Ashley Maitland Welkos, later known as Maitland Ward, was born on February 3, 1977, in Long Beach, California. Her early career began with a three-year stint as "Jessica Forrester" on the popular soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, which premiered in 1987.
Ward's subsequent guest appearances included a notable role on the hit sitcom Home Improvement in 1991. Her breakthrough role came when she played "Rachel McGuire" on the beloved prime-time series Boy Meets World, starring on the ABC comedy for three consecutive years from 1993.
In addition to her television work, Ward also appeared in the independent romantic comedy Dish Dogs in 2000, alongside notable actors Brian Dennehy, Matthew Lillard, and Sean Astin. Her filmography also includes a starring role in the 2004 comedy White Chicks, co-starring with the Wayans Brothers.
Since 2004, Ward has been a main cast member on the CBS comedy Out of Practice. She also led the untitled Michael Jacobs pilot and made a guest appearance on the CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement in 2007, opposite David Spade.
In her personal life, Ward married John T. Baxter in October 2006, with their wedding being profiled in the New York Times Society Pages. She went on to attend New York University, studying Theatre while pursuing roles on stage. Ward resided in New York City for two years before relocating back to Los Angeles in the spring of 2009.
