He received his formal education at Alleyn's School, London, where from the age of 14 he was one of the founding members of its drama group that became the National Youth Theatre, and stayed for eight years.

[citation needed] His big break in theatre came in 1966 when he played Dennis in Joe Orton's Loot,[2] which led to a number of small film and television roles.

[2] In 1986, Ward starred in the title role of Ross, the first West End revival of Terence Rattigan's play since its original run in 1960.

It toured the UK and, after a run at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, opened at The Old Vic, featuring Marc Sinden as Dickinson, with David Langton, Roland Curram, Bruce Montague and Ernest Clark in supporting roles.

[5] He believed the attack, which left him with a broken skull that needed brain surgery, caused the chronic blood disorder, polycythaemia that affected his career.

[7] In 2001–07, he appeared as Sir Monty Everard in the BBC television series Judge John Deed[5] and in 2007–10 as Bishop Stephen Gardiner in The Tudors.