Zacharias Ward is a Canadian actor. He made his film debut with a supporting role as Scut Farkus in the comedy film A Christmas Story (1983). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Ward appeared in multiple television films, and had supporting roles in the films Ed (1996) and Wild America (1997).
Ward experienced a career resurgence with his main role as Dave Scoville on the Fox sitcom Titus (2000–2002). Following renewed attention, he had supporting roles in the films Almost Famous (2000), Freddy vs. Jason (2003), and Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004). During the late 2000s, Ward had the lead role of The Postal Dude in the action comedy film Postal (2007), and also being in the video games series in Postal 2: Paradise Lost (2015) and Postal 4: No Regerts (2022), as well as a supporting role in the science fiction film Transformers (2007).
In the 2010s, Ward starred in the films Dark House (2014) and Beyond the Law (2019). He had recurring roles as Roger on the seventh season of the FX horror anthology series American Horror Story (2017) and Lt. Dante on the Syfy series Z Nation (2018). In the 2020s, Ward reprised his Christmas Story role as Scut Farkus in the film's sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas (2022).
Early life Ward was born on August 31 in either 1970 or 1973 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of actress Pam Hyatt and Todd Allen Ward.
Career He is best known for his character Dave Scoville (Titus's stoner half-brother) on the FOX show Titus and as the bully Scut Farkus in the 1983 Christmas classic A Christmas Story. He has had guest roles on popular television series such as NCIS, Lost, and Crossing Jordan, and roles in films such as Almost Famous, Transformers, and Anne of Green Gables. He has appeared in the horror films Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Freddy vs. Jason. Ward also has had leading roles in BloodRayne 2: Deliverance and Postal, and can be seen in Alone in the Dark II and The Devil's Tomb.
In 2014, Ward co-founded the film production company Grit Film Works with James Cullen Bressack. The first two films which he co-produced with Grit Film Works were the thriller Bethany and the horror film Restoration. The film's score was composed by Christopher Baker and Alex Csillag.
Ward is the CEO of Global Sports Financial Exchange, Inc since 2017.
In 2022, Ward reprised his role as Scut Farkus in the A Christmas Story sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas for Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max. He has also endorsed popcorn in an outfit reflecting the character.
In 2024, Ward made his directorial debut on the film The Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms starring James Hong.
Personal life On August 18, 2018, Ward married actress and producer Jennifer McMahan.
His father was diagnosed with stage 4 Alzheimer's disease in July 2020. He passed away more than three years after being diagnosed on December 19, 2023. In a February 2025 interview about sharing his experiences with his father and his battle with Alzheimer's disease, Ward stated that he stopped drinking in 2021 and smoking in 2023 and instead took the time to try and focus on exercise and a balanced diet. He has since engaged actively in advocacy efforts, most notably speaking at fundraisers and awareness events to promote family connections amid battling the disease.
Litigation In August 2011, Ward sued Warner Bros. over merchandising for A Christmas Story after Warner Bros. authorized a figurine set including the Scut Farkus character from the film without Ward's permission. It was revealed that Ward's contract was under ACTRA, unlike the other actors' contracts, and did not grant likeness rights for merchandising. Warner Bros. argued that the figurine showed a "generic face" that has been used on them since 2006 and that statute of limitations had run out, among other claims. The lawsuit was dismissed in January 2012 by mutual agreement.
In December 2012, Ward sued the National Entertainment Collectibles Association, and briefly Warner Bros. again, over his image after attending the annual Christmas Story charity fundraiser convention in Cleveland in November 2010 where a fan handed him a Christmas Story board game, playing cards, and calendar showing his face. The lawsuit was settled three days later.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1983 A Christmas Story Scut Farkus Film debut 1985 Anne of Green Gables Moody 1993 Just for Fun Tom Short film 1994 The Club Kyle 1996 Star Hunter Cooper Video 1996 Ed Dusty Richards 1997 Lancelot: Guardian of Time A.J. 1997 Wild America D.C. 1998 How to Make the Cruelest Month Manhattan's Neighbor 1999 Jimmy 2000 Civility Billy 2000 Almost Famous The Legendary Red Dog 2000 Skinhead 2001 Completely Totally Utterly Chad 2003 Murray 2003 Freddy vs. Jason Bobby Davis 2003 April's Shower August 2004 Tony 2004 L.A. Twister Lenny 2004 Resident Evil: Apocalypse Nicholai Ginovaeff 2005 Aurora Borealis Lindstrom 2006 Hollywood Kills Nate Folds 2006 Pennies Stoner Todd Short film 2007 Trade Alex Green 2007 Moving McAllister Earl 2007 Transformers First Sgt. Donnelly 2007 Postal The Postal Dude 2007 BloodRayne 2: Deliverance Billy the Kid Video 2008 Kissing Cousins Charlie 2008 Dead and Gone The Weatherman 2008 Alone in the Dark II Xavier Video 2008 Battle Planet Jordan Strider 2009 Nickels Direct-to-Video 2010 Repo Red 2010 In the Void Mark 2011 End of the Road Falco / Zack 2011 Monster Mutt Sirus Caldwell 2011 In My Pocket Rob 2014 Dark House Chris McCulluch 2014 Don't Blink Alex Also producer 2016 Izzie's Way Home Thurston (voice) Animated film 2016 Bethany Aaron Also producer 2016 The Curse of Sleeping Beauty Nathan 2016 Restoration Harold Also director and producer 2016 A Christmas in Vermont David Briggs 2019 Beyond the Law Desmond Packard 2021 Survive the Game Jean 2022 A Christmas Story Christmas Officer Scut Farkus 2024 Darkness of Man Alexei
Television Year Title Role Notes 1985 Anne of Green Gables Moody Spurgeon TV movie 1987 Taking Care of Terrific Seth Sandruff TV movie 1987 Anne of Avonlea Moody Spurgeon TV movie 1988 Friday the 13th: The Series Greg Mazzey Episode: "Vanity's Mirror" 1990 Neon Rider Digger Episode: "Vengeance" 1990 My Secret Identity Daniel Episode: "White Lies" 1991 Maniac Mansion Tim Episode: "Ugly Like Me" 1992 Forever Knight Topper Episode: "Dark Knight" 1993 Spenser: Ceremony Hummer TV movie 1994 Boogies Diner Kirby TV series 1994 Harvest for the Heart Ross Hansen TV movie 1995 Sliders Security Guard (uncredited) Episode: "The King Is Back" 1995 NYPD Blue Jerry Episode: "Dirty Laundry" 1996 Sliders Gerald Thomas Episode: "The Dream Masters" 1997 Party of Five Ted Episode: "Significant Others" 1997 Walker, Texas Ranger Jerry 'Mad Dog' Sullivan Episode: "Mr. Justice" 1997 Orange Glasses Man Episode: "Breaking Ground" 1998 Fast Track Episode: "Guys with Guns" 1998 Blade Squad Billy Mustard TV movie 1998 NYPD Blue Dan Evers Episode: "Top Gum" 1998 Nash Bridges Paul Pangborn Episode: "Overdrive" 1998 JAG Curtis Dastuge Episode: "The Martin Baker Fan Club" 1999 Viper Crup Episode: "My Fair Hoodlums" 1999 Little Joshua / Theodore Reed Episode: "End Game" 1999 Profiler Little Joshua / Theodore Reed Episode: "Grand Master" 1999 Atomic Train Stan Atkins TV movie 1999 Y2K Rick Rothman TV movie 1999 Brotherhood of Murder Charles Higgins TV movie 2000 Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story Moody Spurgeon TV movie 2000–2002 Titus Dave Scoville 54 episodes 2001 Chasing Destiny Eric TV movie 2002 Link Episode: "The Human Factor" 2002 She Spies The Thin Man in Black Episode: "Poster Girl" 2002 MDs Dr. Lewis Episode: "A La Casa" 2003 Chasing Alice TV movie 2003 Ghost Dog: A Detective Tail Howie Tibbadoe TV movie 2003 Monte Walsh Powder Kent TV movie 2004 Charmed Kevin Casey / Sirk Episode: "Styx Feet Under" 2004 Significant Others Zack Episode: "2.6" 2004 Deadwood Episode: "No Other Sons or Daughters" 2005 Deadwood Hotel Desk Clerk Episode: "Childish Things" 2005 Crossing Jordan FBI Agent Blair Episode: "A Stranger Among Us" 2005 Lost Marc Silverman Episode: "Do No Harm" 2005 NCIS Police Officer Billy Krieg Episode: "Hometown Hero" 2005 All of Us Jeff Sizemore 4 episodes 2006 Girlfriends Mike Episode: "Hustle & Dough" 2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Steve Card Episode: "Lying Down with Dogs" 2008 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Wells Episode: "Automatic for the People" 2009 Cold Case Ed Dubinski Episode: "Lotto Fever" 2009–2010 Dollhouse Zone Episodes: "Epitaph One", "Epitaph Two: Return" 2010 I'm in the Band Xander Episode: "Got No Class" 2010 Warehouse 13 Leo Episode: "13.1" 2011 Accidentally in Love Scott Dunbar TV movie 2011 Breakout Kings Christian Beaumont Episode: "Like Father, Like Son" 2011 Drop Dead Diva Keith Geary Episode: "The Wedding" 2011 Whit Naylor Episode: "Blood and Sand" 2011 Hawaii Five-0 Billy Murphy Episode: "Ike Maka" 2012 CSI: Miami Clyde Novak Episode: "Law & Disorder" 2012 CSI: NY Keith Milner Episode: "Misconceptions" 2012 Chicago Fire Ted Griffin Episode: "Christmas, Etc." 2013 The Exes Bradley Episode: "Pretty Women" 2013 Liv and Maddie Officer Mike Clarkson Episode: "Sleep-A-Rooney" 2013 Mike & Molly Donny Episode: "The First and Last Ride-Along" 2014 Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys Will TV film 2014 Fallen Cards The Drifter 2016 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Davy "A Cricket's Tale" 2017 American Horror Story: Cult Roger 2 episodes 2018 Z Nation Lt. Dante 6 episodes2025BookieLou Smith2 episodes
Video games Year Title Role 2013 Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Alpha 2014 Murdered: Soul Suspect Additional voices 2015 Rise of the Tomb Raider Konstantin 2015 Postal 2: Paradise Lost Himself 2022 Postal 4: No Regerts The Postal Dude
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