Chester Native, Mendham High Grad, Actor Dies at 45

James “Jim” Ward spent his life in the performing arts, and did a great job doing it.

The Chester native died recently at the age of 45, according to his obituary.

After beating cancer in his early 30s, Ward was stricken by the disease again, which he battled until Thursday, Jan. 22.

Ward graduated Mendham High School, Seton Hall University, and the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art. He was an actor, playing the role of a secret service agent in The Manchurian Candidate, a Nazi thug in Unholy, and a Marine on leave in the film Last Chance.

More notably, Ward was a star in the voice-acting field, specifically in the English language “dubbed” versions of Japanese animation (anime), including Kugayama in the series Genshiken.

Ward is survived by his mother, a brother, sister-in-law, and nephew.

Memorial donations may be made to the Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research.