Megan Ward

Megan Ward (born September 24, 1969) is an American actress best known for her roles in science fiction, horror, and comedy films and television series during the 1990s and 2000s.^[1] Born in Los Angeles, California, she grew up in Hawaii after her family relocated there when she was five years old, the youngest of four siblings to parents who were professional stage actors and drama coaches.^[2] Her early exposure to performing came through school plays directed by her parents, and she made her professional debut as Peaseblossom in a Hawaiian production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.^[1] Ward began her career as a teenager, becoming fluent in Japanese and working as a model in Japan at age 15, which led to her first screen role in the film Basho's Journey and a recurring part in a Japanese television series.^[1] After graduating from Kaiser High School in Honolulu, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time, landing early credits in low-budget films like Crash and Burn (1990) and Trancers II (1991).^[3] Her breakthrough came with supporting roles in mainstream comedies such as Encino Man (1992), where she played Robyn Sweeney opposite Brendan Fraser and Sean Astin, and The Brady Bunch Movie (1995).^[4] She also gained recognition in genre television, starring as Kimberly Sayers in the sci-fi conspiracy series Dark Skies (1996–1997) and appearing in horror films like Arcade (1993).^[1] In the 2000s, Ward transitioned to soap operas, originating the role of Kate Howard (later Connie Falconeri) on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital from 2007 to 2010, earning praise for her portrayal of the sophisticated fashion editor with a complex alter ego; she reprised the character briefly in 2018.^[5] Other notable credits include the cult comedy Joe's Apartment (1996) as Lily Dougherty and the short-lived series Boomtown (2002–2003) as Kelly Stevens.^[4] Throughout her career, Ward has appeared in over 40 projects, often embracing versatile roles in both mainstream and niche productions.^[6] On a personal note, Ward has been married to actor and producer Michael Shore since July 29, 1995, and they have two children together.^[4] She maintains a relatively private life outside of her professional work, with occasional interviews reflecting on her experiences in the entertainment industry.^[2]

Early Life

Family Background

Megan Ward was born on September 24, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, as the youngest of four siblings.^[7] Her parents were both professional stage actors who met through their work in the theater and later transitioned into careers as acting teachers and coaches.^[3][2] This familial involvement in the performing arts created an environment where drama and performance were central to daily life, fostering her early immersion in the field.^[7][1]

Childhood and Early Performances

In 1973, at the age of four, Ward's family relocated from the Los Angeles area to Honolulu, Hawaii, where her parents pursued opportunities in acting and established an acting school.^[7] This move immersed her in a vibrant cultural environment that influenced her early interests, with her parents' background in stage acting sparking her initial curiosity about performance.^[2] By age nine in 1979, Ward began her first professional work, appearing in local commercials for department stores, facilitated by her mother's position at a modeling agency.^[7] She continued with steady print and commercial gigs, including Japanese advertisements and travel brochures for Hawaiian hotels, often alongside her family.^[8] These early jobs provided her with practical experience in front of the camera and helped her build confidence in the industry. In her early teens, Ward traveled to Japan for modeling assignments, where she stayed for several months and became fluent in the language through prior schooling in Hawaii.^[7] During this period, she also took on a notable stage role as Peaseblossom in a Hawaiian production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, marking her introduction to theatrical performance.^[1] From 1988 to February 1989, at around age 18, Ward hosted the educational television program Science Q on Japan's NHK network, a primetime show that explored scientific concepts through demonstrations and explanations of everyday phenomena.^[8] Her fluency in Japanese and prior modeling experience in the country made her a natural fit for the role, which she described as akin to being a celebrity host in the style of Vanna White.^[3]

Career

Early Film and Television Roles

After graduating from Kaiser High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1987, Ward relocated to Los Angeles the following day to pursue a professional acting career.^[9][2] Her background in community theater and hosting a local Hawaiian television show during her teenage years provided foundational experience that facilitated her transition into the industry.^[2] Ward's film debut came in 1990 with the low-budget science fiction action video Crash and Burn, directed by Charles Band for Full Moon Features, where she played a supporting role in a post-apocalyptic story involving rebels fighting corporate control through robot combat.^[2] She followed this with appearances in similar genre projects, including Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth (1991), as Alice Stillwell in the time-traveling cop series, and Trancers III: Deth Lives (1992), reprising the role and continuing the franchise's low-budget aesthetic focused on battling future ghouls.^[2] These early roles established her presence in science fiction and horror cinema, often produced by Band's company.^[3] A pivotal shift occurred in 1992 with her role as Robyn Sweeney, the love interest to Brendan Fraser's character, in the comedy Encino Man, her first major studio film directed by Les Mayfield. This performance in the caveman-frozen-in-time tale marked her breakthrough into mainstream comedy, showcasing her comedic timing alongside Sean Astin and Pauly Shore.^[3] Concurrently, Ward made early guest appearances on television series, building her resume in episodic formats before securing more prominent parts.^[3]

Breakthrough in Science Fiction

In the mid-1990s, Megan Ward specialized in science fiction and horror genres, building on her early career with roles that emphasized supernatural and fantastical elements. She starred as Lily Dougherty in the comedy-fantasy film Joe's Apartment (1996), portraying the romantic lead opposite Jerry O'Connell in a story about a young man cohabiting with anthropomorphic cockroaches. Her horror credits during this period included Amityville: It's About Time (1992), where she played Lisa Sterling in a tale of a cursed clock unleashing malevolent forces, and Arcade (1993), as Alex Manning, a teen trapped in a deadly virtual reality video game. These projects highlighted Ward's affinity for blending genre tropes with character-driven narratives. Ward's breakthrough arrived with her starring role as Kimberly Sayers in the NBC science fiction series Dark Skies (1996–1997), a 20-episode program that fused historical events with alien conspiracy themes. Aired from September 21, 1996, to May 31, 1997, the show depicted Sayers, a journalist, and her fiancé John Loengard (Eric Close) uncovering a covert government war against an invasive alien species called the Hive, reimagining 1960s milestones like the Kennedy assassination through extraterrestrial intrigue. Despite its ambitious scope and Emmy-nominated production design, Dark Skies was canceled after one season due to low ratings, though it later achieved cult status among fans for its innovative storytelling and dense mythology. The role of Sayers marked a pivotal moment for Ward, earning praise for her portrayal of a resilient, intelligent protagonist navigating paranoia and loss in a dramatic sci-fi framework. Critics noted the series' stylistic echoes of The X-Files while commending Ward's chemistry with Close and her ability to convey emotional depth amid high-stakes genre action. Her performance in Dark Skies solidified her reputation in science fiction, with guest appearances on dramas like Party of Five (1994–1995), where she recurred as Jill Holbrook, providing a contrast that underscored her versatility before further procedural roles in the late 1990s. This early comedy exposure from Encino Man (1992) also aided her casting in Dark Skies' lighter, character-focused moments.

Soap Opera and Later Work

Following her science fiction roles in the 1990s, Ward transitioned into more dramatic ensemble work with a recurring role as Kelly Stevens, the wife of detective Ray Hechler, on the NBC crime drama Boomtown from 2002 to 2003, appearing in eight episodes that highlighted the show's nonlinear storytelling and character-driven narratives. Ward's most prominent soap opera tenure came on ABC's General Hospital, where she originated the role of sophisticated magazine editor Kate Howard in May 2007, portraying the character through 2010 for a core run of over 300 episodes, with brief returns in 2018 and 2020 that brought her total appearances to 366. The character, later revealed to have dissociative identity disorder with an alter ego named Connie Falconeri, allowed Ward to explore complex psychological layers, though the full arc developed after her initial stint.^[10] In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Ward maintained versatility through guest spots, including Nancy, Rachel Green's coworker at Ralph Lauren, on the NBC sitcom Friends in the 1999 episode "The One Where Rachel Smokes," and vigilante Annie Cartland on CBS's CSI: NY in the 2011 episode "Vigilante."^[11] She also starred as Michelle Halliam, a pregnant woman confronting supernatural evil in her new home, in the 2010 horror-thriller film The Invited, directed by Ryan McKinney.^[12] Ward's later projects became more sporadic, with a supporting role as Kate Teller, a mother entangled in a Gold Rush-era family feud, in the 2023 Western Teller's Camp, directed by Jared Zabel.^[13] Following the 2023 film Teller's Camp, no major acting credits have been confirmed as of November 2025, marking a shift toward selective, lower-profile work after two decades in television and film.^[4]

Personal Life

Marriage

Megan Ward met actor and producer Michael Shore in an acting class in the early 1990s.^[9][7] The couple began dating shortly thereafter and married on July 29, 1995.^[7] Their marriage, which began amid Ward's emerging roles in film and television, has endured without reported separations or divorces as of 2025.^[7] Ward and Shore have maintained a low-profile approach to their personal life, rarely sharing details publicly and focusing on privacy amid Ward's public-facing profession.^[14]

Family

Megan Ward and her husband Michael Shore welcomed their first child, son Oliver Shore, in 2001.^[15] Their daughter, Audrey Shore, was born on May 31, 2006.^[16] With marriage serving as the foundation of their family unit, Ward has emphasized the joys of parenthood, noting the strong sibling bond between Oliver and Audrey early on.^[16] Following Oliver's birth, Ward chose to prioritize her growing family during a period of professional momentum, opting to scale back on certain acting opportunities to focus on parenting.^[17] In interviews, she has described these decisions as essential for maintaining balance, acknowledging that commitments to her children and marriage sometimes limited career pursuits but aligned with her values.^[18] The family resides in the Los Angeles area, allowing Ward a short commute to work when filming.^[18] They maintain a low public profile regarding their children, with no disclosed details as of 2025 about Oliver or Audrey's involvement in the entertainment industry or other personal endeavors.^[4]

Filmography

Film

• Late 1980s: Basho's Journey – Role unspecified (Japanese film)^[3]
• 1990: Crash and Burn – Arren (direct-to-video sci-fi action film)^[19]
• 1991: Trancers II – Alice Stillwell (direct-to-video science fiction sequel)
• 1991: Goodbye Paradise – Little Sharon (independent drama)
• 1992: Trancers III – Alice Stillwell (direct-to-video science fiction)
• 1992: Encino Man – Robyn Sweeney (teen comedy)^[20]
• 1992: Amityville 1992: It's About Time – Lisa Sterling (direct-to-video horror)
• 1993: Arcade – Alex Manning (direct-to-video horror thriller)^[21]
• 1993: Freaked – Julie (also known as Hideous; comedy horror)
• 1994: PCU – Katy (college comedy)
• 1995: The Brady Bunch Movie – Donna Leonard (family comedy)
• 1996: Joe's Apartment – Lily Dougherty / voice of Beeque (musical comedy)^[22]
• 1996: Glory Daze – Joanie (college comedy)
• 1999: Say You'll Be Mine – Melanie (romantic comedy)
• 2000: Tick Tock – Rachel Avery (psychological thriller)
• 2000: Rated X – Meredith (direct-to-video drama)
• 2003: Mirror Man – Cheryl Parker (short thriller, expanded release)
• 2005: Complete Guide to Guys – Kelly (romantic comedy)
• 2007: Wedding Dreams – Rebecca (independent romantic comedy)
• 2010: The Invited – Michelle (horror thriller)
• 2023: Teller's Camp – Kate Teller (western drama)^[13]

Television

• 1988: Science Q – Host of the Japanese science television series.^[23]
• 1990: What a Dummy – Tracy (guest role, 1 episode).^[24]
• 1990: Out of This World – Kimberly (guest role, 1 episode).^[24]
• 1991: Sons and Daughters – DiDi (guest role, 1 episode: "Dating Game").^[24]
• 1993: Class of '96 – Patty Horvath (series regular, 17 episodes).^[23]
• 1994: Charles in Charge – Guest role (1 episode).^[25]
• 1994: Winnetka Road – Nicole Manning (series regular, 8 episodes).^[23]
• 1994: Sweet Justice – Dedra Mapoles (guest role, 1 episode).^[23]
• 1994–1995: Party of Five – Jill Holbrook (recurring role, 9 episodes).^[23]
• 1994: ER – Judy Anderson (guest role, 1 episode).^[26]
• 1995: The Single Guy – Monica (guest role, 1 episode: "Gift").^[23]
• 1995: Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge – Ashley Judd (TV movie).^[25]
• 1996: 7th Heaven – Sally (guest role, 1 episode).^[26]
• 1996–1997: Dark Skies – Kimberly Sayers (series regular, 20 episodes).^[23]
• 1996: From the Files of Unsolved Mysteries: Voice From the Grave – Renee Perkins (TV movie).^[25]
• 1997–1998: Melrose Place – Connie Rexroth (recurring role).^[23]
• 1998: Four Corners – Kate Wyatt (series regular).^[23]
• 1998: Fantasy Island – Ashley Gable (guest role, 1 episode: "Wishboned").^[23]
• 1999: Jesse – April (guest role, 1 episode: "My Casual Friend's Wedding").^[23]
• 1999: Friends – Nancy (guest role, 1 episode: "The One Where Rachel Smokes").
• 1999–2000: Sports Night – Pixley Robinson (recurring role, 2 episodes).^[23]
• 2001: All Souls – Dr. Alix Brightland (pilot episode).^[23]
• 2002–2003: Boomtown – Kelly Stevens (recurring role, 8 episodes).^[23]
• 2002: Without a Trace – Hillary Sterling (guest role, 1 episode).^[26]
• 2002: CSI: Miami – Jennie Hale (guest role, 1 episode).^[26]
• 2003: The West Wing – Jane (guest role, 1 episode: "Guns Not Butter").^[23]
• 2003: NCIS – Laura Rowens (guest role, 1 episode).^[26]
• 2004: Boston Legal – Susan May (guest role, 1 episode).^[26]
• 2004: Kevin Hill – Heather Valerio (recurring role).^[26]
• 2004: Summerland – Karen Westerly (recurring role).^[26]
• 2004: Century City – Paula Marcus (guest role, 1 episode).^[26]
• 2005: Ghost Whisperer – Daisy Manning (guest role, 1 episode).^[26]
• 2005: Sleeper Cell – Angela Fuller (recurring role).^[26]
• 2007–2013, 2018, 2020: General Hospital – Kate Howard / Connie Falconeri (recurring role, 365 episodes).^[27]
• 2011: CSI: NY – Annie Cartland (guest role, 1 episode: "Vigilante").^[28]
• 2018: Party Mom – Caroline (TV movie).^[27]