Fannie Ward was a renowned actress, captivating audiences on Broadway and in vaudeville with her dazzling performances in light comedies. Her international fame reached its peak during the first decade of the 20th century.
Ward made her Broadway debut at the tender age of 19 in the 1890 production of "Pippino". She went on to secure starring roles in notable plays such as "The Marriage of William Ashe", "Madam President", and "The Shop Girl". Although she was slightly older than ideal for the role of the young spendthrift wife of a Wall Street tycoon, she made her screen debut in Cecil B. DeMille's production of "The Cheat" (1915).
This spectacular DeMille morality tale features a shocking scene in which Ward's character is branded and nearly raped by a dapper but sinister Japanese ivory baron, played by Sessue Hayakawa. Ward continued to star in several successful melodramas, with the plots of most revolving around her near loss of virtue to a selection of nefarious characters.
Ward was married to actor Jack Dean, who appeared in at least 15 of her 26 films. Dubbed "The Youth Girl", she was consistently cast in roles 20 to 30 years younger than her actual age. By the time she retired from the screen in 1920, she was deemed too old to carry off these youthful roles, and the "Youth Girl" sobriquet had become more of a joke than an honest tribute.
After retiring from the screen, Ward opened a beauty palace in Paris called "The Fountain of Youth", where she continued to make a name for herself.
