Madonna’s triumphant return to the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards contained many blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos during her performance of “Danceteria.” One of those was her ex-boyfriend and music video co-star Tony Ward.
I had just recently revisited Ward’s cover photo & layout in the March, 1985 issue of In Touch For Men. (The featured John Waters interview will be posted at a later date). Credited by his full name, baby-faced Anthony Borden Ward was 21 years old when the issue hit the newsstands. He already had four years of modeling experience under his belt, working with photographer Herb Ritts and modeling for Calvin Klein. (Although his socks are not visible in the photos, they are credited to CK.)
Ward also appeared in promotional shots for In Touch later that year:
Ward went on to appear in Madonna’s videos for “Cherish” (1989, directed by Herb Ritts), “Justify My Love”(1990) and “Erotica” (1992). He also appeared in Madonna’s 1992 book Sex. He starred in Bruce LaBruce’s movie Hustler White (1996), the 1998 documentary Sex/Life In L.A, and dozen other films and music videos.
Besides his work in front of the camera, Tony Ward is also a painter and photographer. He lives in Palm Springs, CA.
See Also:
Madonna’s Lost 1980’s Megamix Video
Kurt Bieber: From Little Me to Colt Model
A Stroll Though 1980’s NYC
Debbie At The World (1989)
David on The Robin Byrd Show
1991: Homo Alone
Gay Porn Stars We Lost In 2025
Al Parker: In His Own Words
Keith Haring In Heat Magazine (1992)
You Know The B-52’s Song “Roam” Is About Butt Sex, Right?
