{{short description|American model and actor (born 1963)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Tony Ward | image = Tony Ward.jpg | caption = Tony Ward, photo from a movie | birth_name = Anthony Borden Ward | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|6|10}} | birth_place = Santa Cruz, California, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Model|actor}} | years_active = 1981–present }} '''Anthony Borden Ward''' (born June 10, 1963) is an American model and actor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rickcastro.com/tonyward.html|title=The Tony Ward Story|last=Castro|first=Rick|author-link=Rick Castro|publisher=Rick Castro Official Website|accessdate=July 9, 2013}}</ref>
==Early life== Tony Ward was born in Santa Cruz, California, on June 10, 1963, to Robert Borden Ward, from Kansas, and Karen Elizabeth Castro. He is of English, Scottish, Irish, Swedish, and Portuguese descent.<ref>{{cite news|last=Castro|first=Rick|title=Meet the Model Who Dated Madonna and Played Film's Most Famous Gigolo|url=https://www.anothermanmag.com/style-grooming/10650/meet-the-model-who-dated-madonna-and-played-films-most-famous-gigolo|newspaper=Another Man|date=December 14, 2018|quote=Castro: What's your heritage? Ward: Half-Portuguese, the rest Scottish, Irish, English and Swedish.}}</ref> Ward is the second of three sons and spent his childhood mostly in San Jose before moving to Sonora where he graduated from high school. From there he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of being an actor/model/dancer. Tony was discovered by a scout while attending West Valley College in Saratoga and started modeling at age 18.
==Modeling career== Ward began his modeling career in 1981,<ref name=afterlife>{{cite news|last=Kohn|first=Isabelle|title=The Afterlife of the Male Model|url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/the-afterlife-of-the-male-model|newspaper=MEL|date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250526193023/https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/the-afterlife-of-the-male-model|archive-date=May 26, 2025}}</ref> first for Calvin Klein underwear with images by Herb Ritts. Later he worked with photographers including Karl Lagerfeld, Steven Klein, Steven Meisel, and Terry Richardson; and for fashion designers such as Roberto Cavalli, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Diesel, Fendi, H&M and Hugo Boss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/092498/bq.ward.shtml |title=I Was A Tony Ward Girl |publisher=Archives.citypaper.net |date=October 1, 1998 |accessdate=July 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrporter.com/styledirectory/stylecouncil/profile/Tony_Ward |title=Tony Ward for Style Council MR PORTER | MR PORTER |publisher=Mrporter.com |accessdate=July 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-the-new-models-pa/128129352/ |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |title=The New Models: Unconventional Looks Are in Vogue on the Runway and in Photo Layouts |date=December 14, 1990 |accessdate=July 12, 2023 |first=William |last=Kissel |pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-the-new-models-pa/128129449/ E16], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-the-new-models-pa/128129488/ E18] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Ward is signed to DNA Model Management in New York City, Why Not Model Agency in Milan, Italy, Premier Model Management in London, Photogenics Model Management in Los Angeles, Unique Models in Copenhagen, and Bananas Models in Paris.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/hilary-alexander/TMG3320655/The-man-with-the-pearl-earring.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226151753/http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/columns/hilary-alexander/TMG3320655/The-man-with-the-pearl-earring.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |title=The man with the pearl earring - Telegraph |work=The Daily Telegraph |date= January 23, 2004|accessdate=July 9, 2013 |location=London |first=Hilary |last=Alexander}}</ref>
Ward has his own fashion brand SixInTheFace "Hand Ravaged Clothing by Mr. Ward".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F4F3122EEFD7C0D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | date=July 21, 2002 |title=Archived |archive-date=September 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916205306/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F4F3122EEFD7C0D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=May 23, 2023}}{{dead link|date=May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-picture-perfect-part-1/128129975/ |title=Picture Perfect |first=Charles |last=Talor |newspaper=Newsday |pages=70, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-picture-perfect-part-2/128129991/ 72] |date=December 6, 1998 |accessdate=July 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
Ward also shot for photographer Jim French of Colt Studio Group.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}
==Acting career== In 1996, Ward had his first starring role in the movie ''Hustler White'', directed by Bruce LaBruce and Rick Castro. In 1998, he appeared in ''Sex/Life in L.A.'' Jochen Hick's adult documentary about the sex lives of the guys who make L.A. adult movies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=H. |first1=W. |title=Sex Life in L.A., directed by Jochen Hick {{!}} Film review |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/film/sex-life-in-l-a |accessdate=November 20, 2018 |work=Time Out London |language=en}}</ref> Ward reunited with LaBruce playing a homeless junkie in the 2010 zombie thriller ''L.A. Zombie''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Amy Verner |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/beardo-cover-boys-hip-and-sexy-or-borderline-creepy/article715318/ |title=Beardo cover boys: hip and sexy or borderline creepy? |work=The Globe and Mail |date= March 13, 2009|accessdate=July 9, 2013 |location=Toronto}}</ref>
Ward appeared in then-girlfriend Madonna's music videos for "Cherish" (1989) "Justify My Love" (1990) and "Erotica" (1992), with the former casting him in a more prominent role as her lover. The latter shows Ward in quick snippets as the video is an amalgamation of footage from various Madonna photo shoots.
==Personal life== [[File:Madonna 1990.jpg|thumb|Ward (center) with Madonna (l.) and Madonna's back-up singer Donna De Lory at the AIDS Project Los Angeles benefit concert in 1990]] Ward is also a painter and photographer.
Ward was Madonna's boyfriend in the beginning of the 1990s and he appeared in some of her music videos as well as the controversial ''Sex'' book in 1992.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/21/world/critic-s-notebook-fashion-in-paris-irrelevant-but-who-cares.html |title=Critic's Notebook; Fashion in Paris: Irrelevant, but Who Cares? - New York Times |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 21, 1990 |accessdate=July 12, 2023 |first=Woody |last=Hochswender |page=1}}</ref> According to ''People'' on April 15, 1991: {{cquote|"Madonna and male model Tony Ward, 27, her last boyfriend of record and one of the objects of her desire in the 'Justify' video, are no longer an item. It may be a coincidence, but he seems to have dropped from her arm at about the same time tabloids revealed that he had married an old flame, Greek-Australian photographer Amalia Papadimos, 23, in a quickie ceremony in Las Vegas on Aug. 21, 1990—after he had begun dating Madonna."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Madonna & Michael |url=https://archive.org/details/people-1991-04-15-madonna-michael-jackson-c/page/64/mode/2up |magazine=People |date=April 15, 1991 |pages=64–68 |via=archive.org}}</ref>}}
As of 2016, Ward lived in Palm Springs, California, and was the father of four children "spread across two continents".<ref name="afterlife"/> In a 2020 interview with MEL magazine, he said that he was in the process of divorcing an estranged wife, and was married and divorced several times prior.<ref name="afterlife"/>
==Filmography==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Director ! Role ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- | 1996 | ''Hustler White'' | Bruce LaBruce and Rick Castro | Lead role | <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-upbeat-hustler-w/128129660/ |title=Upbeat 'Hustler' Walks on L.A.'s Wild Side |last=Thomas |first=Kevin |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 20, 1996 |access-date=July 12, 2023 |page=88 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0CEFDF173DF933A1575AC0A960958260 |title=Hustler White (1996): Stalking the Urban Wildlife in Night's Darkest Corners |last=Holden |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Holden |work=The New York Times |date=September 20, 1996 |access-date=July 12, 2023}}</ref> |- | 1998 | ''Sex Life in L.A.'' | Jochen Hick | | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/latest/98903-sex_life_in_la |title=Sex Life in L.A. |website=The Skinny |access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/163118/Sex-Life-in-L-A-/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115080352/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/163118/Sex-Life-in-L-A-/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 15, 2008 |last=Stewart |first=Bhob |author-link=Bhob Stewart |title=Sex-Life-in-L-A- - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes |work=The New York Times |year=2008 |access-date=July 12, 2023}}</ref> |- | 1999 | ''Out in Fifty'' | Bojesse Christopher and Scott Leet | | |- | 2002 | ''All About the Benjamins'' | Kevin Bray | | <ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SLTB&p_theme=sltb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=100E4129B021B4CA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=The Salt Lake Tribune - Archives |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=May 17, 2002 |access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> |- | 2007 | ''Story of Jen'' | François Rotger | Lead role | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/scope/articles-cinema/2009/06/09/08005-20090609ARTFIG00494-story-of-jen-.php |title=Story of Jen |work=Le Figaro |date=October 29, 2007 |access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> |- | 2010 | ''L.A. Zombie'' | | | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metroweekly.com/news/last_word/2010/07/australia-bans-labruces-grotes.html |title=Australia Bans LaBruce's Grotesque Gay Sex Film, ''L.A. Zombie'' |website=Metro Weekly |date=July 21, 2010 |access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> |- | 2010 | ''Out Getting Ribs'' | | | |- | 2022 | ''All Man: International Male'' | | | |}
===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Artist ! Song ! Director ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- | 1987 | ABC | "King Without a Crown" | Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton | |- | 1988 | Belinda Carlisle | "I Get Weak" | Diane Keaton | <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-this-oscar-guy-does/128129828/ |title=This Oscar Guy Doesn't Go Home With Just Anybody |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |page=290 |date=April 17, 1988 |access-date=July 12, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |- | 1989 | Madonna | "Cherish" | Herb Ritts | <ref name="nyd">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/photos-madonna-men-gallery-1.79528 |title=Madonna's Many Men |work=Daily News |location=New York |date=December 23, 2008 |access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref> |- | 1989 | Taylor Dayne | "With Every Beat of My Heart" | David Kellogg | |- | 1990 | Madonna | "Justify My Love" | Jean Baptiste Mondino | <ref name="nyd" /> |- | 1990 | Tommy Page | "I'll Be Your Everything" | Greg Masuak | |- | 1992 | Madonna | "Erotica" | Fabien Baron | <ref name="nyd" /> |- | 1995 | Rusty | "Misogyny" | Bruce LaBruce | |- | 1996 | George Michael | "Fastlove" | Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton | |- | 1996 | Spice Girls | "Say You'll Be There" | Vaughan Arnell | |- | 1999 | Esthero | "That Girl" | Patrick Hoelck | |- | 2000 | Sinéad O'Connor | "Jealous" | Mike Lipscombe | |- | 2005 | Lisa Marie Presley | "Idiot" | Patrick Hoelck | |}
==See also== * List of male underwear models
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Tony}} Category:1963 births Category:American bisexual male actors Category:American LGBTQ models Category:Bisexual male models Category:Living people Category:Male actors from San Jose, California Category:Male models from California