Richard Ward (actor)

Richard Ward (March 15, 1915 – July 1, 1979) was a gravel-voiced African American actor on the stage, television, and in films, from 1949 until his death.[1][2] Though best known through his TV appearances late in life, both in sitcoms and police procedurals, Ward also had an extensive film resume and a distinguished stage career, one of the highlights of the latter being his portrayal of Willy Loman in the 1972 production of Death of a Salesman, staged in Baltimore's Center Stage (the first African American production of Arthur Miller's signature opus, produced with the playwright's blessing).[1][3][4] Ward's own favorite among his theatrical vehicles was Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.[5]

Richard Ward
Born(1915-03-15)March 15, 1915
Glenside, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJuly 1, 1979(1979-07-01) (aged 64)
Coxsackle, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1949–1979

Life and career

Ward was born in Glenside, Pennsylvania. He worked as a New York City police detective for ten years before beginning his acting career.[1] An Actors Studio alumnus,[6] Ward belatedly made his television debut in 1950 on the Perry Como Show,[2] later appearing on dramatic anthology series such as Playhouse 90, Studio One, and Hallmark Hall of Fame, before becoming a familiar face on seventies sitcoms like Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, All in the Family and The Jeffersons.[1]

Ward made three guest appearances on Good Times as James's dad Henry (the name that James was known by on Maude), who had walked out on James' mom and siblings when he was younger. The first episode he appeared on, Henry was discovered by Thelma at ship port where he was working and she brought him home to surprise James for his birthday. At first, James didn't want to see him, but after a deep conversation, Henry was welcomed by his son to join the celebration. James wished he could have 100 more years with his dad. The other two episodes Henry appeared on were after James' death. On Sanford and Son, Ward appeared in the episode "The Stung" (1975); in it, Fred asks a professional gambler (played by Ward) to teach Lamont and his friends a lesson. In the pilot film for the cop show, Starsky & Hutch, Ward played Captain Dobey, though in the series itself that role was played by Bernie Hamilton. Ward did appear as a different character in one episode in the final series, shortly before his death of a heart attack.

Filmography
Year Title Role
1957Carib Gold
1964The Cool WorldStreet Speaker
1964Black Like MeBurt Wilson
1964Nothing But a ManMill Hand
1969The Learning TreeBooker Savage
1971Brother JohnFrank
1972Across 110th StreetDoc Johnson
1973Cops and RobbersPaul Jones
1974For Pete's SakeBernie
1975MandingoAgamemnon
1976The Death CollectorGunsmith
1979The JerkFather
1980BrubakerAbraham Cook

References
  1. "Richard Ward: Played Grandpa Evans on TV's Good Times, Was Real-Life Detective". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. July 5, 1979. p. 21 – via Google News.
  2. "Guide to Richard Ward Papers" (PDF). New York Public Library. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
  3. "Black TV Cook Says Role is Not Degrading". Jet. December 11, 1975.
  4. Murphy, Brenda (1995). "Production Chronology". Miller: Death of a Salesman (Plays in Production). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 179. ISBN 0-521-47865-0.
  5. Treaster, Joseph B.: "Richard Ward Dies; Stage and TV Actor". The New York Times. July 4, 1979.
  6. Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of the Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 280. ISBN 0-02-542650-8.
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