Wardell Edwin Bond (April 9, 1903 - November 5, 1960), known professionally as Ward Bond, was a prolific American film character actor whose rugged appearance and easygoing charm were featured in over 200 films and the television series Wagon Train. He is remembered for his roles as Bert, the cop, in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Captain Clayton in The Searchers (1956), among many others.

Biography

Early life

Bond was born in Benkelman, Nebraska, a small town located in the southwestern corner of the state near the Kansas and Colorado borders. The Bond family, John W., Mabel L., and sister Bernice, lived in Benkelman until 1919 when they moved to Denver. Ward graduated from East High School in Denver.

Bond attended the University of Southern California and played football on the same team as future USC coach Jess Hill. At 6'2" and 195 pounds, Bond was a starting lineman on USC's first national championship team in 1928.

Bond and John Wayne, who as Marion Michael Morrison (John Wayne's Biography) had played tackle for USC in 1926 before an injury ended his career, became lifelong friends and colleagues. Bond, Wayne and the entire Southern Cal team were hired to appear in Salute (1929), a football film starring George O'Brien and directed by John Ford. During the filming of this movie Bond and Wayne befriended Ford, and appeared in many of Ford's later films.

Hollywood

Bond made his screen debut in Salute and thereafter was a busy character actor, playing over 200 supporting roles. He appeared in 31 films released in 1935 and 23 in 1939. Rarely playing the lead in theatrical films, he starred in the television series Wagon Train from 1957 until his death in 1960. He was frequently typecast as a friendly policeman or as a brutal thug. He 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, 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. Among his other well-known films were Bringing Up Baby (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Sergeant York (1941), They Were Expendable (1945), Joan of Arc (1948), in which he was atypically cast as Captain La Hire, Rio Bravo (1959), and Raoul Walsh's 1930 widescreen wagon train epic The Big Trail, which also featured John Wayne's first leading role. Bond later starred in the popular NBC western television series Wagon Train from 1957 until his death. Wagon Train was inspired by the 1950 film Wagon Master, in which Bond also appeared, and was influenced by The Big Trail. For Wagon Train Bond specifically requested Terry Wilson for the role of assistant trailmaster Bill Hawks and Frank McGrath as the cook Charlie Wooster. Wilson and McGrath stayed with the series for the entire run.

An epileptic, he was rejected by the draft during World War II.

During the 1940s, Bond was a member of the conservative group called the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, whose major platform was opposition to communists in the film industry. In 1960, Bond campaigned for the Republican presidential nominee Richard M. Nixon. Bond died three days before Democrat John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Nixon.

Bond appears in more of the films on both the original and the tenth anniversary edition of the American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Movies lists than any other actor, albeit always as a supporting player: It Happened One Night (1934), Bringing Up Baby (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Maltese Falcon (1941), It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Searchers (1956).

Bond has also been in 12 films that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, which may be more than any other actor: Arrowsmith (1931/32), Lady for a Day (1933), It Happened One Night (1934), You Can't Take It with You (1938), Gone with the Wind (1939), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), The Long Voyage Home (1940), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Sergeant York (1941), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), The Quiet Man (1952) and Mister Roberts (1955).

Bond made 23 films with John Wayne. These films are the following:

• Rio Bravo - Pat Wheeler (1959)
• The Wings of Eagles - John Dodge (1957)
• The Searchers - Reverend Captain Samuel Johnson (1956)
• Rookie of the Year - Buck Goodhue, Alias Buck Garrison (TV drama 1955)
• Hondo - Buffalo Baker (1953)
• The Quiet Man - Father Peter Lonergan (1952)
• Operation Pacific - Commander John T. "Pop" Perry (1951)
• Fort Apache - Sgt. Major Michael O'Rourke (1948)
• 3 Godfathers - Perley "Buck" Sweet (1948)
• They Were Expendable - BMC "Boats" Mulcahey (1945)
• Dakota - Jim Bender (1945)
• Tall in the Saddle - Judge Robert Garvey (1944)
• A Man Betrayed - Floyd (1941)
• The Shepherd of the Hills - Wash Gibbs (1941)
• The Long Voyage Home - Yank (1940)
• Conflict - Gus "Knockout" Carrigan (1936)
• College Coach - Assistant Coach (un-credited) (1933)
• Three Girls Lost - Airline Steward (un-credited) (1931)
• Maker of Men - Pat (un-credited) (1931)
• The Big Trail - Sid Bascomb (1930)
• Born Reckless - Sargeant (1930)
• The Lone Star Ranger - Townsperson at the Dance (un-credited) (1930)
• Salute - Midshipman Harold (1929)
• Words and Music - Bit Part (un-credited) (1929)

Death and legacy

Bond died on November 5, 1960 from a massive heart attack; he was 57 at the time of his death. John Wayne gave the eulogy at his funeral. Bond's will bequeathed to Wayne the shotgun with which Wayne had once accidentally shot Bond.

For his contribution to the television industry, Bond has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6933 Hollywood Blvd. In 2001, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. There is also a Ward Bond Memorial Park in his birthplace of Benkelman, Nebraska.

A legend has developed that country singer Johnny Horton died in an automobile accident while driving to see Bond at a hotel in Dallas to discuss a possible role in the fourth season of Wagon Train. Although Horton was indeed killed in a car crash at 1:30 a.m. on November 5, 1960, and Bond died from a massive heart attack at noon that same day, the two events were unrelated. Horton was on his way from Austin to Shreveport, Louisiana, not Dallas. Bond was in Dallas to attend a football game between SMU and Texas A&M at the Cotton Bowl. In addition, since Bond was only the star of Wagon Train and not a producer, he was not responsible for casting.

Filmography

• Words and Music - Bit Part (un-credited) (1929)
• Salute - Midshipman Harold (1929)
• So This Is College - USC Plyer-#30 (uncredited) (1929)
• The Big Trail - Sid Bascom (1930)
• Up The River - Inmate Socked by Saint Louis (uncredited) (1930)
• Born Reckless - Sargeant (1930)
• The Lone Star Ranger - Townsperson at the Dance (un-credited) (1930)
• Arrowsmith - Cop (uncredited) (1931)
• Three Girls Lost - Airline Steward (un-credited) (1931)
• A Connecticut Yankee - Queen's Knight (uncredited) (1931)
• Quick Millions - Cop in Montge (uncredited) (1931)
• The Spider - Cop (uncredited) (1931)
• Sob Sister - Ward (uncredited)(1931)
• Maker of Men - Pat (un-credited) (1931)
• Blonde Crazy - Highway Patrolman (uncredited) (1931)
• Over the Hill - Detective Escort (uncredited) (1931)
• Virtue - Frank (1932)
• High Speed - Ham (1932)
• Careless Lady - Cop in Raid (uncredited) (1932)
• The Trial of Vivienne Ware - Johnson (uncredited) (1932)
• Bachelor's Affairs - Cop (uncredited) (1932)
• Hello Trouble - "Heavy" Kennedy (1932)
• Hold 'Em Jail - Football Player (uncredited) (1932)
• White Eagle - Henchman Bart (1932)
• Rackety Rax - "Bick" Gilligan (1932)
• The Greeks Had a Word for Them - Taxi Driver (uncredited) (1932)
• Air Mail - Joe Barnes (uncredited) (1932)
• Flesh - Muscles Manning (uncredited) (1932)
• Sundown Rider - Gabe Powers (1932)
• Lady for a Day - Mounted Policeman (uncredited) (1933)
• Wild Boys of the Road (1933) uncredited
• College Coach - Assistant Coach (un-credited) (1933)
• State Trooper - Unknown (1933)
• Obey the Law' - Kid Paris (1933)
• Unknown Valley - Elder Sneed (1933)
• Lucky Devils (uncredited) (1933)
• When Stangers Marry - Billy McGuire (1933)
• Heroes for Sale - Red (uncredited) (1933)
• The Wrecker - Cramer (1933)
• Police Car 17 - Bumps O'Neil (1933)
• Son of a Sailor - Joe (uncredited) (1933)
• Straightaway - Hobo (1933)
• The Fighting Code - Joe Krull (1933)
• School for Romance - Short - Husband (1934)
• Whirlpool - Farley (1934)
• Speed Wings - Henchman (uncredited ) (1934)
• Frontier Marshal - Ben Murchison (1934)
• Broadway Bill - Morgan's Henchman (uncredited) (1934)
• The Poor Rich - Motor Cop (1934)
• The Crime of Helen Stanley - Jack Baker (1934)
• I'll Tell the World - Drigible Officer (uncredited) (1934)
• Voice in the Night - Bob Hall (1934)
• It Happened One Night - Bus Driver #1 (uncredited) (1934)
• The Most Precious Thing in Life - Head Coach Smith (1934)
• Here Comes the Groom - Second Cop (1934)
• The Fighting Ranger - Dave, Cougar Henchman (1934)
• A Man's Game - Dave Jordan (1934)
• The Circus Clown - Unimpressed Man in Audience (uncredited) (1934)
• The Defense Rests - Hood (1934)
• The Affairs of Cellini - Police Guard Finding Cellini's Clothes (uncredxited (1934)
• Chained - Ship Steward (uncredited) (1934)
• The Human Side - Cop (1934)
• Girl in Danger - Wynkoski (1934)
• Death on the Diamond - Security Guard in Kelly's Room (uncredited) (1934)
• 6 Day Bike Rider - First Officer (uncredited) (1934)
• Against the Law - Tony Rizzo (1934)
• Men of the Night - Detective John Connors (1934)
• Grand Old Girl - Mr. Clark (Football Coach) (uncredited) (1935)
• Under Pressure - Prize Fighter (uncredited) (1935)
• Devil Dogs of the Air - Instructor (1935)
• One New York Night - Policeman (uncredited) (1935)
• Times Square Lady - Dugan (Hockey Player) (uncredited) (1935)
• The Crimson Trail - Luke Long (1935)
• Fighting Shadows - Brad Harrison (1935)
• G Men - Gunman at the Train Station (uncredited) (1935)
• Black Fury - Mac (Company Policeman) (1935)
• Waterfront Lady - Jess (1935)
• The Headline Woman - Johnson, Reporter (1935)
• Go Into Your Dance - Herman Lahey (uncredited) (1935)
• Strangers All - Ward, Assistant Film Director on Film Set (uncredited) (1935)
• Mary Jane's Pa - Roughneck Leader (uncredited) (1935)
• The Headline Woman - Johnson, Reporter (1935)
• Murder in the Fleet - 'Heavy' Johnson (uncredited) (1935)
• Justice of the Range - Bob Brennan (1935)
• Calm Yourself - Detective with Roscoe (uncredited) (1935)
• She Gets Her Man - Chick (1935)
• Little Big Shot - Kell's Henchman (1935)
• His Night Out - Lanky (1935)
• The Last Days of Pompeii - Murmex of Cathage, a Gladiator (uncredited) (1935)
• Three Kids and a Queen - Relative (uncredited) (1935)
• Western Courage - Lacrosse (1935)
• Guard that Girl - Budge Edwards (1935)
• I Found Stella Parish - Roman Soldier in Play (1935)
• Broadway Hostess - Lucky's Henchman (uncredited) (1935)
• Too Tough to Kill - Danny (Dynamite Foreman) (1935)
• We're Only Human - Grover's Bank Robber (uncredited) (1935)
• Hitch Hike Lady - Motorcycle Officer (1935)
• Conflict - Gus "Knockout" Carrigan (1936)
• Without Orders (1936)
• Two in the Dark - Police in the Dark (uncredited) (1936)
• Boulder Dam - Pa's Guest (uncredited) (1936)
• Muss 'Em Up - John Doe, a Gangster (1936)
• The Leathernecks Have Landed - Tex (1936)
• Colleen - Sweeney (Second Officer) (uncredited) (1936)
• The First Baby - Tough Guy (uncredited) (1936)
• Pride of the Marines - Gunner Brady (1936)
• The Case Against Mrs. Ames - Newspaper Buyer (uncredited) (1936)
• Avenging Waters - Marve Slater (1936)
• Fatal Lady - American Stage Manager (uncredited) (1936)
• The Cattle Thief - Ranse Willard (1936)
• Fury - Man (uncredited) (1936)
• The Bride Walks Out - Taxi Driver (uncredited) (1936)
• High Tension - Husky Man (uncredited) (1936)
• White Fang - Thief (uncredited) (1936)
• Crash Donovan - The Drill Master (1936)
• Second Wife - 1st Partner Politician (uncredited) (1936)
• They Met in a Taxi - Policeman (uncredited) (1936)
• The Man Who Lived Twice - John 'Gloves' Baker (1936)
• The Big Game - Gambler (uncredited) (1936)
• Without Orders - Tim Casey (1936)
• Legion of Terror - Don Foster (1936)
• The Accusing Finger - Prison Guard (uncredited) (1936)
• After the Thin Man - Party Guest (uncredited) (1936)
• Topper - Eddie (Cab Driver Slugged by Topper) (uncredited) (1937)
• You Only Live Once - Casey (Guard) (uncredited) (1937)
• Woman-Wise - Kramer (uncredited) (1937)
• When's Your Birthday? - Police Detective (uncredited) (1937)
• Park Avenue Logger - Paul Sangar (1937)
• 23 1/2 Hours' Leave - Top Sgt. Burke (1937)
• The Soldier and the Lady (Tartar Chief (uncredited) (1937)
• Night Key - Fingers (1937)
• They Gave Him a Gun - MP (uncredited) (1937)
• The Go Getter - Logger (Scenes Deleted) (1937)
• The Wildcatter - Johnson (1937)
• Mountain Music - G-Man (uncredited) (1937)
• A Fight to the Finish - Eddie Hawkins (1937)
• The Singing Marine - First Sgt. (uncredited) (1937)
• Marry the Girl - First Motorcycle Policeman (uncredited) (1937)
• Souls at Sea (1937)
• Dead End - Doorman (1937)
• Escape by Night - Peter 'Spudsy' Baker (1937)
• The Game That Kills - Tom Ferguson (1937)
• Music for Madame - Violets (uncredited) (1937)
• The Westland Case - Connors (Death Row Inmate) (uncredited) (1937)
• Fight for Your Lady - Mr. Walton (uncredited) (1937)
• Penitentiary - Red Parsons (Prison Barber) (uncredited) (1938)
• The Kid Comes Back - Spike (Sparring Partner) (uncredited) (1938)
• Born to Be Wild - Bill Purvis (1938)
• Hawaii Calls - Muller (1938)
• Over the Wall - Eddie Edwards (1938)
• The Adventures of Marco Polo - Mongol Guard (uncredited) (1938)
• Flight into Nowhere (1938)
• Gun Law - Pecos (1938)
• Numbered Woman (1938)
• Reformatory - Mac Grady (1938)
• Professor Beware - Motorcycle Cop (uncredited) (1938)
• Prison Break - Big Red Kincaid (1938)
• Of Human Hearts - Lout Laughing in Church (uncredited) (1938)
• Bringing Up Baby - Motorcycle Cop at Jail (uncredited) (1938)
• The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse - Tug (1938)
• Mr. Moto's Gamble - Biff Moram (1938)
• You Can't Take It with You - Mike, the Detective (uncredited) (1938)
• Fugitives for a Night - Gambler in Fake Fight (uncredited) (1938)
• Submarine Patrol - Seaman Olaf Swanson (1938)
• The Law West of Tombstone - Mulligan P. Martinez (1938)
• Going Places - Policeman (uncredited) (1938)
• The Girl from Mexico - Mexican Pete, the Wrestler (1939)
• Pardon Our Nerve - Kid Ramsey (1939)
• Dust Be My Destiny - First Thug on Train (uncredited) (1939)
• They Made Me a Criminal (1939)
• Union Pacific - Tracklayer (uncredited) (1939)
• Mr. Moto in Danger Island - Sailor Sam (wrestler) (1939) uncredited
• The Oklahoma Kid - Wes Handley (1939)
• Trouble in Sundown - Henchman Dusty (1939)
• Dodge City - Bud Taylor (1939)
• Made for Each Other - Jim Hatton (uncredited) (1939)
• The Return of the Cisco Kid - Accused Rustler (1939)
• Confessions of a Nazi Spy - American Legionnaire (uncredited) (1939)
• Waterfront - Matt Hendler (1939)
• Young Mr. Lincoln - John Palmer Cass (1939)
• Dust Be My Destiny - First Thug on Train (uncredited) (1939)
• The Cisco Kid and the Lady - Walton (1939)
• Frontier Marshal - Town Marshal (1939)
• Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence - Hunk (1939)
• Drums Along the Mohawk - Adam Helmer (1939)
• Gone with the Wind - Tom, Yankee Captain (1939)
• The Kid from Kokomo - Ladislaw Klewicki (1939)
• Son of Frankenstein - Gendarme at Gate (uncredited) (1939)
• They Made Me a Criminal - Lenihan (1939)
• Sailor's Lady - Shore Patrolman (1940)
• The Grapes of Wrath - Policeman (1940)
• City for Conquest - First Policeman (uncredited) (1940)
• Santa Fe Trail - Townley (1940)
• Virginia City - Confederate Sgt. Checking Passengers (uncredited) (1940)
• The Mortal Storm - Franz (1940)
• The Long Voyage Home - Yank (1940)
• Little Old New York - Regan (1940)
• Buck Benny Rides Again - First Outlaw (1940)
• Kit Carson - Ape (1940)
• Tobacco Road - Lov Bensey (1941)
• A Man Betrayed - Floyd (1941)
• Doctors Don't Tell - Barney Millen (1941)
• Swamp Water - Tim Dorson (1941)
• Know for Sure - Short - Patient (uncredited) (1941)
• Sergeant York - Ike Botkin (1941)
• The Shepherd of the Hills - Wash Gibbs (1941)
• Manpower - Eddie Adams (1941)
• The Maltese Falcon - Detective Tom Polhaus (1941)
• In This Our Life - Extra at a Roadhouse Table (uncredited) (1942)
• Ten Gentlemen from West Point - Sgt. Scully (1942)
• The Falcon Takes Over - Moose Malloy (uncredited) (1942)
• Sin Town - Rock Delanry (1942)
• Gentleman Jim - John L. Sullivan (1942)
• Hitler - Dead or Alive - Steve Maschick (1942)
• Wild Bill Hickok Rides - Sheriff Edmunds (1942)
• Slightly Dangerous - Jimmy (1943)
• Hello Frisco, Hello - Sharkey (1943)
• They Came to Blow Up America - FBI Chief Craig (1943)
• A Guy Named Joe - Al Yackey (1943)
• Home in Indiana - Jed Bruce (1944)
• The Sullivans, renamed The Fighting Sullivans - Lt. Commander Robinson (1944)
• Tall in the Saddle - Judge Robert Garvey (1944)
• Dakota - Jim Bender (1945)
• They Were Expendable - BMC "Boats" Mulcahey (1945)
• My Darling Clementine - Morgan Earp (1946)
• It's a Wonderful Life - Bert, the Cop (1946)
• Canyon Passage - Honey Bragg (1946)
• Unconquered - John Fraser (1947)
• The Fugitive - El Gringo (1947)
• Fort Apache - Sgt. Major Michael O'Rourke (1948)
• The Time of Your Life - McCarthy (1948)
• Tap Roots - Hoab Dabney (1948)
• Joan of Arc - Captain La Hire (1948)
• 3 Godfathers - Perley "Buck" Sweet (1948)
• Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye - Inspector Charles weber (1950)
• Wagon Master - Mormon Elder Wiggs (1950)
• Singing Guns - Sheriff Jim Caradac (1950)
• Riding High - Lee (1950)
• Operation Pacific - Commander John T. "Pop" (1951)
• The Great Missouri Raid - Major Marshal Troebridge (1951)
• Bullfighter and the Lady - Narrator (voice, uncredited) (1951)
• Only the Valiant - Corporal Timothy Gilchrist (1951)
• On Dangerous Ground - Walter Brent (1951)
• Hellgate - Lt. Tod Voorhees (1952)
• On Dangerous Ground (1952)
• Thunderbirds - lt. John McCreery (1952)
• The Quiet Man - Father Peter Lonergan (1952)
• Blowing Wild - Dutch Peterson (1953)
• The Moonlighter - Cole Gardner (1953)
• Hondo - Buffalo Baker (1953)
• Johnny Guitar - John McIvers (1954)
• Gypsy Colt - Frank McWade (1954)
• The Bob Mathias Story - Coach Virgil Jackson (1954)
• The Long Gray Line - Captain Herman J. Kohler (1955)
• Mister Roberts - Chief Petty Officer Dowdy (1955)
• A Man Alone - Sheriff Gil Corrigan (1955)
• Rookie of the Year - Buck Goodhue, Alias Buck Garrison (TV drama 1955)
• Dakota Incident - Senator Blakely (1956)
• Pillers of the Sky - Dr. Joseph Holdon (1956)
• The Searchers - Reverend Captain Samuel Johnson (1956)
• The Halliday Brand - Big Dan Halliday (1957)
• The Wings of Eagles - John Dodge (1957)
• China Doll - Father Cairns (1958)
• Rio Bravo - Pat Wheeler (1959)
• Alias Jesse James - Major Seth Adams (uncredited) (1959)

Television

• The Silver Theatre - episode - My Brother's Keeper (1950)
• The Bigelow Theatre - episode - His Brother's Keeper - Unknown (1951)
• The Gulf Playhouse - episode - You Can Look it Up - Unknown (1952)
• Schiltz Playhouse - episodes - Apple of His Eye, and Moment of Vengeance - Various (1952-1956)
• The Ford Television Theatre - episode - Gun Job - Hank Fetterman (1953)
• General Electric Theater - episodes - Winners Never Lose, and A Turkey for the President (1953-1958))
• The Ford Television Theatre - episode - Segment - Lt. Pannetti (1954)
• Suspense - episode - The Hunted - Bill Meeker (1954)
• Screen Directors Playhouse - episode - Rookie of the Year - Buck Goodhue, Alias Buck Garrison (1955)
• Cavalcade of America - episode - The Marine Who Was Two Hundred Years Old - Sgt. Lou Diamond (1955)
• Climax! - episode - The Mojave Kid - Sheriff (1955)
• The Christophers - episodes - Washington as a Young Man, and Bring Out their Greatness - Various (1955-1958)
• Schiltz Playhouse - episode - Plague Ship - Captain Parker (1956)
• Star Stage - episode - The Marshal and the Mob - Patterson (1956)
• Cavalcade of America - episode - Once a Hero - Harvey Kendall (1958)
• Wagon Train - 133 episodes - Major Seth Adams (1957-1961, his death)
• The Steve Allen Plymouth Show - episode - NBC Fall Preview - Himself (1957)
• The Steve Allen Plymouth Show - episode - Episode #3.16 - Himself (1958)

Radio

• Family Theater - episode - The Visitor (1952)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]