Patrick Ward (4 January 1950 – 14 October 2019) was an Australian 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 Independent Theatre, formerly known as The Independent Theatre Ltd., was an Australian dramatic society founded in 1930 by Dame Doris Fitton in Sydney, Australia. It is also the name given to the building it occupied from 1939 (then known as the ...

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'' and '' Color Me Dead''.

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'', 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)''. 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 ''Th ...

'' (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 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'' 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'', 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 ''Pa ...

'' in 1981. Ward subsequently played a regular role in the situation comedy '' My Two Wives'' (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 Chances may refer to: * ''Chances'' (TV series), an Australian soap opera * ''Chances'' (Philippine TV series), a prime-time soap opera * '' Chances: The Women of Magdalene'', a 2006 documentary film * ''Chances'' (novel), a 1981 novel by Jac ...

'' (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 ...

'' (2001 and 2003) and '' Bad Cop, Bad Cop'' (2003). Miniseries appearances include '' ANZACS'' and ''

Fields of Fire The field of fire of a weapon (or group of weapons) is the area around it that can easily and effectively be reached by gunfire. The term 'field of fire' is mostly used in reference to machine guns. Their fields of fire incorporate the beaten zon ...

''. 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 i ...

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), ''Witnes ...

's '' The Cars That Ate Paris'', played tough guy Tex in '' Sidecar Racers'' and worked opposite Helen Morse in ''Stone''. He acted in the film '' The Chain Reaction'' (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)''.

References

External links

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