MovieChat Forums > Dead Ringer (1964) Discussion > Fred Ward?

Fred Ward?

posted 9 years ago by cuechick
16 replies | jump to latest

I saw this the other night on TCM and toward the end after the boyfriend pawns some of the jewelry, the guy calls the police. He talks to a young handsome detective who I swear is Fred Ward...? I rewound and watched it again and am pretty sure it's him! There is no credit for him on either the film's listing or his own. He actually shows no credits in till a few years later... he would have been about 22 at the time. I also thought it might be Charles Bronson but after watching it the 2nd time I am 99% sure it was Fred.

Anyone else spot him?

[–] davidwile 9 years ago

Hey Cuechick,

I noticed the detective you thought was Fred Ward, and I do not think he was played by Ward. As you said, Ward would have been about 22 at the time, and I thought the actor looked at least ten years older - perhaps 15 years. While I could see how one might see the resemblance with Ward, I would bet a nickel it was not Ward.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[–] cuechick 9 years ago

Just to make sure we are talking about the same guy, this is the one Malden refers to as Sid and when Sid is taking down the pawn owners info, Malden hears the golf pros name and takes the case from him.

I do agree he looks a bit mature but everyone did back then. Still I agree, it might not be him, since his earliest IDMB credit is almost 10 years later in 1973!

My other guess is Charles Bronson! Looking at his credits, he was pretty active then, doing a lot of TV rolls back then, including a lot of the Alfred Hitchcock series, which director Paul Henreid did as well...

[–] EliotTempleton 9 years ago

Not only is it not Fred Ward, but it isn't Charles Bronson, either. Bronson was getting major roles by this point; the following year, he had a big role supporting Liz and Dick in Minnelli's The Sandpiper, and just two years following, he was billed directly below Natalie Wood and Robert Redford in This Property Is Condemned, so why would he be playing an unbilled bit part here? Even years before, his screen appearances were being billed, under his real name, Charles Buchinski.

[–] ClassicAndForeignFilmLover 8 years ago

Hi again cuechick,
Have you seen the message suggesting by the poster that he is sure that the follow is Robert Foster?

Here is a photograph of Fred Ward when he was young: http://www.chud.com/community/t/130268/lightbox/post/3768115/id/189699

and of Robert Foster: https://www.google.com/search?q=robert+foster,+actor,&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=705&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0xMuzxs_LAhVBVz4KHVuZC9cQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=pp7AtxPuVdshHM%3A

By the way, Dead Ringer is playing on TCM since 10.00 am DST.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] davidwile 9 years ago

Hey Clint,

Stop with the wiseguy bit. Why do you not just answer Cuechick's question? You probably did the casting for the film.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[–] ClassicAndForeignFilmLover 9 years ago

What did Clint say? He erased his post!
I am curious since you say that he probably did the casting for the film.
I wrote to Warner Bros a few days ago asking them to identify the uncredited appearance in the film of this young policeman and I said that imdb fans of the film were anxious to know. He might well be someone from Warner Bros then.
They should be able to know the answer!

[–] cuechick 9 years ago

I didn't see Clint's response either but think David was being sarcastic (thanks for defending me!). It's amazing the things people will find to be snarky about on these forums.

Hope you get a response from WB, that is so cute that you did that!

[–] moosefeathers 9 years ago

That's alright...lol...I always thought that Gladys Night was the chickie playing the electric piano...

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] ExpFil 9 years ago

Saw him but I was sure it was Robert Forster.😊

[–] dollvalley 9 years ago

I'd be curious to know if the email to WB is going to be answered by an actual person with an actual answer.
I have a hard time they would take time to go look into the original paperwork of the movie to see who played the guy.
The only time I wrote to a studio was Sony asking about a Liza Minnelli album and the idiot wrote back to my referring to Liza Minelli. Oh dear.

[–] ClassicAndForeignFilmLover 9 years ago

Dollvalley,

I wrote to WB by completing a form on their webpage.
If they did not answer so far, they will never do.
It´s a trivial question and they don´t care. Perhaps if someone else writes asking the same question, they will answer. It should be mentioned that the question was asked before, in November 2014, and there was no answer.

P: Who is the attractive lady on your picture profile?

[–] dollvalley 8 years ago

Hi CAFFL, I think more people need to call studios or write. I used to do that very often to find out information about movies of tv shows and was pleasantly surprised that they would always find the answer, but after all, that is what they do, I should be surprised if they didn't!
But yes, WB are a huge conglomerate but nevertheless they should have departments to know things like these, you just need to find that employee who likes his job and wants to answer a customer's question.

PS: my avatar image shows a picture of Madonna wearing a face-mask of jewels, I believe it was the cover of Haper's Bazaar a couple of years ago shot by Terry Richardson (if you google these words you will see them).

[–] ClassicAndForeignFilmLover 8 years ago

Hi dollvalley,
I agree. More people should be calling studios or write requesting information about issues like this one. Why don't you give it a shot and write to them about Fred Ward?
Just a suggestion since you seem to know your way around.

I like your avatar photograph! Thanks for the details.

[–] RobbieCalifornia 8 years ago

Just watched it again, it did look like Robert Forster to me. But since it's not in any filmography I doubt it's him. It's a mystery. I'd love to know the answer.

[–] frank-grimey-grimes 8 years ago

Why don't you try getting in touch with Paul Henreid's daughter?