[2] 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.

[citation needed] In 1996, Ward had his first starring role in the movie Hustler White, directed by Bruce LaBruce and Rick Castro.

[11] 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.

[12] According to People on April 15, 1991: "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.