A Quick Word: Thanks for the swagger, Fred Ward

The actor passed away on May 8 at the age of 79.

Fred Ward had swagger. When he walked in the room, it was as if his personality had already slept there the previous night.

The guy played a character named Earl Bass. Walter Stuckel. Stuart Kane. Frank. Sean Dunne. Remo Williams!

Ward died on May 8 at the age of 79. According to CNN, no cause of death was given at the time of death, which was announced by his publicist. But what doesn’t remain a mystery is Ward’s screen presence. His 89 screen credits deserve some attention. Reset your streaming service “like” lists accordingly.

Ward was the grizzled dad, grandfather, or the eccentric older guy who thought about crazy things. Whatever the role required, he inhabited the soul of that guy for two hours. “Tremors” wouldn’t be the same without him. Remember his small yet vital work as Stuart in “Short Cuts.” Walter in “The Player” with Tim Robbins.

Universal Pictures

If he did his work right, the audience didn’t notice Ward by name; they knew his face though. He is the epitome of a character actor, which some actors take as offensive. It’s not the intent at all. Character actors exhibit a familiar persona in a string of films or for their career, yet they add a sprinkle of this or that to the equation. Ward tinkered with his persona each time on the screen, even in lower rent material.