Michael Ward (actor)

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.
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 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. Ward was an extremely complicated character and never really recovered from the death of his mother in the late 60s. He was also gay (openly from the late 1960s) which caused him a lot of problems. Ward was a very sensitive man and needed to be reassured regularly.
Selected films
An Ideal Husband (1947) – Mr. Tommy Tafford
Calling Paul Temple (1948) – Passer-by (uncredited)
Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948) – (uncredited)
Sleeping Car to Trieste (1948) – Elvin
Once a Jolly Swagman (1949) – Artist at Chelsea Party (uncredited)
The Queen of Spades (1949) – Officer in the Gaming Room (uncredited)
Stop Press Girl (1949) – Hairdressers Manager (uncredited)
Marry Me! (1949) – Minor Role (uncredited)
Helter Skelter (1949) – News Reader (uncredited0
Trottie True (1949) – Pianist at Ball (uncredited)
High Jinks in Society (1949) – Watkins
So Long at the Fair (1950) – Pilkington (uncredited)
What the Butler Saw (1950) – Gerald
Tony Draws a Horse (1950) – Photographer (uncredited)
Trio (1950) – Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
No Trace (1950) – Wigmaker
Seven Days to Noon (1950) – Cast Member (uncredited)
Lilli Marlene (1951) – Wintertree
Pool of London (1951) – Pianist (uncredited)
The Galloping Major (1951) – Blimpish Character (uncredited)
Life in Her Hands (1951) – Ralph (uncredited)
Chelsea Story (1951) – Chris Fawcett
Cheer the Brave (1951)
Calling Bulldog Drummond (1951) – (uncredited)
Appointment with Venus (1951) – Senior Clerk's Assistant
Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951) – Master
High Treason (1951) – Music Club Member (uncredited)
Blind Man's Bluff (1952) – Jewellers Assistant
Whispering Smith Hits London (1952) – Reception Clerk
13 East Street (1952) – Barman
The Happy Family (1952) – BBC Announcer
Song of Paris (1952) – Waterson
The Frightened Man (1952) – Cornelius Hart
The Tall Headlines (1952) – Dentist
Emergency Call (1952) – Roberto
Tread Softly (1952) – Alexander Mayne
Street Corner (1953) – Jewellery Salesman (uncredited)
The Fake (1953) – Art Salesman
Trouble in Store (1953) – Wilbur
The Love Lottery (1954) – Hotel Receptionist
Josephine and Men (1955) – Bohemian
Man of the Moment (1955) – Photographer
Lost (1956) – Mantilla (uncredited)
Private's Progress (1956) – Sidney (uncredited)
Jumping for Joy (1956) – Pertwee (uncredited)
The Intimate Stranger (1956) – Costume Designer (uncredited)
Up in the World (1956) – Maurice
Brothers in Law (1957) – Photographer
Just My Luck (1957) – Cranley
Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) – Hotel Manager (uncredited)
The Ugly Duckling (1959) – Pasco
I'm All Right Jack (1959) – Reporter
The Rough and the Smooth (1959) – Headwaiter
Follow a Star (1959) – Bit Role (uncredited)
Doctor in Love (1960) – Dr. Flower
Carry On Regardless (1961) – Photographer
Mary Had a Little... (1961) – Hunter
A Pair of Briefs (1962) – Judge's Dresser (uncredited)
Carry On Cabby (1963) – Man in Tweeds
Father Came Too! (1963) – Man at Auction
Carry On Cleo (1964) – Archimedes
The Big Job (1965) – Undertaker
Carry On Screaming! (1966) – Mrt. Vivian
Where the Bullets Fly (1966) – Michael
Carry On Don't Lose Your Head (1966) – Henri
Smashing Time (1967) – Elderly Shop Owner
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) – Transvest
Man About the House (1974) – Mr. Gideon
Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) – Real Estate Agent (final film role)
References
External links
Official Website
Biography on Avengers website
1909 births
1997 deaths
English male television actors
English male film actors
Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Male actors from Cornwall
20th-century English male actors
English gay actors
20th-century English LGBT people