Michael Ward - character actor who appeared in nearly eighty films between 1947 and 1978

George William Everard Yoe Ward was born in Carnmenellis, Cornwall on 9 April 1909 to clergyman William George Henry Ward and his wife Annie.

He trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and won his first film role in 1947 playing Mr Trafford in Alexander Korda's 'An Ideal Husband'.

In between the years 1947 and 1960 and now known as Michael Ward, he appeared in no fewer than 30 films, making him one of Britain's busiest and most recognisable character actors.

As well as five 'Carry On' films, Ward also appeared in four Norman Wisdom films and six made by the Boulting brothers.

In the early 1960s television started to take over Ward's career and until his retirement in 1978 he appeared in (amongst many others) 'The Jack Benny Programme', 'The Avengers', 'The Morecambe and Wise Show', 'Dixon of Dock Green', 'The Two Ronnies', 'Armchair Theatre', 'Rising Damp' and 'Sykes'.

After making what would be his last ever screen outing in 1978's 'Revenge of the Pink Panther', Ward suffered a stroke which forced him to retire.

He finally died on 8 November 1997 at St Mary's Hospital in London. He was eighty-eight.

This article has been kindly provided by Kernow Matters to Us and is part of the series on Famous Folk of Kernow (Cornwall).