---
name: "Fred Ward"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/fred-ward"
fi1m_id: "fred-ward"
imdb_id: "nm0911542"
tmdb_id: 10430
wikidata_id: "Q350714"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 December 1942"
died: "8 May 2022"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-04T23:42:37.918384+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Fred Ward

## Identity

Fred Ward

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/fred-ward
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** fred-ward
- **IMDb ID:** nm0911542
- **TMDB ID:** 10430
- **Wikidata ID:** Q350714
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Ward, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q350714, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911542/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10430

Actor. Born 30 December 1942 in San Diego, California, USA. Died 8 May 2022.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 December 1942, San Diego, California, USA
- **Died:** 8 May 2022
- **Active:** 1979–2000
- **Also known as:** Freddie Joe "Fred" Ward, فرد وارد
- **Frequently works with:** [Robert Altman](https://film.one/person/robert-altman.md), [Tim Robbins](https://film.one/person/tim-robbins.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 82 (1), 1980s 84 (2), 1990s 84 (3), 2000s 64 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 76 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 4, Drama 4, Thriller 3, Adventure 1, Crime 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $261m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Ward, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q350714, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0911542/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10430

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Player*](https://film.one/film/the-player.md) (85)
- **Peacock:** [*Tremors*](https://film.one/film/tremors.md) (82)
- **Hulu:** [*Escape from Alcatraz*](https://film.one/film/escape-from-alcatraz.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Southern Comfort*](https://film.one/film/southern-comfort.md) (81)
- **Apple TV:** [*Road Trip*](https://film.one/film/road-trip.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Fred Ward

> Fred Ward makes tough men seem accustomed to work rather than keen to prove themselves. We value the understated playing and the dry comic timing, though the familiar casting can make him too easy to overlook.

Fred Ward looks at home playing a man who works with his hands. His weathered presence suits soldiers, labourers and policemen, but it need not mean a humourless performance. *Escape from Alcatraz* (1979) gave him a substantial role as John Anglin alongside Clint Eastwood. His breakthrough came as the taciturn astronaut Gus Grissom in *The Right Stuff* (1983). We value his ability to make these men convincing without making a show of their toughness.

In Robert Altman's *The Player* (1992), Ward plays Walter Stuckel in a Hollywood satire carried by Tim Robbins's unnervingly agreeable studio executive. It is a film we recommend for its sour comedy, despite the famous guests sometimes receiving more attention than the story needs. Ward's presence is a reason to look beyond the pleasure of recognition and attend to the supporting cast. Treating every familiar face as an event makes the interruptions feel longer. His understated manner suits ensemble work, but this is also the sort of film in which such an actor risks being taken for granted.

Altman cast him as the fisherman Stuart Kane in *Short Cuts* (1993), another ensemble. Yet the leading role of Henry Miller in Philip Kaufman's *Henry & June* (1990) complicates any easy description of Ward as permanent supporting muscle. His career leaned towards supporting parts after the mid-1980s, but those parts do not tell the whole story. Calling him reliable is fair, though it can become an excuse to stop paying attention.

The useful corrective is *Tremors* (1990), with Ward as Earl Bassett, a pragmatic handyman battling monsters, opposite Kevin Bacon. We laughed at their partnership because Ward's grounded practicality makes the monsters funnier. The timing matters as much as the weathered appearance; toughness alone would not make that pairing work. Still, a familiar, dependable actor is not sufficient reason to recommend everything he appears in. Start with *Tremors* for the comedy, then try *The Player* if a little Hollywood self-satisfaction does not put you off.

## Biography

Fred Ward was an American character actor. He began his screen career with a role in the 1973 Italian television miniseries *The Age of Medici* and made his feature debut in *Escape from Alcatraz* (1979).

Ward appeared in films including *The Right Stuff* (1983), *Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins* (1985), *Henry & June* (1990), *Miami Blues* (1990), *The Player* (1992) and *Short Cuts* (1993). He reprised his role as Earl Bassett in *Tremors 2: Aftershocks* (1996). He won a Cable ACE Award for the television film *Four Eyes and Six Guns* (1992) and shared ensemble awards for *Short Cuts*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com, nytimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Road Trip* (2000), Fi1m 64, as Earl Edwards — [page](https://film.one/film/road-trip.md)
- *Short Cuts* (1993), Fi1m 84, as Stuart Kane — [page](https://film.one/film/short-cuts.md)
- *The Player* (1992), Fi1m 85, as Walter Stuckel — [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md)
- *Tremors* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Earl Bassett — [page](https://film.one/film/tremors.md)
- *The Right Stuff* (1983), Fi1m 86, as Gus Grissom — [page](https://film.one/film/the-right-stuff.md)
- *Southern Comfort* (1981), Fi1m 81, as Reece — [page](https://film.one/film/southern-comfort.md)
- *Escape from Alcatraz* (1979), Fi1m 82, as John Anglin — [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-alcatraz.md)

## Complete filmography (81)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *True Detective* (2014), series, as Eddie Velcoro — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-detective.md)
- *2 Guns* (2013), as Admiral Tuwey
- *30 Minutes or Less* (2011), as The Major
- *Armored* (2009), as Duncan Ashcroft
- *The Wild Stallion* (2009), as Frank
- *Farewell* (2009), as Ronald Reagan
- *Management* (2009), as Jerry
- *Exit Speed* (2008), as Sgt. Archie Sparks
- *In Plain Sight* (2008), series, as Frank Jergens / Frank Jerome
- *Feast of Love* (2007), as Bat
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, as Denny Duquette, Sr. — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Funky Monkey* (2004), as Don Decker (scenes deleted)
- *The Last Ride* (2004), as Darryl Kurtz
- *10.5* (2004), series, as Roy Nolan
- *Coast to Coast* (2004), as Hal Kressler
- *Masked and Anonymous* (2003), as Drunk
- *Abandon* (2002), as Bill Stayton
- *Sweet Home Alabama* (2002), as Earl Smooter
- *Birdseye* (2002), as Nolan Sharpless
- *Enough* (2002), as Jupiter
- *Dice* (2001), series, as Gacy/Noah Aldis
- *Corky Romano* (2001), as Leo Corrigan
- *Summer Catch* (2001), as Sean Dunne
- *Full Disclosure* (2001), as John McWhirter
- *Joe Dirt* (2001), as Joe's Dad
- *Wild Iris* (2001), as Errol Podubney
- *Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis* (2000), series, as John Vernon 'Black Jack' Bouvier III
- *Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis* (2000), as John Vernon "Black Jack" Bouvier III
- *The Vivero Letter* (2000), as Andrew Fallon
- *Road Trip* (2000), as Earl Edwards — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/road-trip.md)
- *Circus* (2000), as Elmo
- *The Chaos Factor* (2000), as Max Camden
- *The Crow: Salvation* (2000), as The Captain
- *Red Team* (1999), as Randall Brooks
- *Invasion: Earth* (1998), series, as Maj. Gen. David Reece
- *Dangerous Beauty* (1998), as Domenico Venier
- *Best Men* (1997), as Sheriff Phillips
- *Gun* (1997), series, as John
- *...First Do No Harm* (1997), as Dave Reimuller
- *Chain Reaction* (1996), as FBI Agent Leon Ford
- *Tremors 2: Aftershocks* (1996), as Earl Bassett
- *The Blue Villa* (1995), as Frank
- *ER* (1994), series, as Eddie Wyczenski — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult* (1994), as Rocco
- *Short Cuts* (1993), as Stuart Kane — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/short-cuts.md)
- *Two Small Bodies* (1993), as Lt. Brann
- *Four Eyes and Six-Guns* (1992), as Wyatt Earp
- *Equinox* (1992), as Mr. Paris
- *Bob Roberts* (1992), as Chip Daley
- *The Dark Wind* (1992), as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn
- *The Player* (1992), as Walter Stuckel — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-player.md)
- *Thunderheart* (1992), as Jack Milton
- *Cast a Deadly Spell* (1991), as Det. Harry Philip Lovecraft
- *Henry & June* (1990), as Henry Miller
- *Miami Blues* (1990), as Sergeant Hoke Moseley · Executive Producer
- *Catchfire* (1990), as Pauling
- *Tremors* (1990), as Earl Bassett — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/tremors.md)
- *The Prince of Pennsylvania* (1988), as Gary Marshetta
- *Big Business* (1988), as Roone Dimmick
- *Off Limits* (1988), as Dix
- *The Price of Life* (1987), Actor
- *Florida Straits* (1986), as Lucky Boone
- *Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins* (1985), as Remo Williams
- *Secret Admirer* (1985), as Lou Fimple
- *Noon Wine* (1985), as Royal Earle Thompson
- *UFOria* (1984), as Sheldon Bart
- *Swing Shift* (1984), as Biscuits Toohey
- *Uncommon Valor* (1983), as Wilkes
- *Silkwood* (1983), as Morgan
- *The Hitchhiker* (1983), series, as Luthor Redmond
- *The Right Stuff* (1983), as Gus Grissom — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-right-stuff.md)
- *Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann* (1982), as Lyle Swann
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Royal Earle Thompson, Crouch (segment 'The Price of Life')
- *Southern Comfort* (1981), as Reece — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/southern-comfort.md)
- *Carny* (1980), as Jack
- *Belle Starr* (1980), as Ned Christie
- *Cardiac Arrest* (1980), as Jamie
- *Escape from Alcatraz* (1979), as John Anglin — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-alcatraz.md)
- *The Incredible Hulk* (1977), series, as Lynch's Henchman
- *Hearts of the West* (1975), as Sam (uncredited)
- *Ginger in the Morning* (1974), as Truck Driver

## Gallery

- ![Fred Ward](https://film.one/media/person/78130/gallery-62f0d42ecb3a.jpg) Fred Ward — Image via TMDB
- ![Fred Ward](https://film.one/media/person/78130/gallery-2f48a29dad74.jpg) Fred Ward — Image via TMDB
- ![Fred Ward](https://film.one/media/person/78130/gallery-f46af56befe1.jpg) Fred Ward — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/fred-ward