Sela Ward

Sela Ward Headshot

Actress

Birth Name: Sela Ann Ward

Birth Date: July 11, 1956

Age: 68 years old

Birth Place: Meridian, Mississippi

Born in Meridian, Mississippi in 1956, Sela Ward graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in fine art and advertising. She moved to New York City and began working as a storyboard artist, but when she was recruited to be a model it was too tempting to turn down.

After modeling for print and TV campaigns, Ward moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Her first role came in the Blake Edwards comedy "The Man Who Loved Women" (1983) staring Burt Reynolds and Julie Andrews. The same year, she landed her first series regular role on "Emerald Point N.A.S." (CBS, 1983-84), chronicling life on a military base.

When that show was cancelled after one season, Ward continued to work, playing supporting roles in films like "Nothing in Common" (1986) starring Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason and TV series such as "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1986-1994). In 1991, she began her starring role on the on the series "Sisters" (NBC, 1991-96), for which she earned her first Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1994.

Ward continued to play supporting roles in features as well, memorably playing the murdered wife of Harrison Ford's Richard Kimble in the hit film adaptation of "The Fugitive" (1993). In 1996, Ward was nominated for another Emmy, when she played the title character in the TV Movie "Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story" (Lifetime, 1996).

Two more nominations and one victory came when she played the lead role in the drama "Once and Again" (ABC, 1999-2002). She played a substantial recurring role on the medical drama "House" (Fox, 2004-2012) and a major part on "CSI: NY" (CBS, 2004-2013).

Supporting roles in the films "Gone Girl" (2014) and "Independence Day: Resurgence" (2016) were followed by a series regular role in the political drama "Graves" (Epix, 2016-17) starring Nick Nolte as a former President of the United States.

Credits

Gone Girl

Actor
Show
2022

The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS

Guest
Show
2018

FBIStream

Actor
Dana Mosier
Series
2018

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

GravesStream

Actor
Margaret Graves
Series
2016
55%

Graves: Extras

Actor
Show
2016

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

Independence Day: ResurgenceStream

Actor
President Lanford
Movie
2016
29%

Gone GirlStream

Actor
Sharon Scheiber
Movie
2014
88%

The CSI Movie: Revenge

Actor
Movie
2013

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

A Summer of Birds

Narrator
Show
2009

ES.TV

Guest
Show
2009

The StepfatherStream

Actor
Susan Harding
Movie
2009
13%

The Better Show

Guest
Show
2007

Discovery Atlas

Narrator
Show
2006

Atlas

Narrator
Show
2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

The GuardianStream

Actor
Helen Randall
Movie
2006
37%

Deuxième chance

Actor
Show
2005

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

HouseStream

Guest Star
Stacy Warner
Series
2004
90%

CSI: NYStream

Actor
Jo Danville
Series
2004

Dirty Dancing: Havana NightsStream

Actor
Jeannie Miller
Movie
2004
23%

The Day After TomorrowStream

Actor
Dr. Lucy Hall
Movie
2004
45%

Suburban Madness

Actor
Bobbi Bacha
Movie
2004

The Badge

Actor
Carla Hardwick
Movie
2002

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

Catch a Falling Star

Actor
Sydney Clarke/Cheryl Belson
Movie
2000

Catch a Falling Star

Executive Producer
Movie
2000

The Early Show

Guest
Show
1999

Once and Again

Actor
Lily Manning
Series
1999

Kickin' It: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1998

54Stream

Actor
Billie Auster
Movie
1998
15%

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

The Reef

Actor
Anna Leath
Movie
1997

Opowieść o odwadze: dwie kobiety

Actor
Movie
1997

Rescuers: Stories of Courage -- Two Women

Actor
Marie-Rose Gineste
Movie
1997

My Fellow Americans

Actor
Kaye Griffin
Movie
1996

Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story

Actor
Jessica Savitch
Movie
1995

Entertainers: With Byron Allen

Guest
Show
1994

FrasierStream

Guest Star
Kelly Easterbrook
Series
1993
95%

Killer Rules

Actor
Dorothy Wade
Movie
1993

The FugitiveStream

Actor
Helen Kimble
Movie
1993
96%

Double Jeopardy

Actor
Karen Hart
Movie
1992

Sisters

Actor
Teddy Reed
Series
1991

Child of Darkness, Child of Light

Actor
Sister Anne
Movie
1991

Rainbow Drive

Actor
Laura Demming
Movie
1990

Bridesmaids

Actor
Caryl
Movie
1989

The Haunting of Sarah Hardy

Actor
Sarah Hardy
Movie
1989

The King of Love

Actor
Annie Larkspur
Movie
1987

Hello Again

Actor
Kim Lacey
Movie
1987

Cameo by Night

Actor
Jennifer Cameo
Movie
1987

Steele Justice

Actor
Tracy
Movie
1987

Nothing in CommonStream

Actor
Cheryl Ann Wayne
Movie
1986
54%

Rustlers' Rhapsody

Actor
Colonel's Daughter
Movie
1985

Emerald Point N.A.S.

Actor
Hilary Adams
Soap
1983

Hotel

Guest Star
Soap
1983

The Man Who Loved WomenStream

Actor
Janet Wainwright
Movie
1983
31%

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutSela Ward