Zack Ward

Last updated
Zack Ward
Zack Ward LF.JPG
Ward at the 12th Satellite Awards, December 2007
Born
Zacharias Ward

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1983–present
Spouse
Jennifer McMahan
(m. 2018)
Mother Pam Hyatt

Zacharias Ward is a Canadian actor. [1] [2] He made his film debut with a supporting role as Scut Farkus in the comedy film A Christmas Story (1983). [3] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Ward appeared in multiple television films, and had supporting roles in the films Ed (1996) and Wild America (1997).

Contents

Ward experienced a career resurgence with his main role as Dave Scoville on the Fox sitcom Titus (2000–2002). Following renewed attention, he had supporting roles in the films Almost Famous (2000), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), and Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004). During the late 2000s, Ward had the lead role in the action comedy film Postal (2007), as well as a supporting role in the science fiction film Transformers (2007).

In the 2010s, Ward starred in the films Dark House (2014) and Beyond the Law (2019). He had recurring roles as Roger on the seventh season of the FX horror anthology series American Horror Story (2017) and Lt. Dante on the Syfy series Z Nation (2018). In the 2020s, Ward reprised his Christmas Story role as Scut Farkus in the film's sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas (2022).

Early life

Ward was born on August 31 in either 1970 [4] or 1973 [1] in Toronto, Ontario, the son of actress Pam Hyatt and Todd Allen Ward. [5] [4]

Career

He is best known for his character Dave Scoville (Titus's stoner half-brother) on the FOX show Titus [2] and as the bully Scut Farkus in the 1983 Christmas classic A Christmas Story . [1] He has had guest roles on popular television series such as NCIS , Lost , and Crossing Jordan , [2] and roles in films such as Almost Famous , [2] Transformers , [2] and Anne of Green Gables . [2] He has appeared in the horror films Resident Evil: Apocalypse [1] and Freddy vs. Jason . Ward also has had leading roles in BloodRayne 2: Deliverance [1] and Postal , [2] and can be seen in Alone in the Dark II [2] and The Devil's Tomb . [2]

In 2014, Ward co-founded the film production company Grit Film Works with James Cullen Bressack. [6] The first two films which he co-produced with Grit Film Works were the thriller Bethany and the horror film Restoration. [7]

Ward is the CEO of Global Sports Financial Exchange, Inc since 2017. [8]

In 2022, Ward reprised his role as Scut Farkus in the A Christmas Story sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas for Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max (now Max). [9]

Personal life

On August 18, 2018, Ward married actress and producer, Jennifer McMahan. [10]

Litigation

In August 2011, Ward sued Warner Bros. over merchandising for A Christmas Story after Warner Bros. authorized a figurine set including the Scut Farkus character from the film without Ward's permission. [11] It was revealed that Ward's contract was under ACTRA, unlike the other actors' contracts, and did not grant likeness rights for merchandising. [11] Warner Bros. argued that the figurine showed a "generic face" that has been used on them since 2006 and that statute of limitations had run out, among other claims. The lawsuit was dismissed in January 2012 by mutual agreement. [12]

In December 2012, Ward sued the National Entertainment Collectibles Association, and briefly Warner Bros. again, over his image after attending the annual Christmas Story charity fundraiser convention in Cleveland in November 2010 where a fan handed him a Christmas Story board game, playing cards, and calendar showing his face. [13] The lawsuit was settled three days later. [14]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983 A Christmas Story Scut FarkusFilm debut
1985 Anne of Green Gables Moody
1993Just for FunTomShort film
1994 The Club Kyle
1996 Star Hunter CooperVideo
1996 Ed Dusty Richards
1997Lancelot: Guardian of TimeA.J.
1997 Wild America D.C.
1998 How to Make the Cruelest Month Manhattan's Neighbor
1999The FairJimmy
2000CivilityBilly
2000 Almost Famous The Legendary Red Dog
2000The Size of WatermelonsSkinhead
2001Completely Totally UtterlyChad
2003The Pink HouseMurray
2003 Freddy vs. Jason Bobby Davis
2003 April's Shower August
2004A Night at Sophie'sTony
2004L.A. TwisterLenny
2004 Resident Evil: Apocalypse Nicholai Ginovaeff
2005 Aurora Borealis Lindstrom
2006Hollywood KillsNate Folds
2006PenniesStoner ToddShort film
2007 Trade Alex Green
2007 Moving McAllister Earl
2007 Transformers First Sgt. Donnelly
2007 Postal The Postal Dude
2007 BloodRayne 2: Deliverance Billy the KidVideo
2008 Kissing Cousins Charlie
2008Dead and GoneThe Weatherman
2008 Alone in the Dark II XavierVideo
2008Battle PlanetJordan Strider
2009 The Devil's Tomb NickelsDirect-to-Video
2010RepoRed
2010In the VoidMark
2011End of the RoadFalco / Zack
2011 Monster Mutt Sirus Caldwell
2011In My PocketRob
2014 Dark House Chris McCulluch
2014 Don't Blink AlexAlso producer
2016 Izzie's Way Home Thurston (voice)Animated film
2016 Bethany AaronAlso producer
2016 The Curse of Sleeping Beauty Nathan
2016RestorationHaroldAlso director and producer
2016A Christmas in VermontDavid Briggs
2019 Beyond the Law Desmond Packard
2021 Survive the Game Jean
2022 A Christmas Story Christmas Officer Scut Farkus
2024 Darkness of Man Alexei

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Anne of Green Gables Moody SpurgeonTV movie
1987Taking Care of TerrificSeth SandruffTV movie
1987 Anne of Avonlea Moody SpurgeonTV movie
1988 Friday the 13th: The Series Greg MazzeyEpisode: "Vanity's Mirror"
1990 Neon Rider DiggerEpisode: "Vengeance"
1990 My Secret Identity DanielEpisode: "White Lies"
1991 Maniac Mansion TimEpisode: "Ugly Like Me"
1992 Forever Knight TopperEpisode: "Dark Knight"
1993Spenser: CeremonyHummerTV movie
1994 Boogies Diner KirbyTV series
1994Harvest for the HeartRoss HansenTV movie
1995 Sliders Security Guard (uncredited)Episode: "The King Is Back"
1995 NYPD Blue JerryEpisode: "Dirty Laundry"
1996 Sliders Gerald ThomasEpisode: "The Dream Masters"
1997 Party of Five TedEpisode: "Significant Others"
1997 Walker, Texas Ranger Jerry 'Mad Dog' SullivanEpisode: "Mr. Justice"
1997 The Sentinel Orange Glasses ManEpisode: "Breaking Ground"
1998 Fast Track Episode: "Guys with Guns"
1998Blade SquadBilly MustardTV movie
1998 NYPD Blue Dan EversEpisode: "Top Gum"
1998 Nash Bridges Paul PangbornEpisode: "Overdrive"
1998 JAG Curtis DastugeEpisode: "The Martin Baker Fan Club"
1999 Viper CrupEpisode: "My Fair Hoodlums"
1999 The Pretender Little Joshua / Theodore ReedEpisode: "End Game"
1999 Profiler Little Joshua / Theodore ReedEpisode: "Grand Master"
1999 Atomic Train Stan AtkinsTV movie
1999 Y2K Rick RothmanTV movie
1999 Brotherhood of Murder Charles HigginsTV movie
2000 Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story Moody SpurgeonTV movie
2000–2002 Titus Dave Scoville54 episodes
2001Chasing DestinyEricTV movie
2002 The Outer Limits LinkEpisode: "The Human Factor"
2002 She Spies The Thin Man in BlackEpisode: "Poster Girl"
2002 MDs Dr. LewisEpisode: "A La Casa"
2003Chasing AliceTV movie
2003Ghost Dog: A Detective TailHowie TibbadoeTV movie
2003 Monte Walsh Powder KentTV movie
2004 Charmed Kevin Casey / SirkEpisode: "Styx Feet Under"
2004 Significant Others ZackEpisode: "2.6"
2004 Deadwood Episode: "No Other Sons or Daughters"
2005 Deadwood Hotel Desk ClerkEpisode: "Childish Things"
2005 Crossing Jordan FBI Agent BlairEpisode: "A Stranger Among Us"
2005 Lost Marc SilvermanEpisode: "Do No Harm"
2005 NCIS Police Officer Billy KriegEpisode: "Hometown Hero"
2005 All of Us Jeff Sizemore4 episodes
2006 Girlfriends MikeEpisode: "Hustle & Dough"
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Steve CardEpisode: "Lying Down with Dogs"
2008 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles WellsEpisode: "Automatic for the People"
2009 Cold Case Ed DubinskiEpisode: "Lotto Fever"
2009-2010 Dollhouse ZoneEpisodes: "Epitaph One", "Epitaph Two: Return"
2010 I'm in the Band XanderEpisode: "Got No Class"
2010 Warehouse 13 LeoEpisode: "13.1"
2011Accidentally in LoveScott DunbarTV movie
2011 Breakout Kings Christian Beaumont Episode: "Like Father, Like Son"
2011 Drop Dead Diva Keith GearyEpisode: "The Wedding"
2011 The Mentalist Whit NaylorEpisode: "Blood and Sand"
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Billy MurphyEpisode: "Ike Maka"
2012 CSI: Miami Clyde NovakEpisode: "Law & Disorder"
2012 CSI: NY Keith MilnerEpisode: "Misconceptions"
2012 Chicago Fire Ted GriffinEpisode: "Christmas, Etc."
2013 The Exes BradleyEpisode: "Pretty Women"
2013 Liv and Maddie Officer Mike ClarksonEpisode: "Sleep-A-Rooney"
2013 Mike & Molly DonnyEpisode: "The First and Last Ride-Along"
2014 Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys WillTV film
2014Fallen CardsThe Drifter
2016 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Davy"A Cricket's Tale"
2017 American Horror Story: Cult Roger2 episodes
2018 Z Nation Lt. Dante6 episodes
2025 Bookie Lou Smith2 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRole
2013 Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Alpha
2014 Murdered: Soul Suspect Additional voices
2015 Rise of the Tomb Raider Konstantin
2015 Postal 2: Paradise Lost Himself
2022 Postal 4: No Regerts The Postal Dude

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Tracie Cooper (2015). "Zack Ward". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on June 24, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Zack Ward Filmography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . 2015. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015.
  3. Ahearn, Victoria (December 20, 2017). "Canadian 'A Christmas Story' bully Zack Ward on making the classic film". National Post. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Rose, Mike. "Today's top celebrity birthdays list for August 31, 2018". August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  5. totalazackward (January 4, 2024). "My father has died. Todd Allen Ward passed on Dec 19th, 2023. I kept silent to mourn in private and not intrude on your holidays. I love him. I miss him. I'm relieved he's no longer in pain. I hope we can cure Alzheimer's. Life is short. Fill yours with hope and love. If you knew him, please DM me for memorial info. Thank you. @alzassociation". instagram.com.
  6. Couch, Aaron (March 9, 2015). "Two Microbudget Horror Films First on Slate From New Production Company". The Hollywood Reporter .
  7. Moore, Debi (March 16, 2015). "New Production Co. Grit Film Works Announces Horror Projects Bethany and Restoration". Dread Central .
  8. "AllSportsMarket (ASM) Splits NFL and 3HL Proving Early Success of Sports Trading Platform" (Press release). AllSportsMarket. November 8, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2020 via PRNewswire.
  9. Kroll, Justin (February 15, 2022). "Four Original 'Christmas Story' Castmembers Join Peter Billingsley In HBO Max Sequel From Warner Bros. & Legendary". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  10. "Jennifer McMahan and Zack Ward's Wedding Registry". Zola Registry. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Gardner, Eriq (August 22, 2011). "Why the 'Christmas Story' Child Actor Sued Warner Bros. Over Figurines". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  12. Gardner, Eriq (January 16, 2012). "'Christmas Story' Actor Drops Lawsuit Against Warner Bros". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  13. Gardner, Eriq (December 19, 2012). "'A Christmas Story' Bully Fights for His Image in Court". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  14. Greenblatt, Paul (December 22, 2012). "Zach Ward: Bully From 'A Christmas Story' Sues, Says He Was Bullied in Real Life". ABC News . Retrieved October 3, 2022.