Tony Ward(1924-2006)

Tony was born in Sydney, and became a professional actor in his early 20's. Later becoming a stage director, he took shows around Australia and New Zealand. He moved into television next, becoming a producer and director initially, then a newsreader and current affairs host. Returning to acting in 1966, Tony won the favorite role of his career, as a former army commando and now top government spy, the title character of Hunter (1967). This show became one of the first Australian TV series sold in the US, appearing on an independent station in New York. Tony appeared in 57 high rating episodes of this action and adventure drama, before leaving the program near its end in late 1968. He then appeared in the US co-produced movie Color Me Dead (1969), alongside fellow tall actors Tom Tryon and Rick Jason. He also guest starred in several TV series, including Riptide (1969) which starred Ty Hardin, and Boney (1972) and Skippy (1968), both produced by John McCallum.

In the 1970's Tony returned to journalism as a senior reporter on the top rating A Current Affair (1971) for about eight years. This period included the most turbulent time in Australian political history, and Tony was right in the middle of it. During the 1980's he returned to occasional acting, and in the early 1990's he appeared as a TV commentator discussing contemporary programs. Away from television, Tony had another successful career, as a respected art dealer, specializing in antique prints of early Australian settlement. He died from cancer in 2006, survived by one daughter.