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Fred Ward

Fred Ward

Actor, also producer · Died May 8, 2022, aged 79 · San Diego, California, USA

Freddie Joe Ward (December 30, 1942 – May 8, 2022) was an American actor. He began his career in 1979 alongside Clint Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz. He was best known for his starring roles in the films Remo Williams, Tremors, Henry & June, Short Cuts, The Right Stuff, and Exit Speed. Ward also acted in several European movies.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 30, 1942
Died
May 8, 2022 (aged 79)
From
San Diego, California, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
61 on MovieCove · 81 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

What are Fred Ward's films like?

Across their 52 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 31st percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
22%
Bonds
22%
Self
20%
Survival
16%
Power
8%
Society
8%
Ideas
4%
Survival13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 50 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 23 · Serious 10 · Dark 17

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 26 · Stylized 19 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 10 · Charged 22 · Intense 18

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 17 · Shifting 30 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 20 · Funny 8

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 31 · Relentless 7

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 29 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 24 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 35 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

23 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 6 of 23 analyzed roles.

Hero
6 of 23
Mentor
5 of 23
Shadow
5 of 23
Ally
4 of 23
Threshold guardian
2 of 23
Shapeshifter
1 of 23
Show the 23 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
31
Thrilling
14
Melancholic
16
Absurd
15
Warm
11
Other
58

How their films linger

Fun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous13

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Fred Ward's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 41 of their 61 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Fred Ward's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

81 credits, 61 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • True Detective(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Eddie Velcoro

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • 2 Guns(2013)

    as Admiral Tuwey

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • 30 Minutes or Less(2011)

    as The Major

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Armored(2009)

    as Duncan Ashcroft

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Stallion(2009)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Farewell(2009)

    as Ronald Reagan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Management(2008)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Exit Speed(2008)

    as Sgt. Archie Sparks

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • In Plain Sight(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Jergens / Frank Jerome

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Feast of Love(2007)

    as Bat

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Denny Duquette, Sr.

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Funky Monkey(2004)

    as Don Decker (scenes deleted)

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Last Ride(2004)

    as Darryl Kurtz

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • 10.5(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Roy Nolan

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all shows

  • Coast to Coast(2003)

    as Hal Kressler

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Masked and Anonymous(2003)

    as Drunk

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Abandon(2002)

    as Bill Stayton

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Sweet Home Alabama(2002)

    as Earl Smooter

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Birdseye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Nolan Sharpless

  • Enough(2002)

    as Jupiter

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Dice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · as Gacy/Noah Aldis

  • Corky Romano(2001)

    as Leo Corrigan

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Summer Catch(2001)

    as Sean Dunne

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Full Disclosure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as John McWhirter

  • Joe Dirt(2001)

    as Joe's Dad

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Wild Iris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Errol Podubney

  • Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Vernon 'Black Jack' Bouvier III

  • Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as John Vernon "Black Jack" Bouvier III

  • The Vivero Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Andrew Fallon

  • Road Trip(2000)

    as Earl Edwards

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Circus(2000)

    as Elmo

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Chaos Factor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Max Camden

  • The Crow: Salvation(2000)

    as The Captain

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Red Team (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Randall Brooks

  • Invasion: Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · as Maj. Gen. David Reece

  • Dangerous Beauty(1998)

    as Domenico Venier

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Best Men(1997)

    as Sheriff Phillips

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as John

  • ...First Do No Harm(1997)

    as Dave Reimuller

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Chain Reaction(1996)

    as FBI Agent Leon Ford

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Tremors II: Aftershocks(1996)

    as Earl Bassett

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Blue Villa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Frank

  • ER(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · as Eddie Wyczenski

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult(1994)

    as Rocco

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Short Cuts(1993)

    as Stuart Kane

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Two Small Bodies(1993)

    as Lt. Brann

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Four Eyes and Six-Guns(1992)

    as Wyatt Earp

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Equinox(1992)

    as Mr. Paris

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Bob Roberts(1992)

    as Chip Daley

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Wind(1991)

    as Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Player(1992)

    as Walter Stuckel

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Thunderheart(1992)

    as Jack Milton

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Cast a Deadly Spell(1991)

    as Det. Harry Philip Lovecraft

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Henry & June(1990)

    as Henry Miller

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Miami Blues(1990)

    Executive Producer · as Sergeant Hoke Moseley

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Catchfire(1990)

    as Pauling

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Tremors(1990)

    as Earl Bassett

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Prince of Pennsylvania(1988)

    as Gary Marshetta

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Big Business(1988)

    as Roone Dimmick

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Off Limits(1988)

    as Dix

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Price of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Florida Straits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Lucky Boone

  • Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins(1985)

    as Remo Williams

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Secret Admirer(1985)

    as Lou Fimple

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Noon Wine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Royal Earle Thompson

  • UFOria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sheldon Bart

  • Swing Shift(1984)

    as Biscuits Toohey

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Uncommon Valor(1983)

    as Wilkes

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Silkwood(1983)

    as Morgan

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Hitchhiker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Luthor Redmond

  • The Right Stuff(1983)

    as Gus Grissom

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann(1982)

    as Lyle Swann

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Crouch (segment 'The Price of Life') · as Royal Earle Thompson

  • Southern Comfort(1981)

    as Reece

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Carny(1980)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Belle Starr (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Ned Christie

  • Cardiac Arrest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Jamie

  • Escape from Alcatraz(1979)

    as John Anglin

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Lynch's Henchman

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hearts of the West(1975)

    as Sam (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Ginger in the Morning(1974)

    as Truck Driver

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 81 titles from 1974 to 2014; peak year 1991.

Biggest box office

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

$181M worldwide

Highest rated

The Right Stuff (1983)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

Film career

19742014

Peak 1991 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 16 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting81 of 81: 80 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stProducing1 of 81: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s4 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s24 · 24 acting · 1 crew2000s30 · acting2010s3 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 13% of 48 roles
798489949904

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Fred Ward's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 55; across their 50 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 50

Midcredits score across 61 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 61 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed19

Most divisive · actor

Funky Monkey (2004)

92nd percentile spread · 57% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Right Stuff (1983)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 48 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Fred Ward's work okay for kids?

Across up to 28 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore21 titles17–70 · median 46 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity28 titles7–66 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity22 titles40–84 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs18 titles22–46 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense19 titles15–64 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Fred Ward work with?

People who share at least 2 of Fred Ward's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Altman shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles