LUCA WARD
Biography
Luca Ward was born in Rome on 31st July 1960. He is the son of the actors Aleardo and Maresa Ward, and he starts working on television from the age of three. His first acting role is in the dramatization of “Demetrio Pianelli” for Rai with Paolo Stoppa. After this first experience, he works incessantly.
While he is still an adolescent he begins to work in the theatre with the most important companies. After a screen-test at the age of nineteen with Pino Locchi (who gives his magical voice to Sean Connery), he starts out on his career in the world of dubbing. In the course of the years, he works with all the greatest Italian actors and dubbers, including Gigi Reder, who offers him the opportunity of dubbing Gary Cooper in a re-edition of the film “A Farewell to Arms”. This professional experience brings him to the fore in his field and gives him the opportunity of meeting the Taviani brothers, with whom he will work on the hugely successful “Goodmorning Babilonia”.
Among the many important encounters in the course of Luca’s career, one of the most important is definitely when he meets Carlo Baccarini and Claudio Razzi of the Cooperativa C. V. D., for whom he dubs Eric Roberts for the first time. Another fundamental moment is his collaboration with the remarkable director of dubbing Rossella Izzo. This leads him to work on numerous successful films giving his voice to famous actors and international stars; from “Four Weddings and A Funeral” in which he dubs Hugh Grant, to “The House Of Spirits” in which he gives his voice to Antonio Banderas or “Getaway” with Alec Baldwin. Another illustrious name from the dubbing world with whom Luca has the opportunity of working is Pino Colizzi, and with whom he forms an outstanding partnership which is still effective today. With Colizzi, he goes on to dub Pierce Brosnan in three “007s” and for the first time he gives his voice to Samuel L. Jackson in the cult movie “Pulp Fiction”, in “Die Hard”, in “Sphere” and many others, followed by “The Matrix” in which he gives his voice to Keanu Reeves. Among the many films that have decreed Luca’s success as a dubber, one, which stands out, is definitely “The Gladiator” in which he gives his voice to the lead Russell Crowe. It was owing to this film that Luca was awarded one of the most prestigious prizes “Best leading voice for cinema” assigned to him by the audience at the “Voci nell’ Ombra” event held in Finale Ligure.
Cinema is not the only field to give Luca gratification, as the audience also knows and esteems him for the widely successful TV series “Cuore Selvaggio” in which he dubs the famous Mexican actor Eduardo Palomo.
Since 1999, as well as his career as a dubber, Luca has undertaken a successful acting career, appearing in various TV series, including “La Squadra” and “Incantesimo 4” on Rai. In 2002, he joined the cast of “Centovetrine” in one of the leading roles in the soap opera transmitted by Canale 5, as well as taking part in other TV series including “Don Matteo” with Terence Hill.
While still pursuing his acting career, Luca has not disregarded his professional commitments as a dubber, and in 2003 he won the male Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gran Galà for dubbing – Romics 2003.
He plays the role of the Duke Ottavio Ranieri in the series with the highest viewing figures “Elisa di Rivombrosa” directed by Cinzia Th Torrini. In the course of the years, he has continued to switch between his work as a dubber and his career as a TV, film and theatre actor. He plays leading parts in many successful series and films; “Scusa ma ti chiamo amore”, “Capri”, “Donna Detective”, “Rex”, “Le Tre Rose di Eva” and many others.
In 2012, he acts in the film “La Ricotta sul Caffè”, which tells the story, life and death of the journalist from Catania Giuseppe Fava, who was killed by the mafia in 1984. In the same year, he appears in the theatre in the musical “My Fair Lady”.