Ben Bard's foray into the world of theatre began during his teenage years, as he embarked on a touring career under the pseudonym "B.D. Bard" alongside the esteemed Jolly Della Pringle theatre company. His early performances took him to the renowned Schubert Circuit in Vaudeville, where he served as the straight man to the charismatic comedian Jack "Baron Munchausen" Pearl.
As the silent movie era dawned, Bard was brought to the burgeoning film industry in Hollywood, where he was initially pegged as a leading man at Fox Pictures. However, his on-screen persona became typecast as the "Suave Heavy," a character defined by his impeccable attire, smooth demeanor, and underlying malevolence.
In the 1930s, Bard established Ben Bard Drama, a prominent and respected acting school in Hollywood that boasted an attached theatre company. This esteemed institution produced a range of stage classics and West Coast premieres of contemporary American plays, fostering a talented pool of actors that included notable alumni such as Alan Ladd, Jack Carson, Shirley Temple, Gower Champion, Angie Dickinson, Cliff Robertson, and Gig Young.
Later in his career, Bard served as the head of the New Talent Department at Twentieth Century Fox in the 1950s, playing a crucial role in discovering and nurturing fresh talent in the film industry.