Jeff Ward was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Philadelphia where he began acting in theatrical productions. He has one younger sister who is a third grade teacher. Jeff attended Tisch School of the Arts along with fellow actor Miles Teller.

Ward received recognition after he was cast as Charles Manson in the 2016 TV movie Manson’s Lost Girls, a role he accepted because he felt that "people inherently have a slightly dark side.”

In 2017, he starred as Seth Marlowe in the critically acclaimed horror anthology series Channel Zero: No-End House.

Later in 2017, he began starring as Deke Shaw on the hit Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.