Donal Lardner Ward

[1][2][3][4]Donal Lardner Ward (born August 21, 1962) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and actor.

Donal Lardner Ward
BornAugust 21, 1962
Brooklyn, New York, US
OccupationScreenwriter, film director, actor
Notable worksMy Life's in Turnaround, The Suburbans, Too Something, How to Make it in America, The Affair

Early Life and Career

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Donal is the great-grandson of sports writer and humorist Ring Lardner, grandson of sports writer John Lardner and grand-nephew of Academy Award-winning screenwriter Ring Lardner Jr., who was a member of the Hollywood Ten. His acting career began in 1990 with a part in Whit Stillman's Metropolitan, followed in 1993 by the film My Life's in Turnaround, produced on a budget of $200,000, which he co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in with Eric Schaeffer.[5]

1990s

Following the success of My Life's in Turnaround, Ward and Schaeffer, with Efrem Seeger, created the sitcom Too Something (eventually renamed New York Daze), for the Fox Network. The series starred Schaeffer and Ward, as well as actress Portia de Rossi.[6]

In 1999, Ward directed the J. J. Abrams produced film, The Suburbans, co-written with Tony Guma. The film revolves around a record company executive, played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, attempting to reignite the careers of the one-hit wonder band The Suburbans, played by Ward, Craig Bierko, Will Ferrell, and Tony Guma. The film also features performances from Amy Brenneman, Bridgette Wilson, Ben Stiller, and Jerry Stiller.[7]

2000s

The 2000s began with roles in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums, the straight-to-video film Comic Book Villains, starring Donal Logue, and Julie Delpy's Looking For Jimmy.[8]

In 2007, as part of a half-day marathon of new works for Philip Seymour Hoffman's LAByrinth Theater Company, Ward directed the play Dress Them Down With Whiskey, featuring Tatum O'Neil.[9]

2010s

In 2011, Ward and Schaeffer reunited for the sequel to My Life's in Turnaround, titled They're Out of the Business.[10]

At the same time, Ward was also a staff writer for the HBO series How to Make it in America, produced by Mark Wahlberg.

In 2018, Ward directed the drama We Only Know So Much, co-written with Elizabeth Crane (based on her novel). The film stars Jeanne Tripplehorn, Damian Young, and Loudon Wainwright III. It premiered at The Nantucket Film Festival.[11] The film will receive a digital release by Lionsgate Films on 2/24/20.

In 2019 Ward was a writer/producer on the final season of The Affair (TV series) on Showtime. He also appeared as "Firefighter Dan" in episode 10.[12]

Filmography
Year Title Notes
1990 Metropolitan Role of North Greenwich Preppie
1993 My Life's in Turnaround Co-director, co-writer, role of Jason
1995 Too Something (also known as New York Daze) Co-creator, role of Donny Reeves
1999 The Suburbans Director, co-writer, role of Danny
2001 The Royal Tenenbaums Role of Hotel Clerk
2002 Comic Book Villains Role of Normal Customer
2002 Looking For Jimmy Actor
2010 How to Make it in America Staff Writer
2011 They're Out of the Business Role of Jason, sequel to My Life's in Turnaround
2018 We Only Know So Much Director, co-writer, based on the novel by Elizabeth Crane
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References
  1. Maslin, Janet (1994-06-17). "Review/Film; Recounting the Story Of an Accidental Career". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  2. My Life's In Turnaround (1994), retrieved 2020-02-13
  3. Harvey, Dennis; Harvey, Dennis (1993-05-04). "My Life's in Turnaround". Variety. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  4. Miller, J. B. (1994-06-12). "FILM; Two New York Neophytes Take a Cue From Pirandello". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  5. Stage 32 Biography, Donal Lardner Ward
  6. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1217. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
  7. Maslin, Janet (October 29, 1999). "Suburbans: And the Beat Goes on, Even When It Shouldn't". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  8. Donal Lardner Ward on The IMDb
  9. Playbill: Tatum O'Neal Appears in Half-Day Marathon of New Works in LAB's "Live Nude Plays" April 16
  10. The Inner Workings of Midlife Crises: NY Times Review of They're Out of the Business
  11. Nantucket Film Festival: We Only Know So Much
  12. "The Affair - Season 5 Episode 4, 504 | SHOWTIME". SHO.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
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