Michael Ward (actor)

Michael Ward (born George William Everard Yoe Ward, 9 April 1909 – 8 November 1997) was an English character actor who appeared in nearly eighty films between 1947 and 1978.

Not to be confused with Micheal Ward.

Michael Ward
Born
George William Everard Yoe Ward

(1909-04-09)9 April 1909
Carnmenellis, Cornwall, England
Died8 November 1997(1997-11-08) (aged 88)
London, England
Years active1947–1978

Early life

Ward was born in Carnmenellis in Cornwall, to clergyman William George Henry Ward and his wife Annie (née Dingle). He originally trained and worked as a teacher[1] but then retrained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, and won his first film role in 1947, playing Mr Trafford in Alexander Korda's An Ideal Husband.

Career

In between the years 1947 and 1960, Ward appeared in no fewer than 30 films, making him one of the UK's busiest and most recognisable character actors.

As well as five Carry On films, Ward also appeared in four Norman Wisdom films and six made by the Boulting brothers.

In the early 1960s television started to take over Ward's career, and until his retirement in 1978 he appeared in (amongst many others) The Jack Benny Programme, The Avengers, The Morecambe and Wise Show, Dixon of Dock Green, The Two Ronnies, Armchair Theatre, Rising Damp and Sykes.

After making what would be his last ever screen outing in 1978's Revenge of the Pink Panther, Ward suffered a stroke which forced him to retire. By 1986, he was unable to walk. He died on 8 November 1997 at St Mary's Hospital in London. He was 88.

Selected films

References
  1. Quinlan's Film Character actors, David Quinlan
  • Walker, John (ed.). Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-093507-3.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  • McFarlane, Brian (ed.). The Encyclopedia of British Film. Methuen/BFI. ISBN 0-413-77301-9.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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