Ian Ward | Gallery |
Ian Ward | |||||||
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Ray Wise as Ian Ward | |||||||
The Young and the Restless | |||||||
Portrayed by | Ray Wise | ||||||
Current status | Present, Recurring | ||||||
Duration | 2014-2016, 2024 | ||||||
First appearance | January 23, 2014 [1] | ||||||
Created by | Shelly Altman Jean Passante | ||||||
Introduced by | Jill Farren Phelps | ||||||
Profile | |||||||
Full name | Ian Ward | ||||||
Nickname(s) | Jean Jeorge (by Phyllis) Fred the Fisherman (by Phyllis) | ||||||
Alias(es) | John Darwin Fred | ||||||
Gender | Male | ||||||
Occupation | Cult leader of New World cult the Path Commune Oversees The Paragon Project (Failed) | ||||||
Residence | Walworth Penitentiary | ||||||
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Ian Ward is a fictional character on The Young and the Restless. He was believed to be the biological father of Dylan McAvoy with Nikki Newman. Ian Ward was a charismatic cult leader who seduced Nikki. Nikki fled from the commune and gave birth in a nunnery. She gave up the child for adoption to Penny McAvoy. Ian's claims of being Dylan's father were disproven when his former wife, Willah, revealed that he is sterile and cannot father children.
On November 14, 2024 after being off the show for 8 years, Ray Wise returned to Y&R as Ian Ward in a surprising twist as it is revealed that is he is partners with Jordan Howard in a new plan to take down the Newmans.
Storylines[]
2014[]
Summer, Dylan and Nikki[]
Ian showed up at the Newman Ranch and his arrival terrified Nikki. Ian showed up at Crimson Lights to meet his son Dylan McAvoy, but Dylan told Ian that he had changed his mind and wanted nothing to do with him. Ian befriended Summer Newman and posed as a life coach. He took a photo of himself with Summer in an attempt to blackmail Nikki into paying him to leave town.
Nikki arrived at Ian's office with the money he demanded, but then Dylan and Nick Newman showed up and confronted Ian about Summer. After Nick leaves, Dylan grabs Ian and threatens to kill him. Paul Williams arrives and arrests Ian for extortion. Ian hires Leslie Michaelson to represent him much to everyone's dismay. Having finally learned about Ian's presence, Victor Newman showed up and threatened to make Ian pay for what he did to Nikki. Leslie announced Ian was about to walk when Paul revealed that Nikki had taped her conversation with Ian, proving he was extorting money. Ian was then taken away by the guards.
While Ian was awaiting trial, Summer visited him and lashed out at him for taking advantage of her, but she also thanked him for making her stronger. After Summer and Jack left, Ian told Leslie that he wasn't Dylan's father and that he couldn't have children, but swore her to secrecy, and Leslie had no choice, but to comply. Ian soon returned to Genoa City and continued antagonizing Dylan and Nikki. Victor threatened Ian to stay away, but Ian wouldn't listen. When Ian wouldn't listen to Victor's warnings, Victor had his guys beat up Ian, but he said it was a random mugging.
Ian's secret comes out[]
When Paul was accidentally shot by Austin Travers, Dylan found out he and Paul had the same rare blood type. Dylan told Ian that his genes may help save Paul's life, and Leslie told Ian his secret was bound to come out, but that's what Ian wanted to eventually happen.
When Dylan couldn't donate his liver due to the risks involving him, he asked Ian to do it and prove he wants to help people, but Ian refused to do it. Victor approached Ian and told him he knew he wasn't Dylan's father. He issued another threat to Ian before leaving.
Ian showed up at the hospital, claiming of he concerned about his son. When everyone lashed out at Ian for lying about being Dylan's father, Ian turned it around and claimed that Nikki had caused him emotional distress. He told Leslie that he wouldn't have her disbarred her for telling his secret if she represented him when he sued Nikki for causing him emotional distress Leslie refused, choosing her ethics over her career.
Lawsuit Against Nikki[]
Ian hired David Sherman, Mitchell Sherman's son, as his attorney. He enraged Nikki by taunting her about her past as a stripper. After David and Nikki's attorney Michael Baldwin left, Ian further taunted Nikki about them sleeping together, and almost drove her to drink.
In court, Nikki was forced to read from her private diary in an effort to prove why she believed Ian was Dylan's father. Nikki had written about how Ian had abused and sexually assaulted her. The judge was angry at Nikki and Ian for their actions and threw out the lawsuit. As David apologized to Ian for losing he case, Ian said he had one last card to play.
When the tabloids got a hold of the diary, they started advertising it in the paper. Nikki accused Ian, who maintained his innocence because the diary painted him as a monster. Ian accused Paul of being the one who leaked the diary to the press.
Agenda involving Mariah[]
Ian was also reunited with Mariah Copeland, a former member of his cult. He encouraged Mariah to pursue a relationship with Sharon Newman. He surmised that because Mariah resembled Sharon's daughter, the late Cassie Newman, she wanted to have a relationship with Mariah, but he also realized Mariah also wanted a relationship with Sharon and persuaded her to go for it.
After an incident where Mariah's rival Abby Newman tried to frame her for theft, Mariah ran into Ian again and told him she wanted to leave town, but Ian encouraged her to hang in their, and Mariah questioned Ian's motives. Ian broke into Mariah's motel room, and persuaded her to move in with Sharon and Nick. When Ian saw Sharon at the Athletic club, he thanked her for taking care of Mariah.
Ian was upset when Helen Copeland showed up in Genoa City. She said Nick has questioned her about Mariah, and reassured him that Nick "has no idea who Mariah really is". Unbeknownst to Ian and Helen, Nick overheard the conversation. Nick did some digging and found out that Mariah is Cassie's twin, stolen at birth by Helen on Ian's orders. When Sharon threw Mariah out of her house for trying to seduce Nick, Ian left town with her. He drugged Mariah and put her in a wedding dress.
Ian's associate Clarence showed up to perform the wedding. Ian told Mariah that she was going to marry him, but Mariah refused. Ian got Mariah so doped up that she couldn't leave the storage room, and they got married. After the "wedding", Ian went to the Newman ranch with a syringe, and drugged a Newman guard. He threatened Nikki and tried to drug her as well, but Dylan showed up and chased Ian off.
Mariah was rescued by Nick and Sharon and taken to the hospital. At the hospital, Sharon told Mariah that she was Mariah's mother. Mariah refused to believe it and didn't want to embrace Sharon as her mother. Nick convinced her not to leave town, but Mariah refused to come back to the ranch, and she quit her job at the Underground. It is also possible that the marriage is not legal and can be undone.
Paul Williams was doing some research and the blood found at the scene where Ian disappeared matched both Dylan's and Ian Ward's. A lot of evidence was pointing to Dylan murdering Ian because Dylan does have PTSD. Paul also found Dylan's boots in Dylan's fiancé, Avery Clark's, apartment with reddish mud that could only be found in one part of Genoa City.
Return and Arrest[]
Nikki, Paul, Dylan, and Avery set a trap to lure Ian out of hiding. Ian called Nikki and told her to call him back on a disposable phone that he left her car. The phone was bugged, so Ian could listen in on Nikki and Paul's conversations. Ian told Nikki to bring him money and said he would clear Dylan's name afterwards. Hoping to catch Nikki off guard, Ian slipped past all of the police and arrived at Nikki's hotel room early, but Paul was already on there. Ian tried to run, but was cornered and arrested. Paul escorted Ian to a holding cell and told him that it was over, but Ian maintained that they were all in their own path and that it will never end.
2015[]
Working with Adam[]
Ian was revealed to be working with Adam Newman behind the Paragon Project. With Victor out of his office attending a memorial service for Katherine Chancellor Murphy, Gabe (aka Adam) uploaded the Paragon Project to Newman's computer while Ian's technician activated it causing a blackout. While Ian and Gabe were having a heated conversation on the phone, Chelsea took the phone from Gabe thinking that it was Jack, she slipped by saying "Jack, leave ADAM alone" revealing to Ian that Gabe is Adam Newman. While Phyllis and Jack Abbott are staying at the Abbott Cabin, Phyllis decided to take a walk through the woods where she comes upon Ian and his camping spot. Realizing Phyllis was unaware of his infamously troubled and vindictive past relationships with Nikki, the two casually chatted about the stars and marriage struggles past and present.
Jack left early to learn more about the Paragon Project and Phyllis stayed behind for a night on her own. Phyllis went out to pick wild flowers running into Ian and invited him to dinner. While chatting, Ian said that she could call him "Fred" and he would love to cook the trout he just caught after Phyllis revealed the fact that she couldn't cook. While cleaning the Trout, the two spoke about family and friends. Phyllis mentioned that she thought he was a marriage counselor. Ian revealed that he could relate to her struggle of being out of touch with the people close to him when Phyllis said that she had lost nearly a year of her life while in a coma and how Jack made the decision to go on with his life without her. Ian talked about the loss of his wife and that he had also lost touch with a child. Hoping to impress Phyllis, Ian made an elegant dish consisting of trout almondine with roasted potatoes. When Jack returned Ian left abruptly without saying goodbye. Phyllis told Jack about the dinner with "Fred The Fisherman" when Jack noticed the dishes on the table. Jack thought it was odd that he left so abruptly. Ian now has a way to keep tabs on Jack while he continues to manipulate the sales of "Chelsea 2.0".
Ian moved across from Adam and Chelsea, to Adam's dismay. Adam managed to convince Ian not to go after Chelsea 2.0, so Ian focused his attention on selling off one of Newman's subsidiaries. Adam eventually became more worried that Paragon would bring own all the Newman', instead of Victor. Adam didn't want Abby to suffer, and demanded that Ian shut Paragon down altogether, but when Adam turned his back, Ian whacked him over the head and fled. When Phyllis told Victor about Ian being back in Genoa City, Victor went to the prison to talk to the warden, but the warden claimed Ian had never escaped. He brought Ian into the room, and he denied ever being in Genoa City. After Victor and Phyllis left, Ian escaped from prison and returned to Genoa City. He told Phyllis that Adam was Gabriel Bingham, and waited for Paul to arrive and arrest him.
Devilish return[]
Ian once again escaped prison, and infiltrated Newman Enterprises, wearing a red cloak and black mask. Ian broke into Victor's office, and used Paragon to disable all the security systems. He knocked Cane Ashby down the stairs, dragged him into a room, and locked him in it. Ian then set about sabotaging the wiring and starting a fire. As the fire spread through the building, Ian encountered Adam on the stairs, and knocked him out with a wrench. As Victor and Adam were getting ready to leave, Ian shows up, and Adam decides to stay. Ian revealed himself to Adam after Adam asked who he was.
Adam was appalled and asked Ian what he had done. Ian clarified that he and Adam did this together. Adam says he never wanted to put the lives of others in danger. He says that Victor got out, and Ian sneers that he is a coward. Adam stuns Ian by declaring Adam is ten times the man Ian is. Ian rages that they finally beat Victor after "getting kicked in the teeth" constantly, and that Adam is just ready to forgive and forget. Ian wants to leave, but Adam stops him. Ian says Adam shouldn't be standing here crying that the devil made him do it; he should be planning to disappear like Ian intends to. Adam shoves Ian against a pillar. Ian asks if he is going to get the police involved, but Adam says he will stop Ian himself.
A beam of rubble collapses, and Ian gets away from Adam. He realizes Adam intends to kill him, and says this is his story to tell. Ian throws powder in Adam's eyes, and clubs him over the head. Adam trips Ian, and drags him into a table. Adam starts to strangle Ian, and Ian asks Adam if he wants his son to see his father as a murdered. Adam yells at Ian to shut up, and Ian hits him with a skull prop. Ian grabs his pitchfork and tried to stab Adam. Adam grabs the pitchfork and uses it to throw Ian against the wall, who falls into unconsciousness. A pile of rubble falls on Ian and Adam assumes he is dead. Ian later comes to, and asks for help. Patty Williams shows up and tells Ian that maybe they can help each other.
Confrontation with Phyllis and Victor[]
Phyllis sent Ian a message, using a private messaging service, and told her to form to his room. Patty was hesitant about Ian luring Phyllis to him, but Ian assured her he knew what he was doing. He gave Patty a passport with a new identity, and said it was his way of thanking her for saving his life. Patty didn't want to leave Ian, but Ian told her he didn't want to drag down his path of revenge. He told her to live for both of them, and Patty left after giving Ian a peck on the cheek.
Ian waited for Phyllis to arrive, and also told Victor that he knows he is there. Victor emerges and Phyllis tells Ian she knows that "Fred" wasn't entirely made up. She says she knows the side Ian showed her is still somewhere deep inside, and asked him to stop Paragon. Ian continued to claim he couldn't stop Paragon, and was then shocked when Victor grabbed Phyllis around the neck and threatened to kill her. Ian thought Victor was bluffing, but as Victor tightened his grip, he seems worried that Victor wasn't bluffing, and told him he would take them to the server room.
Victor demanded that Ian shut down the project, but Ian insisted that he couldn't do it. Victor destroyed the laptop and started disconnecting all the computers. He grabbed Ian and threatened to kill him for all he has done. As Victor continued to vandalize the room to stop Paragon, Ian tried to run, but was apprehended by federal agents. Victor told Ian he won't get out of prison this time, but Ian retorted that the story isn't over yet as he was led away.
2016[]
Meeting Victor in Prison[]
After Victor was sentenced to ten years in prison, Ian greeted him. Ian offered to help protect Victor, but Victor refused Ian's protection. Ian claimed he was top dog among the inmates, and Victor needs his help. Still, Victor refused. As Victor was moping, Ian told another inmate to leave Victor alone.
After Victor was stabbed, he suspected Ian of being behind it. Ian claimed he was innocent, and told Victor that he lied about being a powerful man. Victor started to wonder if Ian was telling the truth. Ian pressed on to ally with Victor and find out who attacked him, but Victor still wanted nothing to do with Ian.
Ian suggested he and Victor work together to break out of prison. Ian realized Victor had formed a bond with prison Doctor Meredith Gates. Ian punched victor in the stab wound so he could he Meredith .Victor revealed that Meredith's father was Russel Gates. Ian knew Meredith's father could get them a pardon, and suggested Victor use Meredith to get to her father.
Ian was put in solitary confinement and had a meeting with Adam after he got out. Adam asked for Ian's help in providing Victor Was setting him up for murder, and agreed to whatever Ian wanted in return. Ian tried to fish for information from Victor, but all Victor said is that one of his sons might soon be joining them in Walworth.
Ian showed Victor the national enquirer that talks about Adam murdering Constance Bingham. Ian asks Victor how he did it, and said he had a pleased smirk. Victor told Ian Adam is responsible for his own decisions. Ian showed up at the infirmary while Victor was being treated. He complained about a stomach ache, but later admitted he made it up. He started telling Meredith she needs to know who Victor really is, but Meredith called the guards to take Ian back to his cell.
Ian saw Victor, and taunted him about Meredith and Nikki. Victor attacked Ian, and was thrown into solitary confinement while Ian was taken to the infirmary.
Chelsea visited Ian where he at first complained about the suit he was gonna wear to Adam's trial and if he could get a nicer one, they also discussed an escape plan which was actually fake just so Ian could testify.
Ian was a witness in Adams trial, he testified that Victor confessed to him he framed Adam for the murder of Constance Bingham.
Escape and recapture[]
After his testimony, Ian was led outside the courtroom and realized Adam and Chelsea's escape plan was fake, he tussled with a bailiff for his gun and pistol whipped the bailiff then took Nikki who in the same hallway hostage at gunpoint. When Victor was being escorted out of the court room the guard who was escorting Victor tried to stop Ian but was shot in the arm. Victor pushed away the guard to use himself as a human shield and was shot in the shoulder, Ian hustled Nikki to the Abbott Cabin where Phyllis was and Ian tied the two to chairs.
Ian then proceeded to demand that Victor transfer ten million dollars into his offshore account. Victor agreed to Ian's demand, and Ian opened his account, anticipating the transfer and amount of funds. Victor showed up at the cabin, and manually entered the information, but refused to hit send until Ian let Nikki and Phyllis go. Ian let the women go, and Victor told him all he had to do was hit enter. Ian did, and an error came up. Victor revealed that he had his account set up, so if anyone tried to hack it, it would notify the police.
Ian was furious and admitted Victor had outsmarted him. Ian placed the gun in Victor's hand and tried to goad Victor into shooting him by talking about Nikki, which Victor hated. Ian sneered that Victor doesn't have the courage to shoot him. Victor almost played into Ian's hand, but said Ian was more use to him alive than dead. The police showed up, and demanded Victor drop the gun, which he did without hesitation. The police arrested Ian, and Ian told Dylan he didn't hurt Nikki. Dylan told Ian to shut up as he escorted him out of the cabin.
2024[]
Return to Genoa City[]
Ian resurfaced nine years later and was revealed to be working with Jordan Howard on November 14, 2024. Jordan returned to the motel where they were hiding out and told Ian that it all went according to plan. Ian closed the book he was reading and turned to face Jordan with a smile explaining how wonderful it was.
References[]
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