Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Fred Ward, Great Actor Who Starred in “The Right Stuff,” Never Really Got His Due, Dies at 79

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Fred Ward, a great actor whose rough exterior belied a heart of gold, has died at age 79. A featured actor in dozens of hit films, Ward never really got his due despite acclaim and great reviews.

Ward won two ensemble awards for being part of the cast of Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts” in 1992. But his other credits won his admiration from fans and critics. They included his role as astronaut Gus Grissom in “The Right Stuff” and playing author Henry Miller in “Henry & June.” Ward won a cult following starring in “Miami Blues” in 1990.

Altman loved him. In addition to “Short Cuts,” Ward plays a droll studio security guy in “The Player.” Ward worked all the time. Between 2000 and 2002, he has 14 or 15 credits including a mini series.

Condolences to his family and friends. A Most Valued Player in our generation of Hollywood.

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Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009 and previously edited Fame magazine and wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. is articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

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