Biography
Ward Bond (born Wardell Edwin Bond) was an American character actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1929 and 1960, often in supporting roles as cowboys, policemen or soldiers. He also starred in the NBC television series Wagon Train from 1957 until his death.
Bond attended the University of Southern California, where he played football alongside John Wayne. Director John Ford gave him his first speaking role and the pair later collaborated on 25 films, including The Quiet Man (1952) and The Searchers (1956). He also worked repeatedly with Frank Capra. Among his best-known screen roles are Bert the policeman in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Tom the Yankee captain in Gone with the Wind (1939) and Detective Tom Polhaus in The Maltese Falcon (1941).
