Anthony John "Tony" Ward (1924 – 9 May 2006) was an Australian television actor, director and producer and journalist. He is regarded as Australian television's original action star, on Hunter, and was an inaugural reporter on two national current affairs programs, Seven Days and A Current Affair.[1]
Anthony John Ward was born in Sydney. His father was a public servant. He was educated at a Catholic primary school before going to Parramatta Marist High School, and then became a trainee radiographer at Lewisham Hospital in 1942.
Ward realised the potential of television and joined Channel 9 in Adelaide soon after television began there in 1959.[1] He worked as a producer and director, and also appeared as a newsreader and in advertisements. He became the first television reporter for Channel 7's Seven Days program and then joined Bill Peach on Channel 10's Telescope current affairs program.[1]
In 1966, Crawford Productions chose him for the title role of Hunter, their new James Bond-style action series.[1] He said of this role: "Hunter was a project which fired my imagination. I had no doubts about giving up a good career in current affairs for an opportunity like this – it was Heaven sent."[2] He starred opposite Gerard Kennedy who played his arch enemy. The series rated highly and he travelled around Australia and overseas on location, performing many of his own stunts.[2] He left the series after disagreements with Crawfords, particularly over the quality of the later scripts. He said, "The firm has shown initiative, courage and ambition and has made a valiant effort ... But 39 episodes of Hunter this year was far too ambitious. This outstripped the ability of the scriptwriters."[2]
He returned to current affairs, becoming the first reporter on Mike Willesee's A Current Affair program in 1971. He is recognised as the person who discovered Australian comedian and actor Paul Hogan. Willisee was looking for a comedian to do a weekly commentary on events, and Ward suggested Hogan having seen him on the New Faces television show. Ward auditioned Hogan by interviewing him on Sydney Harbour Bridge where he worked as a rigger.[3] Ward was the only original reporter still on A Current Affair when it was cancelled in 1978.[3]
Ward had a number of other interests including cars and trains. He was a member of the Rolls-Royce Bentley Owners Club, and he took thousands of feet of film and videos of steam train trips in Australia and overseas.[1] He had a banana plantation in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, and ran an antique print gallery in Sydney's Woollahra, New South Wales. He also cultivated prize-winning roses.[1]
Callaghan, Allen (13 May 2006). "If ever there was a Logie for TV's best all-rounder... : Tony Ward, television personality, 1924–2006". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
Juddery, Mark (2006). "Drama's great Hunter: Tony Ward". The Australian. Retrieved 21 January 2008. [dead link]
Storey, Don (2005). "Hunter". Classic Australian TV. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
April 09, 2024
tony, ward, australian, actor, anthony, john, tony, ward, 1924, 2006, australian, television, actor, director, producer, journalist, regarded, australian, television, original, action, star, hunter, inaugural, reporter, national, current, affairs, programs, se. Anthony John Tony Ward 1924 9 May 2006 was an Australian television actor director and producer and journalist He is regarded as Australian television s original action star on Hunter and was an inaugural reporter on two national current affairs programs Seven Days and A Current Affair 1 Tony WardBornAnthony John Ward1924Sydney New South Wales AustraliaDied9 May 2006 aged 82 Lady Davidson Hospital Turramurra New South WalesOccupationsActordirectorproducertelevision journalistKnown forReporter on Seven Daysad A Current Affair Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Early career in theatre 2 2 Television 3 Interests 4 Filmography 5 ReferencesEarly life editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed December 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Anthony John Ward was born in Sydney His father was a public servant He was educated at a Catholic primary school before going to Parramatta Marist High School and then became a trainee radiographer at Lewisham Hospital in 1942 Career editEarly career in theatre edit After World War II he developed an interest in theatre and acted in and directed productions for several Australian and New Zealand companies including J C Williamson and Garnet H Carroll 1 He appeared with actors such as Robert Morley Emlyn Williams John McCallum and Googie Withers Television edit Ward realised the potential of television and joined Channel 9 in Adelaide soon after television began there in 1959 1 He worked as a producer and director and also appeared as a newsreader and in advertisements He became the first television reporter for Channel 7 s Seven Days program and then joined Bill Peach on Channel 10 s Telescope current affairs program 1 In 1966 Crawford Productions chose him for the title role of Hunter their new James Bond style action series 1 He said of this role Hunter was a project which fired my imagination I had no doubts about giving up a good career in current affairs for an opportunity like this it was Heaven sent 2 He starred opposite Gerard Kennedy who played his arch enemy The series rated highly and he travelled around Australia and overseas on location performing many of his own stunts 2 He left the series after disagreements with Crawfords particularly over the quality of the later scripts He said The firm has shown initiative courage and ambition and has made a valiant effort But 39 episodes of Hunter this year was far too ambitious This outstripped the ability of the scriptwriters 2 He returned to current affairs becoming the first reporter on Mike Willesee s A Current Affair program in 1971 He is recognised as the person who discovered Australian comedian and actor Paul Hogan Willisee was looking for a comedian to do a weekly commentary on events and Ward suggested Hogan having seen him on the New Faces television show Ward auditioned Hogan by interviewing him on Sydney Harbour Bridge where he worked as a rigger 3 Ward was the only original reporter still on A Current Affair when it was cancelled in 1978 3 Ward appeared in other television series such as Sons and Daughters Skippy The Long Arm and Dynasty He reported for ABC s Nationwide and made documentaries for SBS Television and also appeared in television commercials including for Ardath cigarettes and car insurance Interests editWard had a number of other interests including cars and trains He was a member of the Rolls Royce Bentley Owners Club and he took thousands of feet of film and videos of steam train trips in Australia and overseas 1 He had a banana plantation in Coffs Harbour New South Wales and ran an antique print gallery in Sydney s Woollahra New South Wales He also cultivated prize winning roses 1 Filmography editYear Title Role TypeSeven Days Reporter TV seriesTelescope Reporter Current affairs TV series1967 69 Hunter John Hunter TV series1971 78 A Current Affair Reporter Current affairs TV seriesSons and Daughters TV seriesSkippy TV seriesRiptide TV series1970 The Long Arm TV series1970 71 Dynasty Nigel Dayton TV seriesNationwide Reporter TV seriesReferences edit a b c d e f g Callaghan 2006 p 58 a b c Storey 2005 a b Juddery 2006 BibliographyCallaghan Allen 13 May 2006 If ever there was a Logie for TV s best all rounder Tony Ward television personality 1924 2006 The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 21 January 2008 Juddery Mark 2006 Drama s great Hunter Tony Ward The Australian Retrieved 21 January 2008 dead link Storey Don 2005 Hunter Classic Australian TV Retrieved 21 January 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tony Ward Australian actor amp oldid 1191869127, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
