What was Ward Bond's Net Worth?
Ward Bond was a notable character actor with a net worth of $500,000 at the time of his death in 1960. This amount is roughly equivalent to $5 million today, after adjusting for inflation. Throughout his impressive career spanning three decades, Bond appeared in over 200 films, including classics such as Bringing Up Baby, The Maltese Falcon, It's a Wonderful Life, Rio Bravo, and 25 films directed by the legendary John Ford. Bond also starred in the NBC Western television series Wagon Train from 1957 until his passing in 1960.
Early Life and Education
Wardell Bond was born on April 9, 1903, in Benkelman, Nebraska to Mabel and John Bond. He had one sister, Bernice. In 1919, the family relocated to Denver, Colorado, where Bond attended East High School. For higher education, he went to the Colorado School of Mines, and later transferred to the University of Southern California (USC). At USC, Bond played college football for the Trojans and was part of the team that won the university's first national championship in 1928. He graduated in 1931 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.
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Kino. Rauchende Pistolen, (SINGING GUNS) USA, 1950, Regie: R. G. Springsteen, WALTER BRENNAN, WARD BOND, ELLA RAINES, Stichwort: Verletzter, Verband. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)
Film Career
Bond's film career began with a credited role in John Ford's 1929 football film Salute, which starred John Wayne along with the entire USC Trojans football team. This marked the start of a prolific career, during which Bond appeared in over 200 films. He frequently collaborated with John Ford and appeared in 24 of his films, including Drums Along the Mohawk, They Were Expendable, Fort Apache, The Quiet Man, and The Searchers. Bond made 23 films with his college friend, John Wayne, including titles like The Big Trail, Conflict, The Shepherd of the Hills, Dakota, Hondo, and Rio Bravo. Bond also collaborated with director Frank Capra, known for classics like Lady for a Day, It Happened One Night, You Can't Take it With You, It's a Wonderful Life, and Riding High. His extensive filmography includes Howard Hawks's Bringing Up Baby and Sergeant York, Victor Fleming's Gone with the Wind and Joan of Arc, John Huston's The Maltese Falcon, Nicholas Ray's On Dangerous Ground and Johnny Guitar, and Frank Borzage's China Doll. His final film appearance was in Howard Hawks's Western Rio Bravo, released in 1959.
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Television Career
Bond transitioned to television in the 1950s, appearing in various anthology series such as The Silver Theatre, The Gulf Playhouse, The Ford Television Theatre, and General Electric Theatre. In 1957, Bond found significant success with the NBC Western series Wagon Train. Inspired by John Ford's film Wagon Master, the show followed a wagon train traveling westward from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. Bond starred as the wagon master, Major Seth Adams, alongside cast members like Robert Horton, Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, and Chick Hannan. Wagon Train featured numerous guest stars, including Ernest Borgnine, Lee Marvin, and Bette Davis. Bond remained on the show for four seasons until his passing in 1960, after which John McIntire took over the role of wagon master.
Politics
Bond was a staunch Republican and a member of the conservative Hollywood group, the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals. This organization sought to counteract perceived communist influences within the film industry.
Personal Life and Death
In 1936, Bond married Doris Childs, but the couple divorced in 1944. A decade later, Bond married Mary May, with whom he remained until his death. In 1960, Bond suffered a major heart attack while staying at a hotel in Dallas with his wife. He was pronounced dead on November 5 at the hospital. John Wayne, his longtime friend and colleague, delivered the eulogy at his funeral.
Legacy
Ward Bond's legacy is that of a versatile Hollywood character actor, often recognized for roles as friendly lawmen or menacing henchmen in Western films. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the entertainment industry. In 2001, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
