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).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Ward Bond reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Ward Bond's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 100% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Ward Bond remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in It's a Wonderful Life, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Ward Bond Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Ward Bond's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Ward Bond.
| 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 → |
| 1948 | 3 Godfathers | Perley 'Buck' Sweet | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Tap Roots | Hoab Dabney | 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 | 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 | Manpower | Eddie Adams | 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 → |
| 1939 | Mr. Moto in Danger Island | Sailor Sam - Wrestler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Son of Frankenstein | Gendarme at Gate (uncredited) | 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) | 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".