Wardell Edwin Bond was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 200 films and starred in the NBC television series Wagon Train from 1957 to 1960.
13 Facts About Ward Bond
2.
Ward Bond attended the Colorado School of Mines and then went to the University of Southern California and played football on the same team as future USC coach Jess Hill.
3.
Ward Bond graduated from USC in 1931 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.
4.
Ward Bond made his screen debut in Salute and thereafter was a busy character actor, playing over 200 supporting roles.
5.
Ward Bond appeared in 31 films released in 1935 and 23 in 1939.
6.
Ward Bond was frequently typecast in extremes, as either a friendly lawman or a brutal henchman.
7.
Ward Bond had a long-time working relationship with directors John Ford and Frank Capra, performing in such films as The Searchers, Drums Along the Mohawk, The Quiet Man, They Were Expendable and Fort Apache for Ford, with whom he made 25 films, and It Happened One Night, It's a Wonderful Life, and Riding High for Capra.
8.
Ward Bond later starred in the popular series Wagon Train from 1957 until his death.
9.
For Wagon Train, Ward Bond was assigned the lead role of the crusty but compassionate Major Seth Adams, the trail master.
10.
Ward Bond had epilepsy, which left him ineligible for military service during World War II.
11.
Ward Bond had a massive heart attack when he and his wife were at a hotel in Dallas.
12.
Ward Bond was pronounced dead at a hospital on November 5,1960, at the age of 57.
13.
Ward Bond's will bequeathed to Wayne the shotgun with which Wayne had once accidentally shot Ward Bond on a hunting trip.