Douglas Turner Ward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Douglas Turner Ward
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Ward in the 2012 documentary, The Lion at Rest
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| Born | Roosevelt Ward Jr. May 5, 1930 Burnside, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | February 20, 2021 (aged 90) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Playwright, actor, director, theatrical producer |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Period | 1959–2021 |
| Notable awards | Drama Desk Award Happy Ending and Day of Absence |
Douglas Turner Ward (born May 5, 1930 – died February 20, 2021) was an American writer, actor, and director for the stage. He was famous for starting and leading the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). He even got a Tony Award nomination in 1974 for his acting in The River Niger, a play he also directed.
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Early Life and Education
Douglas Turner Ward was born Roosevelt Ward Jr. in Burnside, Louisiana, on May 5, 1930. His parents, Roosevelt and Dorothy Ward, were farmers. They also ran a small tailoring business.
When Douglas was eight, his family moved to New Orleans. He attended Xavier University Preparatory School. Later, he went to Wilberforce University and then the University of Michigan. He studied politics and theater. At 19, he left college and moved to New York City. There, he met other important artists like Lorraine Hansberry.
In the late 1940s, Ward joined the Progressive Party. He was interested in left-wing politics. He faced legal issues related to military service. After these were resolved, he returned to New York. He worked as a reporter for the Daily Worker newspaper. He also studied acting at the Paul Mann Actors Workshop. He later chose his stage name, Douglas Turner Ward. This name honored two historical figures: Frederick Douglass and Nat Turner.
A Career in Theater
Douglas Turner Ward began his acting career in the mid-1950s. One of his first roles was in The Iceman Cometh in 1956. Three years later, he made his Broadway debut. He had a small part in A Raisin in the Sun. This play starred Sidney Poitier.
Ward soon became known as a talented playwright. His first major success was a program of two short plays. These were called Happy Ending and Day of Absence. They opened in New York City in November 1965. The plays were very popular and ran for over a year. Ward received a Drama Desk Award for these plays.
In 1966, Ward wrote an important article for The New York Times. It was titled "American Theater: For Whites Only?". This article helped him get a grant from the Ford Foundation.
Founding the Negro Ensemble Company
In 1967, Douglas Turner Ward helped create the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). He became its artistic director for many years. The NEC was very important for Black actors, writers, and directors. It gave them a place to create and perform.
The company produced many famous plays. One was The River Niger (1972). This play won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1974. It was even made into a movie. Ward acted in and directed The River Niger. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his acting.
The NEC also produced Home (1979) and A Soldier's Play (1981). A Soldier's Play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was also adapted into the film A Soldier's Story.
Ward was honored for his work in theater. In 1996, he was added to the American Theater Hall of Fame. He also received the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award. In 2020, he published The Haitian Chronicles. This was a series of three plays about the Haitian Revolution. He worked on these plays for about 40 years. He considered them his most important work.
Personal Life
Douglas Turner Ward married Diana Powell Ward in 1966. They had two children, Elizabeth and Douglas.
Ward passed away at his home in Manhattan on February 20, 2021. He was 90 years old.
Images for kids
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Ward in the 2012 documentary, The Lion at Rest
