Patrick Ward (4 January 1950 – 14 October 2019) was an

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

actor noted for several performances on Australian television. He died from cancer on October 14, 2019.

Early career

Ward began his career as a dancer in choreographer Ross Coleman's production of ''Gotta Move'' at Sydney's Union Theatre (now Footbridge Theatre) around the same time as being signed by Pat Woodley's modelling agency. He trained at Sydney's Independent Theatre and signed with International Casting Services run by Gloria Payten who initially secured work for him as an extra in films such as ''

That Lady from Peking ''That Lady from Peking'' is an Australian crime film directed by Eddie Davis and starring Carl Betz, Nancy Kwan and Bobby Rydell. Although shot in 1969 it was not screened commercially until 1975. It was the last of three films Eddie Davis made ...

'' and ''

Color Me Dead ''Color Me Dead'' is a 1969 Australian thriller directed by Eddie Davis, starring American actors Tom Tryon, Carolyn Jones and Rick Jason. It is a remake of the 1950 film '' D.O.A.''. Due to the failure on renewing copyright of ''D.O.A.'', the ...

''.

TV

At the beginning of the 1970s he was scoring acting work in various television shows. He played Gilbert Bunthorp in ABC TV's adaptation of ''

The Cousin from Fiji ''The Cousin from Fiji'' (1945) is a novel by Australian writer and artist Norman Lindsay. Story outline In the 1890s, 18-year-old Ella Belairs returns home to Ballarat, and her relatives the Domkins, after spending her childhood in Fiji. Cri ...

'', a soldier in ''

Spyforce ''Spyforce'' is an Australian television series that aired from 1971 to 1973 on Nine Network. The series was based upon the adventures of Australian Military Intelligence operatives in the South West Pacific during World War II. It was produced ...

'' and a Vietnam veteran in ''

The Godfathers (TV series) ''The Godfathers'' is an Australian comedy drama television series which aired on the Nine Network from 1971 to 1972. This family series was created by Robert Bruning and Michael Laurence, who also had starring roles. Plot summary ''The Godfath ...

''. Further television roles came in police drama ''

Matlock Police ''Matlock Police'' is an Australian television police drama series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network (now known as the 10 Network) between 1971 and 1976. The series focused on the police station and crime in the Victorian town o ...

'' in 1973 and as Sam Wandsworth in the teen soap opera '' Class of '74''. He played Nicholas Brent in the 1974 film version of ''Number 96'', and was a regular, Cornelius (aka Corny), in the serial ''

The Unisexers ''The Unisexers'' is an Australian television soap opera made by the Cash Harmon Television production company, (best known for creating the soap opera ''Number 96''), it ran for a single season for the Nine Network in 1975. Synopsis ''The ...

'' (1975) produced by

Cash Harmon Television Cash Harmon Television was an Australian television production company based in Crows Nest, New South Wales, operating from the early 1970s until 1980. Their most famous product was top-rated evening sex and sin soap opera ''Number 96'' for the ...

, the makers of ''Number 96''. ''The Unisexers'' was cancelled after just three weeks and 16 episodes due to poor ratings.Moran, Albert. ''Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series'', Allen & Unwin, 1993. p 471 Ward had previously played Mike Parsons in the television version of ''Number 96'' in 1972.Mercado, Andrew. ''Super Aussie Soaps'', Pluto Press Australia, 2004. p 92. Ward had a regular support role as Constable Peter Fleming in the police serial ''

Cop Shop ''Cop Shop'' is a long-running Australian police drama television series produced by Crawford Productions that ran for seven seasons between 28 November 1977 and 23 July 1984. It comprised 582 one-hour episodes. The show The show revolved ar ...

'' starting late 1977 but left the series within three months of its launch.Mercado, Andrew. ''Super Aussie Soaps'', Pluto Press Australia, 2004. p 114. In 1980 he was a regular cast member of a new soap opera, ''

Arcade Arcade most often refers to: * Arcade game, a coin-operated game machine ** Arcade cabinet, housing which holds an arcade game's hardware ** Arcade system board, a standardized printed circuit board * Amusement arcade, a place with arcade games * ...

'', created by several members of the creative team from ''Number 96''. ''Arcade'' was a critical and ratings failure and was cancelled after six weeks on air.Moran, Albert. ''Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series'', Allen & Unwin, 1993. p. 64.Mercado, Andrew. ''Super Aussie Soaps'', Pluto Press Australia, 2004. p 149-153. and played a guest role in the US series ''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pac ...

'' in 1981. Ward subsequently played a regular role in the situation comedy ''

My Two Wives ''My Two Wives'' is an Australian situation comedy series produced by Gary Reilly Productions in 1992. The situation of ''My Two Wives'' involved a divorced man who moves into an apartment with his new wife and her daughter, only to learn that ...

'' (1992).Moran, Albert. ''Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series'', Allen & Unwin, 1993. pp. 307-308. Other TV roles included appearances in ''

A Country Practice ''A Country Practice'' is an Australian television soap opera which broadcast on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 until 5 November 1993, airing at 7:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Altogether, 14 seasons and 1,058 episodes were p ...

'' (1983), '' Chances'' (1991), '' Phoenix (TV series)'' (1992), '' Mission: Impossible'' (1988), '' All Saints'' (2001), ''

Farscape ''Farscape'' is an Australian-American science fiction television series, produced originally for the Nine Network. It premiered in the US on Sci-Fi Channel's SciFi Friday, 19 March 1999, at 8:00 pm EST as their anchor series. The series was c ...

'' (2001 and 2003) and ''

Bad Cop, Bad Cop ''Bad Cop, Bad Cop'' is a 2002 Australian television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Southern Star, directed by David Caesar Cast * Michael Caton – Det. Red Lilywhite * Dan Wyllie – Det. Cons. Lou ...

'' (2003). Miniseries appearances include ''

ANZACS ''Anzacs'' (named for members of the all volunteer army formations) is a 1985 Australian five-part television miniseries set in World War I. The series follows the lives of a group of young Australian men who enlist in the 8th Battalion (Austr ...

'' and '' Fields of Fire''. Film roles included the

cult film A cult film or cult movie, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage ...

Stone In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...

'' in 1974 and the feature film '' Restraint'' (2008).

Film

Ward appeared in the opening sequence of

Peter Weir Peter Lindsay Weir ( ; born August 21, 1944) is a retired Australian film director. He's known for directing films crossing various genres over forty years with films such as '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), ''Gallipoli'' (1981), ''Witness ...

's ''

The Cars That Ate Paris ''The Cars That Ate Paris'' is a 1974 Australian horror comedy film, produced by twin brothers Hal and Jim McElroy and directed by Peter Weir. It was his first feature film, and was also based on an original story he had written. Shot mostly i ...

'', played tough guy Tex in '' Sidecar Racers'' and worked opposite

Helen Morse Helen Morse (born 24 January 1947) is an English-born Australian actress who has appeared in films, on television and on stage. She won the AFI (AACTA) Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 1976 film '' Caddie'', and starred in the 19 ...

in ''Stone''. He acted in the film ''

The Chain Reaction ''The Chain Reaction'' is a 1980 Australian science fiction thriller film directed and written by Ian Barry. The film stars Steve Bisley and Arna-Maria Winchester. The film's plot is about an engineer badly injured in an accident caused by an ...

'' (1980). Other films include ''

Jindalee Lady ''Jindalee Lady'' is a 1992 Australian film about an Aboriginal Australian woman who is a successful fashion designer. Directed by Brian Syron, it is the first feature film directed by an Aboriginal person in Australia.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Austra ...

'' and ''

The Crossing (1990 film) ''The Crossing'' is a 1990 Australian romantic drama film directed by George Ogilvie, produced by Sue Seeary and written by Ranald Allan. The film stars Russell Crowe, Robert Mammone and Danielle Spencer. The film was shot in the towns of June ...

''.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Patrick 1950 births 2019 deaths Australian male television actors Male actors from Sydney