Zack Ward
Ward at the 12th Satellite Awards, December 2007
Born
Zacharias Ward

(1970-08-31) August 31, 1970 (age 53)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1983–present
Spouse
Jennifer McMahan
​
(m. 2018)​
ParentPam Hyatt (mother)

Zacharias Ward (born August 31, 1970) is a Canadian actor.[1][2] He is known for his role as Scut Farkus in the 1983 film A Christmas Story and its 2022 sequel A Christmas Story Christmas.[3]

Early life

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

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. and Enesco[citation needed] 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

Year Title Role Notes
1983 A Christmas Story Scut Farkus Film debut
1985 Anne of Green Gables Moody
1993 Just for Fun Tom Short film
1994 The Club Kyle
1996 Star Hunter Cooper Video
1996 Ed Dusty Richards
1997 Lancelot: Guardian of Time A.J.
1997 Wild America D.C.
1998 How to Make the Cruelest Month Manhattan's Neighbor
1999 The Fair Jimmy
2000 Civility Billy
2000 Almost Famous The Legendary Red Dog
2000 The Size of Watermelons Skinhead
2001 Completely Totally Utterly Chad
2003 The Pink House Murray
2003 Freddy vs. Jason Bobby Davis
2003 April's Shower August
2004 A Night at Sophie's Tony
2004 L.A. Twister Lenny
2004 Resident Evil: Apocalypse Nicholai Ginovaeff
2005 Aurora Borealis Lindstrom
2006 Hollywood Kills Nate Folds
2006 Pennies Stoner Todd Short 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 Kid Video
2008 Kissing Cousins Charlie
2008 Dead and Gone The Weatherman
2008 Alone in the Dark II Xavier Video
2008 Battle Planet Jordan Strider
2009 The Devil's Tomb Nickels Direct-to-Video
2010 Repo Red
2010 In the Void Mark
2011 End of the Road Falco / Zack
2011 Monster Mutt Sirus Caldwell
2011 In My Pocket Rob
2014 Dark House Chris McCulluch
2014 Don't Blink Alex Also producer
2016 Izzie's Way Home Thurston (voice) Animated film
2016 Bethany Aaron Also producer
2016 The Curse of Sleeping Beauty Nathan
2016 Restoration Harold Also director and producer
2016 A Christmas in Vermont David Briggs
2019 Beyond the Law Desmond Packard
2021 Survive the Game Jean
2022 A Christmas Story Christmas Officer Scut Farkus [15]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Anne of Green Gables Moody Spurgeon TV movie
1987 Taking Care of Terrific Seth Sandruff TV movie
1987 Anne of Avonlea Moody Spurgeon TV movie
1988 Friday the 13th: The Series Greg Mazzey Episode: "Vanity's Mirror"
1990 Neon Rider Digger Episode: "Vengeance"
1990 My Secret Identity Daniel Episode: "White Lies"
1991 Maniac Mansion Tim Episode: "Ugly Like Me"
1992 Forever Knight Topper Episode: "Dark Knight"
1993 Spenser: Ceremony Hummer TV movie
1994 Boogies Diner Kirby TV series
1994 Harvest for the Heart Ross Hansen TV movie
1995 Sliders Security Guard (uncredited) Episode: "The King Is Back"
1995 NYPD Blue Jerry Episode: "Dirty Laundry"
1996 Sliders Gerald Thomas Episode: "The Dream Masters"
1997 Party of Five Ted Episode: "Significant Others"
1997 Walker, Texas Ranger Jerry 'Mad Dog' Sullivan Episode: "Mr. Justice"
1997 The Sentinel Orange Glasses Man Episode: "Breaking Ground"
1998 Fast Track Episode: "Guys with Guns"
1998 Blade Squad Billy Mustard TV movie
1998 NYPD Blue Dan Evers Episode: "Top Gum"
1998 Nash Bridges Paul Pangborn Episode: "Overdrive"
1998 JAG Curtis Dastuge Episode: "The Martin Baker Fan Club"
1999 Viper Crup Episode: "My Fair Hoodlums"
1999 The Pretender Little Joshua / Theodore Reed Episode: "End Game"
1999 Profiler Little Joshua / Theodore Reed Episode: "Grand Master"
1999 Atomic Train Stan Atkins TV movie
1999 Y2K Rick Rothman TV movie
1999 Brotherhood of Murder Charles Higgins TV movie
2000 Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story Moody Spurgeon TV movie
2000–2002 Titus Dave Scoville 54 episodes
2001 Chasing Destiny Eric TV movie
2002 The Outer Limits Link Episode: "The Human Factor"
2002 She Spies The Thin Man in Black Episode: "Poster Girl"
2002 MDs Dr. Lewis Episode: "A La Casa"
2003 Chasing Alice TV movie
2003 Ghost Dog: A Detective Tail Howie Tibbadoe TV movie
2003 Monte Walsh Powder Kent TV movie
2004 Charmed Kevin Casey / Sirk Episode: "Styx Feet Under"
2004 Significant Others Zack Episode: "2.6"
2004 Deadwood Episode: "No Other Sons or Daughters"
2005 Deadwood Hotel Desk Clerk Episode: "Childish Things"
2005 Crossing Jordan FBI Agent Blair Episode: "A Stranger Among Us"
2005 Lost Marc Silverman Episode: "Do No Harm"
2005 NCIS Police Officer Billy Krieg Episode: "Hometown Hero"
2005 All of Us Jeff Sizemore 4 episodes
2006 Girlfriends Mike Episode: "Hustle & Dough"
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Steve Card Episode: "Lying Down with Dogs"
2008 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Wells Episode: "Automatic for the People"
2009 Cold Case Ed Dubinski Episode: "Lotto Fever"
2009-2010 Dollhouse Zone Episodes: "Epitaph One", "Epitaph Two: Return"
2010 I'm in the Band Xander Episode: "Got No Class"
2010 Warehouse 13 Leo Episode: "13.1"
2011 Accidentally in Love Scott Dunbar TV movie
2011 Breakout Kings Christian Beaumont Episode: "Like Father, Like Son"
2011 Drop Dead Diva Keith Geary Episode: "The Wedding"
2011 The Mentalist Whit Naylor Episode: "Blood and Sand"
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Billy Murphy Episode: "Ike Maka"
2012 CSI: Miami Clyde Novak Episode: "Law & Disorder"
2012 CSI: NY Keith Milner Episode: "Misconceptions"
2013 The Exes Bradley Episode: "Pretty Women"
2013 Liv and Maddie Officer Mike Clarkson Episode: "Sleep-A-Rooney"
2013 Mike & Molly Donny Episode: "The First and Last Ride-Along"
2014 Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys Will TV film
2014 Fallen Cards The Drifter
2016 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Davy "A Cricket's Tale"
2017 American Horror Story: Cult Roger 2 episodes
2018 Z Nation Lt. Dante 6 episodes

Video games

Year Title Role
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. ^ a b c d Tracie Cooper (2015). "Zack Ward". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "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. ^ "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.
  5. ^ Rose, Mike. "Today's top celebrity birthdays list for August 31, 2018". August 31, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  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. ^ a b 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.
  15. ^ "A Christmas Story Christmas". IMDB. Retrieved August 13, 2022.

External links

Authority control databases
Categories