Fred Ward was a longtime character actor who had starring roles in “The Right Stuff,” “Tremors,” and “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins.”
- Died: Sunday, May 8, 2022. (Who else died on May 8?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 79.
- We invite you to share condolences for Fred Ward in our Guest Book.
Longtime character actor
Fred Ward was a character actor who had a long and varied career in Hollywood. The rugged looking actor first starred with Clint Eastwood in 1979’s “Escape from Alcatraz.” His notable roles included playing astronaut Gus Grissom in “The Right Stuff,” author Henry Miller in “Henry and June,” and starred with Kevin Bacon in the 1990 horror comedy “Tremors,” which has become a cult classic. In 1985, he played the title character in “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins,” which was based on “The Destroyer” novel series. He signed on for 3 movies in the franchise, but the original movie did not do well at the box office so the sequels were never made. Ward had major roles in “Sweet Home Alabama,” the teen comedy “Road Trip,” and in 2015, he starred in the HBO series “True Detective.”
Notable Quote
“When I was 3, my mother left my father. She left me with her mother in Texas while she went to New Orleans to set up a life for us. After a while, she sent for me. She supported us by working in bars. In five years, we lived in five different places. Then she married my stepfather, who was with the carnie. Maybe that’s where my restlessness comes from. I inherited it.” – interview with the Chicago Tribune in 1985
Tributes to Fred Ward
Full Obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
