The death has been announced of the American actor Fred Ward, best known for his roles in the films The Right Stuff and Tremors, and the television series True Detective.
US entertainment trade publication the Hollywood Reporter says that Ward died last Sunday, 8 May. As per his family's wishes, no cause or place of death was announced.
San Diego-born Ward became an actor after working as a lumberjack and serving in the US Air Force. One of his key early roles was opposite Clint Eastwood in the true story Escape from Alcatraz, playing real-life escapee John Anglin.
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Ward went on to portray astronaut Gus Grissom in the historical epic The Right Stuff and star opposite Meryl Streep in another film based on real events, Silkwood - the biographical drama about the life of nuclear plant whistleblower Karen Silkwood.
Ward was cast in the lead role in the 1985 action movie Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Conceived as a franchise, it fared poorly at the box office but has since become a cult 80s movie.
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Ward's other cult favourites included the survival thriller Southern Comfort and the horror Tremors.
He portrayed the author Henry Miller in the 1990 erotic drama Henry & June and was part of the ensembles for director Robert Altman's The Player and Short Cuts.
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Among his many other film credits were Uncommon Valor, Swing Shift, Bob Roberts, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, and Sweet Home Alabama. On the small screen, Ward's credits included the TV series ER and True Detective, playing the father of Colin Farrell's character in the latter.
Paying tribute, Ward's Tremors co-star Kevin Bacon wrote: "When it came to battling underground worms, I couldn't have asked for a better partner. I will always remember chatting about his love of Django Reinhardt and jazz guitar during our long, hot days in the high desert. Rest In Peace, Fred."
So sad to hear about Fred Ward. When it came to battling underground worms I couldn't have asked for a better partner. I will always remember chatting about his love of Django Reinhardt and jazz guitar during our long hot days in the high desert. Rest In Peace Fred. pic.twitter.com/WLOB0iVwkd
— Kevin Bacon (@kevinbacon) May 13, 2022
Here are some of the other tributes:
So sad to hear about Fred Ward passing. i loved working with him on Sweet Home Alabama. He was a wonderful man who brought so much joy to every part he played. He will be deeply missed. 🕊 https://t.co/tP4Y0yRkhn
— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) May 13, 2022
Great pleasure working with @mariademedeiros and the late Fred Ward in HENRY & JUNE. A true officer and a Gentleman. pic.twitter.com/tgQEmCemsX
— Richard E. Grant (@RichardEGrant) May 14, 2022
I mourn the loss of Fred Ward, who was so kind to me when we worked together on Remo Williams. Decent and modest and utterly professional, he disarmed with a smile that was at once warm and mischievous. https://t.co/EACXnjvjfU
— Kate Mulgrew (@TheKateMulgrew) May 13, 2022
RIP Fred Ward. He always elevated the films he was in. pic.twitter.com/eigaiEbn4n
— Alex Winter (@Winter) May 13, 2022
Devastated to learn about the passing of my friend, Fred Ward. I had the absolute pleasure of working with this wonderful man in Robert Altman's Shortcuts and Alan Rudolph’s Equinox. A tough facade covering emotions as deep as a the Pacific Ocean. Godspeed amigo. ❤️💛🙏🏽✌🏽 pic.twitter.com/IRdPrDPrac
— Matthew Modine (@MatthewModine) May 13, 2022
Oh no! I worked with Fred on The Right Stuff, and he was such a great, warm guy. He really had the right stuff of acting, honest, subtle, deep. https://t.co/np0H8IlLHG
— Barbara Hershey (@BarbaraHershey8) May 13, 2022
Farewell to Fred Ward who gifted us with so many rugged, funny and relatable characters throughout his career and always had charm to burn. Loved him in 'Tremors', ‘Miami Blues’, ‘The Right Stuff’, ‘The Player’, ‘Southern Comfort’ and more. RIP and thanks for all the movies x pic.twitter.com/i7fWmzYzc1
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) May 13, 2022
I was a huge fan of Fred Ward and was overjoyed to get to work with him on Sweet Home Alabama. He was a joy to work with- kind, thoughtful, grounded, smart, and funny, and he was consistently all of those things in every performance he gave. So sad to hear this news. 💔 https://t.co/KNl8E4LcLZ
— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) May 13, 2022
Saddened by the passing of Fred Ward. It seems far too soon. Such a dignified and grounded man. We bonded over spirituality and music in the Arizona desert while making The Dark Wind. He was a calm in the Hollywood storm. #RIPFredWard
— Lou Diamond Phillips (@LouDPhillips) May 14, 2022
Terrific Actor. RIP.
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) May 14, 2022
Fred Ward, Actor in 'Remo Williams,' ‘Henry & June’ and ‘Tremors,’ Dies at 79 https://t.co/EpSRXmWI6h via @Yahoo
