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The cinema universe fall back a character actor icon with the lamentable passing ofTremors ' Fred Ward . A talented performing artist with a kitchen stove suited for any number of genres , Ward was a welcome name on any mold list and he consistently elevated every projection of which he was a part .
Ward was the case of actor who could lead a moving-picture show but was even skilful when paired with another star . For example , he and Kevin Bacon trade their fictitious character ' longtime friendly relationship inTremors ' first five second , which would n’t be potential were it not for the late actor ’s likability and charisma .
Wilkes In Uncommon Valor (1983)
Ward is the type of actor who could easily sell " grizzled soldier " with his eye close . He ’d have made a corking squadmate for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers inPredator .
While the closest Ward came to fighting a Predator was double press Graboids , he joined a platoon inUncommon Valor . The film follows Gene Hackman ’s Colonel Cal Rhodes as he get out together a rag - tatter grouping of trusted soldier to aid find his prisoner of war boy in Laos . Aaron Montgomery Ward portrays Wilkes , a tolerant - hearted soldier living with PTSD .
John Anglin In Escape From Alcatraz (1979)
One ofClint Eastwood ’s just picture he did n’t take aim , Escape from Alcatrazcasts the role player as Frank Morris , a convict on Alcatraz island . A master of the prison house break , Morris has n’t faced a row of bar he could n’t get past , but no John Cage is quite like the Rock .
Aaron Montgomery Ward stars as one of two conmen brothers , both of whom have had mutually advantageous run - Immigration and Naturalization Service with Morris in the past . Now , the three must be after to escape the cold , grey walls and the sadistic warden .
Guss Grissom In The Right Stuff (1983)
The RightStuff , an adaptation of Tom Wolfe ’s non - fiction novel about the nascence of NASA , was released in 1983 to vital acclamation but muted box office . While the movie takes some shore leave with story , it captures the shudder of space exploration ( and the politics behind it ) for the scientifically - inclined viewer .
The plot follows the formation of the Mercury Seven , a grouping of military pilot take for the United States ' first human spaceflight . Ward portrays Virgil " Gus " Grissom , one of the Mercury Seven .
Remo Williams In Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
One of Ward ’s few leading human roles , Remo Williams : The Adventure Beginswas , alas , also the end of Remo ’s dangerous undertaking .
The game take after the film ’s titulary New York cop , substantial name Sam Makin , as he wakes up from a well-nigh - baneful accident with a fogged retention and unprecedented combat skill . Makin , now Williams , is a work out man ’s 007 , but with enough Korean martial arts training to allow him to run across a body of water supply and stratagem slug like Neo inThe Matrix .
Earl Bass In Tremors (1990)
Almost surely thefunniest sci - fi horror bacillus - movieof all time , Ron Underwood’sTremorsflopped at the box office only to witness its true following as soon as it strike video . Tremorswas arguably the movie to show the financial power of the family video mart . Just because something was too recession to place the box office on fire did n’t mean it could n’t have a 2nd life afterward .
Everything about the film clicks , even for those who are n’t fans of monster movies . The pacing is top - nick , the fiber are very appealing , and the town of Perfection is both a perfect , isolated location for the narrative as well as one of the most go - in fictional towns in sci - fi repulsion history . What ’s more , nothing would act as well as it does were it not for Kevin Bacon , Ward , and , specifically , the merging of the two .
Sgt. Hoke Moseley In Miami Blues (1990)
As the dental plate - weary police detective Sgt . Hoke Moseley , Ward have top - billing over even Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Jason Leigh . The plot follow a sociopathic criminal with the ego - bestowed name " Junior " ( Baldwin ) . Recently released from imprisonment , Junior grabs a gender doer identify Susie ( Jason Leigh ) , and heads for Miami .
Sgt . Moseley is on their tails , but Junior bring that on himself by steal the cop ’s hitman and badge . Before long , the two workforce ’s way will immix , but only one can remain . The motion-picture show works as well as it does because of Ward , who was seamster - made for the role of a disbelieving tec .
Henry Miller In Henry & June (1990)
SomeOscar - nominated movies were in the beginning NC-17but edit out some of the more controversial content to secure a wide release . Then there’sHenry & June , which secure a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography all while nurse onto its utmost MPA evaluation .
Henry & Juneactually made history , considering it was the first film to secure its notorious rating after the dissolution of the ex rating . The plot follows Ward ’s Henry Miller and his wife , June ( Uma Thurman ) . The couple soon meets Anais Nin ( Maria de Medeiros , Pulp Fiction ) , and an vivid , three - directional erotic love amour begins .
Det. Harry Philip Lovecraft In Cast A Deadly Spell (1991)
Cast a Deadly Spellwas a Lovecraftian cinema noir shot for HBO . With a mould list featuringsuch monolithic name calling as Julianne Moore , Clancy Brown , and David Warner , Ward was n’t the only talented play of the part .
Ward portrays H. Philip Lovecraft , an L.A.-based P.I. particularize in the supernatural . The world he lives in is populate by monsters , creatures , and ghoul , and all of the above complicate already difficult font . When Lovecraft is hired to find and secure the safety of theNecronomicon , he regain himself wishing he ’d chosen a different line of employment . Cast a Deadly Spelldoesn’t have the good special effect , but it is a lot of merriment , which is distinctly what Ward is consume , as well .
Stuart Kane In Short Cuts (1993)
Like directorRobert Altman ’s well - agedNashville , his fellow ensemble piece , Short Cuts , also gained vital acclaim . The mavin - studded drama sport Ward alongside other major principal such as Tim Robbins , Frances McDormand , Lily Tomlin , Andie MacDowell , Chris Penn , Jennifer Jason Leigh , and Robert Downey Jr.
As with all Altman character - drive spiderwebs , no performance is off the sign , including Ward ’s . The actor portrays one one-half of a couple ( alongside Anne Archer ) who part an improbable friendship with another duet ( Julianne Moore and Matthew Modine ) after a violoncellist ’s concert .
Earl Edwards In Road Trip (2000)
In Todd Phillips’Road Trip , Ward jump a brief life history roundabout way that would proceed with his role as Joe ’s Dad inJoe Dirt(2001 ) and The Major in30 Minutes or Less(2011 ) .
Ward possessed a stern , commanding presence that was born for drollery if only for how well it works when juxtaposed with untried , more gratis - thought personalities . The well instance of Ward ’s intense , parental nature came in Phillips ' movie , where he impersonate Earl Edwards , beginner of DJ Qualls ' Kyle Edwards , a young man who is basically being used for his dad ’s credit card and automobile .
NEXT : Todd Phillips ' 10 Highest - Grossing Movies , Ranked According To Box Office Mojo
