Ward Bond
ActingAbout Ward Bond
Wardell Edwin Bond (April 9, 1903 – November 5, 1960) was an American film character actor whose rugged appearance and easygoing charm were featured in more than 200 films, as well as in the NBC television series Wagon Train from 1957 to 1961. Among his best-remembered roles are Bert the cop in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Captain Clayton in John Ford's The Searchers (1956).
Ward Bond Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Ward Bond reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Ward Bond's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 100% of Ward Bond's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains It's a Wonderful Life, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Ward Bond Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Ward Bond's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Ward Bond has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Adventures of Errol Flynn | John L. Sullivan (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Directed by John Ford | (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Rio Bravo | Pat Wheeler | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | China Doll | Father Cairns | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Searchers | Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Mister Roberts | Dowdy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Long Gray Line | Captain Herman Kohler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Johnny Guitar | John McIvers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Hellgate | Lt. Tod Voorhees | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Quiet Man | Father Peter Lonergan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye | Inspector Charles Weber | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Wagon Master | Elder Wiggs | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | 3 Godfathers | Perley 'Buck' Sweet | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Fort Apache | Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Bert | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | My Darling Clementine | Morgan Earp | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Canyon Passage | Honey Bragg | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | A Guy Named Joe | Al Yackey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Gentleman Jim | John L. Sullivan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Maltese Falcon | Det. Tom Polhaus | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Sergeant York | Ike Botkin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Tobacco Road | Lov Bensey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | City for Conquest | First Policeman (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Mortal Storm | Franz | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Grapes of Wrath | Policeman | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Gone with the Wind | Tom the Yankee Captain | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Young Mr. Lincoln | John Palmer Cass | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Dodge City | Bud Taylor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | You Can't Take It with You | Mike - the Detective (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse | Tug | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Bringing Up Baby | Motorcycle Cop (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Born to Be Wild | Bill Purvis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Dead End | Doorman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | You Only Live Once | Casey - Guard (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | After the Thin Man | Party Guest (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | The Man Who Lived Twice | Gloves Baker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Fury | Man (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Hitch Hike Lady | Motorcycle cop | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | I Found Stella Parish | Roman Soldier in Play (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Go Into Your Dance | Herman Lahey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Death on the Diamond | Security Guard in Kelly's Room (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Chained | Ship Steward (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Defense Rests | Hood | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | It Happened One Night | Bus Driver (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Wild Boys of the Road | Red the Brakeman (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Lady for a Day | Mounted Policeman (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Heroes for Sale | Red (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Hold 'Em Jail | Football Player (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Over the Hill | Detective Escort (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Quick Millions | Cop in montage (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Ward Bond - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Ward Bond?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Ward Bond is "It's a Wonderful Life" with a rating of 8.3/10.
How many movies has Ward Bond acted in?
Ward Bond has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Ward Bond?
Other notable films include "Over the Hill", "Gone with the Wind", and "Rio Bravo".