OT. RIP Fred Ward
Probably best known for Tremors or Remo Williams, but was a very respected performer in lots of other movies like The Right Stuff.
I was once somewhat of a movie buff, and I always liked solid actors/actresses that played more of a supporting role. JT Walsh is another that falls into this category.
As a horror movie lover I always liked the first Tremors movie. Fred was great in it. Imo I thought he was better than Bacon. RIP
Just watched the Right Stuff with my kids two weeks ago. I remember when that came out when I was a kid. Still remembered vividly the scene that seems to imply some blame on him (Grissom) for taking a roll of dimes into space and somehow blowing his explosive bolts. That always stuck with me. Also liked Remo Williams and in case someone is ever trying to shoot me I am still hoping that like Remo, I'll be able to hear their ligaments clenching before they actually fire, and can move out of the way.
Also appeared in SHORT CUTS, THE PLAYER, and — if you're looking for a nice A2 connection — he was in THE FEAST OF LOVE, based on the novel by celebrated UM professor Charles Baxter.
He and Alec Baldwin were great in Miami Blues. Awesome movie I forgot about these past 30 years
Rocked an epic mullet as Joe Dirt's dad.
I always thought it was such a travesty that he didn't get an academy award for that role
"lighten up, buddy"
I always enjoyed his acting, actually died on May 8th apparently, he was 79. Born here in San Diego and has one son named Django, pretty unusual.
RIP Mr. Ward!
Thanks for remembering him! I saw the news of his passing, and enjoyed seeing him in movies. First memory of him was in The Right Stuff, portraying astronaut Gus Grissom.
For me, though, his most memorable line was in Sweet Home Alabama as delivered to Reese Witherspoon (a Harpeth Hall Nashville alum) - "You can't ride two horses with one ass, Sugarbean"
I was just watching Escape From Alcatraz yesterday and saw him in it. I couldn't place the name to the face so I looked him up and found out he died. One of those weird moments.
Last year, I watched "Cast a Deadly Spell" which is a film noir meets HP Lovecraft type of detective/horror movie set in the 1940s. He played the lead and was really good in it. I guess it was a Made-for-HBO movie from the early 1990s. Not sure if it's still on Amazon Prime or if it moved over to HBO Max, but it's worth checking out.
Besides all the other roles mentioned (Tremors, The Right Stuff), I remember him as the bad guy in Naked Gun 33 1/3 and the overbearing dad of one of the characters in Road Trip. He also starred in the lead role in the first-ever NC-17 movie (Henry and June). RIP.
It's on HBO Max. I watched it yesterday. If you like film noir combined with truly off-beat, B-movie horror & humor (e.g., there are animatronic gremlins which a boarding house owner tries to kill w a shot gun), it's great. Fred Ward is excellent in it; it also has Julianne Moore and Clancy Brown.
I always get Fred Ward and Fred Willard mixed up.
I had the exact same mistake!!
Oh no, the guy from "Spinal Tap", "Best in Show" and "Fernwood 2 Night". (actually died a year ago this time)
I remember him as Kyle’s angry Dad in Road Trip.
My wife remembers him as Melanie’s folksy Dad in Sweet Home Alabama.
When I was in middle school I knew a guy who used to quote Remo Williams every day. RIP Fred Ward.
Can't ride two horses with one ass, Sugar Bean!