IMDb rating 6.2as Townley
The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1as Policeman
The Long Voyage Home1940IMDb rating 6.9as Yank
The Mortal Storm1940IMDb rating 7.7as Franz
Dodge City1939IMDb rating 7.1as Bud Taylor
Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0as Adam Hartman
Frontier Marshal1939IMDb rating 6.6as Town Marshal
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence1939IMDb rating 6.3as Hunk
Made for Each Other1939IMDb rating 6.3as Jim Hatton
Son of Frankenstein1939IMDb rating 7.1as Gendarme at Gate
The Oklahoma Kid1939IMDb rating 6.4as Wes Handley
Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5as John Palmer Cass
Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8as Motorcycle Cop
Mr. Moto's Gamble1938IMDb rating 6.6as Biff Moran
Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8as Lout Laughing in Church
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse1938IMDb rating 7.0as Tug
Escape by Night1937IMDb rating 6.0as Spudsy
Night Key1937IMDb rating 6.3as Fingers
Topper1937IMDb rating 7.2as Eddie
You Only Live Once1937IMDb rating 7.2as Casey - Guard
After the Thin Man1936IMDb rating 7.6as Party Guest
'G' Men1935IMDb rating 7.1as Gunman at Train Station
It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1as Bus Driver
The Fighting Ranger1934IMDb rating 6.2as Dave, Cougar Henchman
Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4as Mounted Policeman
Wild Boys of the Road1933IMDb rating 7.5as Red the Brakeman
Arrowsmith1931IMDb rating 6.2as Cop
Sob Sister1931IMDb rating 6.7as Ward, a Cop
The Big Trail1930IMDb rating 7.2as Sid Bascom
Up the River1930IMDb rating 5.9as Inmate Socked by Saint Louis
Noah's Ark1928IMDb rating 6.6as Flood Extra

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

It's a Wonderful Life1946 Drama, Family, Fantasyas Bert
IMDb rating 8.6559K votes
The Searchers1956 Adventure, Drama, Westernas Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton
IMDb rating 7.8104K votes
The Maltese Falcon1941as Detective Tom Polhaus
IMDb rating 7.9175K votes
Rio Bravo1959as Pat Wheeler
IMDb rating 7.974K votes
The Quiet Man1952as Father Peter Lonergan
IMDb rating 7.746K votes
Hondo1953as Buffalo Baker
IMDb rating 7.014K votes
Johnny Guitar1954as John McIvers
IMDb rating 7.622K votes
Fort Apache1948as Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
IMDb rating 7.422K votes

Most often with

John Ford directed eighteen of these films, Frank Capra four and Howard Hawks three. John Wayne appears in fifteen of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

John Wayne

Irving Bacon

Henry Fonda

Russell Simpson

Jack Pennick

Harry Carey Jr.

John FordDirector, 18 films

Frank CapraDirector, 4 films

Howard HawksDirector, 3 films

Films together

John Wayne15 films together, 1930 to 1971
John Wayne's page
- Directed by John Ford1971IMDb rating 7.7Wayne as Self (1969)
- Rio Bravo1959IMDb rating 7.9Bond as Pat WheelerWayne as Sheriff John T. Chance
- The Wings of Eagles1957IMDb rating 6.6Bond as John DodgeWayne as Frank W. 'Spig' Wead
- The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Bond as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston ClaytonWayne as Ethan Edwards
- Hondo1953IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Buffalo BakerWayne as Hondo Lane
- The Quiet Man1952IMDb rating 7.7Bond as Father Peter LonerganWayne as Sean Thornton
- Operation Pacific1951IMDb rating 6.6Bond as John "Pop" PerryWayne as Duke E. Gifford
- 3 Godfathers1948IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Perley 'Buck' SweetWayne as Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower
- Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4Bond as Sgt. Maj. Michael O'RourkeWayne as Capt. Kirby York
- Dakota1945IMDb rating 6.0Bond as Jim BenderWayne as John Devlin
- They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2Bond as 'Boats' Mulcahey C.B.M.Wayne as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
- Tall in the Saddle1944IMDb rating 6.9Bond as 'Judge' Robert GarveyWayne as Rocklin
- The Shepherd of the Hills1941IMDb rating 6.9Bond as Wash GibbsWayne as Young Matt Matthews
- The Long Voyage Home1940IMDb rating 6.9Bond as YankWayne as Ole Olsen
- The Big Trail1930IMDb rating 7.2Bond as Sid BascomWayne as Breck Coleman
Irving Bacon9 films together, 1933 to 1950
Irving Bacon's page
- Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3Bond as LeeBacon as Hamburger Man
- A Guy Named Joe1943IMDb rating 6.9Bond as Al YackeyBacon as Cpl. Henderson
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Bond as Lov BenseyBacon as Bank Teller
- Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence1939IMDb rating 6.3Bond as HunkBacon as Sheriff Clem Diggers
- Made for Each Other1939IMDb rating 6.3Bond as Jim HattonBacon as Newark Radio Operator
- The Oklahoma Kid1939IMDb rating 6.4Bond as Wes HandleyBacon as Hotel Clerk
- Topper1937IMDb rating 7.2Bond as EddieBacon as Hotel Clerk
- It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1Bond as Bus DriverBacon as Gas Station Attendant
- Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4Bond as Mounted PolicemanBacon as Pool Hall Dupe
Henry Fonda8 films together, 1937 to 1955
Henry Fonda's page
- Mister Roberts1955IMDb rating 7.6Bond as Chief Petty Officer DowdyFonda as Lt. j.g. Douglas A. Roberts
- Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4Bond as Sgt. Maj. Michael O'RourkeFonda as Lt. Col. Owen Thursday
- The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3Bond as James Calvert, aka 'El Gringo'Fonda as A Fugitive
- My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7Bond as Morgan EarpFonda as Wyatt Earp
- The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Bond as PolicemanFonda as Tom Joad
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Adam HartmanFonda as Gilbert Martin
- Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5Bond as John Palmer CassFonda as Abraham Lincoln
- You Only Live Once1937IMDb rating 7.2Bond as Casey - GuardFonda as Eddie Taylor
Russell Simpson8 films together, 1939 to 1950
Russell Simpson's page
- Wagon Master1950IMDb rating 7.1Bond as Wiggs / Elder WiggsSimpson as Adam Perkins
- My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7Bond as Morgan EarpSimpson as John Simpson
- Swamp Water1941IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Tim DorsonSimpson as Marty McCord
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Bond as Lov BenseySimpson as Chief of Police
- Santa Fe Trail1940IMDb rating 6.2Bond as TownleySimpson as Shubel Morgan
- The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Bond as PolicemanSimpson as Pa Joad
- Dodge City1939IMDb rating 7.1Bond as Bud TaylorSimpson as Orth
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Adam HartmanSimpson as Dr. Petry
Jack Pennick8 films together, 1939 to 1951
Jack Pennick's page
- Operation Pacific1951IMDb rating 6.6Bond as John "Pop" PerryPennick as Chief
- 3 Godfathers1948IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Perley 'Buck' SweetPennick as Luke
- Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4Bond as Sgt. Maj. Michael O'RourkePennick as Sgt. Daniel Schattuck
- The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3Bond as James Calvert, aka 'El Gringo'Pennick as Man
- They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2Bond as 'Boats' Mulcahey C.B.M.Pennick as 'Doc'
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Bond as Lov BenseyPennick as Policeman
- The Long Voyage Home1940IMDb rating 6.9Bond as YankPennick as Johnny
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Adam HartmanPennick as Amos Hartman
Harry Carey Jr.7 films together, 1948 to 1971
Harry Carey Jr.'s page
- Directed by John Ford1971IMDb rating 7.7Carey as Himself
- Rio Bravo1959IMDb rating 7.9Bond as Pat WheelerCarey as Harold (scenes deleted)
- The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Bond as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston ClaytonCarey as Brad Jorgensen
- Mister Roberts1955IMDb rating 7.6Bond as Chief Petty Officer DowdyCarey as Stefanowski
- The Long Gray Line1955IMDb rating 7.2Bond as Captain Herman KohlerCarey as Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Wagon Master1950IMDb rating 7.1Bond as Wiggs / Elder WiggsCarey as Sandy
- 3 Godfathers1948IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Perley 'Buck' SweetCarey as William Kearney ('The Abilene Kid')
John FordDirector, 18 films, 1930 to 1957
All films by John Ford
- The Wings of Eagles1957IMDb rating 6.6Bond as John Dodge
- The Searchers1956IMDb rating 7.8Bond as Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton
- Mister Roberts1955IMDb rating 7.6Bond as Chief Petty Officer Dowdy
- The Long Gray Line1955IMDb rating 7.2Bond as Captain Herman Kohler
- The Quiet Man1952IMDb rating 7.7Bond as Father Peter Lonergan
- Wagon Master1950IMDb rating 7.1Bond as Wiggs / Elder Wiggs
- 3 Godfathers1948IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Perley 'Buck' Sweet
- Fort Apache1948IMDb rating 7.4Bond as Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
- The Fugitive1947IMDb rating 6.3Bond as James Calvert, aka 'El Gringo'
- My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7Bond as Morgan Earp
- They Were Expendable1945IMDb rating 7.2Bond as 'Boats' Mulcahey C.B.M.
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Bond as Lov Bensey
- The Grapes of Wrath1940IMDb rating 8.1Bond as Policeman
- The Long Voyage Home1940IMDb rating 6.9Bond as Yank
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Bond as Adam Hartman
- Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5Bond as John Palmer Cass
- Arrowsmith1931IMDb rating 6.2Bond as Cop
- Up the River1930IMDb rating 5.9Bond as Inmate Socked by Saint Louis
Frank CapraDirector, 4 films, 1933 to 1950
All films by Frank Capra
- Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3Bond as Lee
- It's a Wonderful Life1946IMDb rating 8.6Bond as Bert
- It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1Bond as Bus Driver
- Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4Bond as Mounted Policeman
Howard HawksDirector, 3 films, 1938 to 1959
All films by Howard Hawks
- Rio Bravo1959IMDb rating 7.9Bond as Pat Wheeler
- Sergeant York1941IMDb rating 7.7Bond as Ike Botkin
- Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8Bond as Motorcycle Cop