Outside acting, Ford is a licensed pilot. He has often assisted the emergency services in rescue missions near his home inWyoming, and he chaired anaviation education program for youth from 2004 to 2009.[5] Ford is also an environmental activist, having served as the inaugural vice chair ofConservation International since 1991.[6]
Early life
Harrison Ford was born at theSwedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois,[7] on July 13, 1942,[8] to former radio actress Dorothy (née Nidelman) and advertising executive and former actor John William "Christopher" Ford.[9]
His younger brother, Terence, was born in 1945.[10] Their father was aCatholic of Irish descent,[9] while their mother was anAshkenazi Jew whose parents were emigrants fromMinsk, Belarus, then in the Russian Empire.[9][11] When asked in which religion he and his brother were raised, Ford jokingly responded "Democrat"[12] and more seriously stated that they were raised to be "liberals of every stripe".[13] When asked about what influence his Jewish and Irish Catholic ancestry may have had on him, he quipped, "As a man I've always felt Irish, as an actor I've always felt Jewish."[14][15][16]
Ford was aBoy Scout, achieving the second-highest rank of Life Scout. He worked atNapowan Adventure Base Scout Camp as a counselor for the Reptile Study merit badge. Because of this, he and directorSteven Spielberg later decided to depict the youngIndiana Jones as a Life Scout inIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Ford graduated in 1960 fromMaine East High School inPark Ridge, Illinois. His voice was the first student voice broadcast on his high school's new radio station,WMTH,[15] and he was its first sportscaster during his senior year. He attendedRipon College inRipon, Wisconsin,[15] where he was a philosophy major and a member of theSigma Nu fraternity. A self-described "late bloomer",[17] Ford took a drama class in the final quarter of his senior year to get over his shyness and became fascinated with acting.[18][19][20] Ford wasexpelled from college for plagiarism four days before graduation.[21]
Career
1964–1976: Early work
In 1964, after a season ofsummer stock with theBelfry Players in Wisconsin,[22][23] Ford traveled to Los Angeles and eventually signed a contract withColumbia Pictures' new talent program.[9]: 60–69 His first known role was an uncredited one as a bellhop inDead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966). There is little record of his non-speaking (or "extra") roles in film. Ford was at the bottom of the hiring list, having offended producerJerry Tokofsky. According to one anecdote, Tokofsky told Ford that when actorTony Curtis delivered a bag of groceries, he could tell that Curtis was a movie star whereas Ford wasn't; Ford immediately retorted that if Curtis was truly a talented actor, he would've delivered them like a bellhop. Ford was apparently fired soon after.[9][page needed][24]
His speaking roles continued next withLuv (1967), though he was still uncredited. He was finally credited as "Harrison J. Ford" in the 1967Western filmA Time for Killing, starringGlenn Ford,George Hamilton andInger Stevens, but the "J" did not stand for anything since he has no middle name.[25] It was added to avoid confusion witha silent film actor named Harrison Ford,[26] who appeared in more than 80 films between 1915 and 1932 and died in 1957. Ford later said that he was unaware of the existence of the earlier actor until he came upon a star with his own name on theHollywood Walk of Fame. Ford soon dropped the "J" and worked forUniversal Studios, playing minor roles in many television series throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, includingGunsmoke,Ironside,The Virginian,The F.B.I.,Love, American Style andKung Fu. He appeared in the westernJourney to Shiloh (1968) and had an uncredited, non-speaking role inMichelangelo Antonioni's 1970 filmZabriskie Point as an arrested student protester. In 1968, he also worked as a camera operator for one ofthe Doors' tours.[27] French filmmakerJacques Demy chose Ford for the lead role of his first American film,Model Shop (1969), but the head of Columbia Pictures thought Ford had "no future" in the film business and told Demy to hire a more experienced actor. The part eventually went toGary Lockwood. Ford later commented that the experience had been nevertheless a positive one because Demy was the first to show such faith in him.[28][29]
Not happy with the roles offered to him, Ford became a self-taught professional carpenter[15] to support his then-wife and two young sons. Clients at this time included the writersJoan Didion andJohn Gregory Dunne, who lived on the beach atMalibu. Ford appears in the documentaryJoan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold. He and his wife became friends of the writers.[30] Casting director and fledgling producerFred Roos championed the young Ford and secured him an audition withGeorge Lucas for the role of Bob Falfa, which Ford went on to play inAmerican Graffiti (1973).[15] Ford's relationship with Lucas profoundly affected his career later. After directorFrancis Ford Coppola's filmThe Godfather was a success, he hired Ford to expand his office and gave him small roles in his next two films,The Conversation (1974) andApocalypse Now (1979); in the latter film, Ford played an army colonel named "G. Lucas".
1977–1997: Worldwide stardom and acclaim
Ford's work inAmerican Graffiti eventually landed him his first starring film role, when Lucas hired him to read lines for actors auditioning for roles in Lucas's upcoming epic space-opera filmStar Wars (1977). Lucas was eventually won over by Ford's performance during these line reads and cast him asHan Solo.[31]Star Wars became one of the most successful and groundbreaking films of all time, and brought Ford, and his co-starsMark Hamill andCarrie Fisher, widespread recognition. Ford began to be cast in bigger roles in films throughout the late 1970s, includingHeroes (1977),Force 10 from Navarone (1978) andHanover Street (1979). He also co-starred alongsideGene Wilder in the buddy-comedy westernThe Frisco Kid (1979), playing a bank robber with a heart of gold. Ford returned to star in the successfulStar Wars sequelsThe Empire Strikes Back (1980) andReturn of the Jedi (1983), as well as theStar Wars Holiday Special (1978). Ford wanted Lucas tokill off Han Solo at the end ofReturn of the Jedi, saying, "That would have given the whole film a bottom," but Lucas refused.[32]
Ford's status as a leading actor was solidified withRaiders of the Lost Ark (1981), an action-adventure collaboration between Lucas andSteven Spielberg that gave Ford his second franchise role as the heroic, globe-trotting archaeologistIndiana Jones. LikeStar Wars, the film was massively successful; it became the highest-grossing film of the year. Both Spielberg and Lucas were hesitant in casting Ford in the beginning according toHoward Kazanjian in his bookA Producer's Life.[33] Lucas's reasons were due to having already worked with him on bothAmerican Graffiti andStar Wars. Lucas relented afterTom Selleck was unable to accept and Spielberg due to the same and seeing his performance inThe Empire Strikes Back. Ford went on to reprise the role throughout the rest of the decade in the prequelIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and the sequelIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). During the June 1983 filming ofTemple of Doom in London, Ford herniated a disc in his back. The 40-year-old actor was forced to fly back to Los Angeles for surgery and returned six weeks later.[34]
Following his leading-man success as Indiana Jones, Ford played Rick Deckard inRidley Scott's dystopian science-fiction filmBlade Runner (1982). Compared to his experiences on theStar Wars andIndiana Jones films, Ford had a difficult time with the production. He recalled toVanity Fair, "It was a long slog. I didn't really find it that physically difficult—I thought it was mentally difficult." Ford and Scott also had differing views on the nature of his character, Deckard, that persist decades later.[35] While not initially a success,Blade Runner became a cult classic and one of Ford's most highly regarded films.[36] Ford proved his versatility throughout the 1980s with dramatic parts in films such asWitness (1985),The Mosquito Coast (1986), andFrantic (1988), as well as the romantic male lead oppositeMelanie Griffith andSigourney Weaver in the comedy-dramaWorking Girl (1988).Witness andThe Mosquito Coast allowed Ford to explore his potential as a dramatic actor, and both performances were widely acclaimed.[37][38] Ford later recalled that working with directorPeter Weir onWitness andThe Mosquito Coast were two of the best experiences of his career.[39]
In late 1991, Ford was scheduled to star in an action-historical film titledNight Ride Down, where he would have portrayed aPullman Company executive whose daughter was kidnapped during a labor strike of the 1930s.[40][41][42] Paramount Pictures shelved the project, after Ford quit the film over script changes he disagreed with.[43][44] In the next few years, Ford became the second actor to portrayJack Ryan in two films of thefilm series based on the literary character created byTom Clancy:Patriot Games (1992) andClear and Present Danger (1994), both co-starringAnne Archer andJames Earl Jones. Ford took over the role fromAlec Baldwin, who had played Ryan inThe Hunt for Red October (1990). This led to long-lasting resentment from Baldwin, who said that he had wanted to reprise the role but Ford had negotiated with Paramount behind his back.[45] Ford played leading roles in other action-based thrillers throughout the decade, such asThe Fugitive(1993),[46]The Devil's Own (1997), andAir Force One (1997). For his performance inThe Fugitive, which co-starredTommy Lee Jones, Ford received some of the best reviews of his career, including fromRoger Ebert, who concluded that, "Ford is once again the great modern movie everyman. As an actor, nothing he does seems merely for show, and in the face of this melodramatic material he deliberately plays down, lays low, gets on with business instead of trying to exploit the drama in meaningless acting flourishes."[47]
Ford played more straight dramatic roles inPresumed Innocent (1990) andRegarding Henry (1991), and another romantic lead role inSabrina (1995), a remake of the classic1954 film of the same name. Ford established working relationships with many well-regarded directors during this time, including Weir,Alan J. Pakula,Mike Nichols,Phillip Noyce, andSydney Pollack, collaborating twice with each of them. This was the most lucrative period of Ford's career. From 1977 to 1997, he appeared in 14 films that reached the top 15 in the yearly domestic box-office rankings, 12 of which reached the top ten.[48] Six of the films he appeared in during this time were nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Picture, among other awards:Star Wars,Apocalypse Now,Raiders of the Lost Ark,Witness,Working Girl, andThe Fugitive.
1998–2014: Established career
In the late 1990s, Ford started appearing in several critically derided and commercially disappointing films that failed to match his earlier successes, includingSix Days, Seven Nights (1998),Random Hearts (1999),K-19: The Widowmaker (2002),Hollywood Homicide (2003),Firewall (2006) andExtraordinary Measures (2010). One exception wasWhat Lies Beneath (2000), which grossed over $155million in the United States and $291million worldwide.[49] Ford served as an executive producer onK-19: The Widowmaker andExtraordinary Measures, both of which were based on true events.
In 2004, Ford declined a chance to star in the thrillerSyriana, later commenting that "I didn't feel strongly enough about the truth of the material and I think I made a mistake."[50] The role went toGeorge Clooney, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his work. Before that, Ford had passed on a role in anotherStephen Gaghan-written film, that of Robert Wakefield inTraffic, which went toMichael Douglas.
In 2008, Ford enjoyed success with the release ofIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the first Indiana Jones film in 19 years and another collaboration with Lucas and Spielberg. The film received generally positive reviews and was the second-highest-grossing film worldwide in 2008.[51] Ford later said he would like to star in another sequel "if it didn't take another 20 years to digest."[52]
Ford's performance asBranch Rickey in the film42 was praised by many critics and garnered Ford a nomination as best supporting actor for theSatellite Awards. Initially,Brian Helgeland was hesitant to cast Ford, seeking a character actor for the role of Rickey.[60] However, Ford's persistence and dedication to the role, including studying Rickey's life and adopting significant physical transformations, won Helgeland over.[61] Ford's commitment to embodying Rickey involved wearing a fat suit, prosthetics, and mastering Rickey's distinctive voice and mannerisms.[60] He researched Rickey's life, listened to recordings from theBaseball Hall of Fame, and worked with avoice coach to capture Rickey's distinct speech. "I loved the language of the guy, I loved his style," Ford noted.[61] In a 2023 interview withJames Hibberd ofThe Hollywood Reporter, Ford said Branch Rickey is one of his roles he is most proud of.[62]
Ford reprised the role of Han Solo in the long-awaited Star Wars sequelStar Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), which was highly successful, like its predecessors.[64] During filming on June 11, 2014, Ford suffered what was said to be a fractured ankle when a hydraulic door fell on him. He was airlifted toJohn Radcliffe Hospital inOxford, England, for treatment.[65][66] Ford's sonBen Ford released details on his father's injury, saying that his ankle would likely need a plate and screws, and that filming could be altered slightly, with the crew needing to shoot Ford from the waist up for a short time until he recovered.[67] Ford made his return to filming in mid-August, after a two-month layoff as he recovered from his injury.[68][69] Ford's character was killed off inThe Force Awakens,[70] but it was subsequently announced, via a casting call, that Ford would return in some capacity as Solo inEpisode VIII.[71] In February 2016, when the cast forEpisode VIII was confirmed, it was indicated that Ford would not reprise his role in the film after all.[72] When Ford was asked whether Solo could come back in "some form", he replied, "Anything is possible in space."[73] He eventually made an uncredited appearance as a vision inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).[74][75]
On February 26, 2015,Alcon Entertainment announced Ford would reprise his role as Rick Deckard inDenis Villeneuve's science fiction sequel filmBlade Runner 2049.[76] The film, and Ford's performance, was very well received by critics upon its release in October 2017.[77] Scott Collura ofIGN called it a "deep, rich, smart film that's visually awesome and full of great sci-fi concepts" and Ford's role "a quiet, sort of gut-wrenching interpretation to Deckard and what he must've gone through in the past three decades."[78] The film grossed $259.3million worldwide, short of the estimated $400million that it needed tobreak even.[79] In 2019, Ford had his first voice role in an animated film, as a dog named Rooster inThe Secret Life of Pets 2.[80] With filming of a fifthIndiana Jones film delayed by a year, Ford headlined a big-budgetadaptation ofJack London'sThe Call of the Wild, playing prospector John Thornton.[81] The film was released in February 2020 to a mixed critical reception and its theatrical release was shortened due to theimpact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film industry.
Ford has been married three times and has four biological children and one adopted child. He was first married to Mary Marquardt from 1964 until their divorce in 1979. They had two sons, born in 1966 and 1969. The older son co-owns Ford's Filling Station, agastropub located at Terminal 5 inLos Angeles International Airport.[92] The younger son is owner of the Ludwig Clothing company[93] and previously owned Strong Sports Gym[94] and the Kim Sing Theater.[95]
Ford's second marriage was to screenwriterMelissa Mathison from March 1983 until their separation in 2000;[96] they divorced in 2004.[97] They had a son, born in 1987, and a daughter, born in 1990. Mathison died in 2015.
Ford began dating actressCalista Flockhart after they met at the2002 Golden Globe Awards. He proposed to Flockhart over Valentine's Day weekend in 2009.[98] They married on June 15, 2010, inSanta Fe, New Mexico, where Ford was filmingCowboys & Aliens.[99] They are the parents of a son, born in 2001, whom Flockhart had adopted before meeting Ford. Ford and Flockhart live on an 800-acre (320-hectare; 3.2-square-kilometre) ranch inJackson, Wyoming, where he has lived since the 1980s and approximately half of which he has donated as a nature reserve.[100] They retain a base in theBrentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.[101] Ford is one of Hollywood's most private actors, guarding much of his personal life.[15] Although Ford's fans have speculated that he hassocial anxiety disorder, he said in 2023 that he instead has "an abhorrence of boring situations".[62]
Ford is a licensed pilot of bothfixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.[15] On several occasions, he has provided emergency helicopter services at the request of local authorities inWyoming. In 2000, he airlifted anEMT to a 20-year-old hiker who was suffering from dehydration onTable Mountain.[5][103] The following year, he was flagged down in his helicopter by a 13-year-oldBoy Scout who got lost nearYellowstone National Park.[104]
Ford's aircraft are kept atSanta Monica Airport.[107] HisBell 407 helicopter is often hangered at Jackson and has been used by Ford in two mountain rescues during his assigned duty time withTeton County Search and Rescue. During one of the rescues, Ford recovered a lost and disoriented hiker. She boarded his helicopter and promptly vomited into one of the rescuers' caps, unaware of who the pilot was until much later; "I can't believe I barfed in Harrison Ford's helicopter!" she said later.[108]
Ford flies hisde Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver (registration N28S) more than any of his other aircraft, and has repeatedly said that he likes this aircraft and the sound of itsPratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine.[109] According to Ford, it had been flown in the CIA'sAir America operations and was riddled with bullet holes that had to be patched up.[110]
In March 2004, Ford became chairman of theExperimental Aircraft Association (EAA)'sYoung Eagles program, founded by then-EAA presidentTom Poberezny and fellow actor-pilotCliff Robertson. Ford was asked to take the position by Greg Anderson, Senior Vice President of the EAA at the time, to replace GeneralChuck Yeager, who was vacating the post that he had held for many years. Ford at first was hesitant, but later accepted the offer and has made appearances with the Young Eagles at theEAA AirVenture Oshkosh gathering atOshkosh, Wisconsin, for two years. In July 2005, at the gathering in Oshkosh, Ford agreed to accept the position for another two years. He has flown over 280 children as part of the Young Eagles program, usually in his DHC-2 Beaver, which can seat the actor and five children. Ford stepped down as program chairman in 2009 and was replaced by CaptainChesley Sullenberger and First OfficerJeff Skiles. He is involved with the EAA chapter inDriggs, Idaho, just over theTeton Range from Jackson, Wyoming. On July 28, 2016, Ford flew the two millionth Young Eagle at the EAA AirVenture convention,[111] making it the most successful youth aviation introduction program in history.
Ford is an honorary board member of the humanitarian aviation organizationWings of Hope,[115] and has made several trips to Washington, D.C., to fight for pilots' rights.[116] He has also donated substantial funds toaerobatic championSean Tucker's charitable program, The Bob Hoover Academy (named after legendary aviatorBob Hoover), which educates at-risk teens in central California and teaches them how to fly.[117]
Incidents
On August 22, 1987, Ford was traveling as a passenger withClint Eastwood andSondra Locke aboard aGulfstream III when the jet developed an engine fire and stuck landing gear during a Paris-to-L.A. flight and wasforced to land inBangor, Maine.[118] The charter company owning the G-3 sent another jet and mechanics to Bangor, and the group flew out on that plane the next day.[119]
On October 23, 1999, Ford was involved in the crash of aBell 206L4 LongRanger helicopter. TheNTSB accident report states that Ford was piloting the aircraft over theLake Piru riverbed nearSanta Clarita, California, on a routine training flight. While making his second attempt at anautorotation with powered recovery,[120] the aircraft was unable to recover power after the sudden drop in altitude. It landed hard and skidded forward in the loose gravel before flipping onto its side. Neither Ford nor the instructor pilot suffered any injuries, though the helicopter was seriously damaged.[121]
On March 5, 2015, Ford's plane, believed to be aRyan PT-22 Recruit, made an emergency landing on the Penmar Golf Course inVenice, California, after it lost engine power. He was taken toRonald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he was reported to be in fair to moderate condition.[122] Ford suffered a brokenpelvis and broken ankle during the accident, as well as other injuries.[123]
On April 24, 2020, at the Los AngelesHawthorne Airport while piloting his Husky, Ford crossed a runway where another aircraft was landing.[125] According to the FAA, the two planes were about 3,600 feet from each other and there was no danger of collision. A representative of Ford later said that he "misheard" an instruction given to him by air traffic control.[126]
In September 2013, Ford, while filming an environmental documentary inIndonesia, interviewed the IndonesianForestry Minister,Zulkifli Hasan. After the interview, Ford and his crew were accused of "harassing state institutions" and publicly threatened withdeportation. Questions within the interview concerned theTesso Nilo National Park,Sumatra. It was alleged the Minister of Forestry was given no prior warning of questions nor the chance to explain the challenges of catchingillegal loggers.[134][135][136][137] Ford was provided an audience with the Indonesian President,Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, during which he expressed concerns regarding Indonesia's environmental degradation and the government efforts toaddress climate change. In response, the President explained Indonesia's commitment to preserving its oceans and forests.[138][139]
In 2019, on behalf of Conservation International, Ford gave an impassioned speech during the United Nations' Climate Action Summit in New York on thedestruction of the Amazon rainforest and its effect on climate change for the rest of the world. Ford urged his audience to listen to 'angry young people' trying to make a difference in the situation, emphasizing, "The most important thing we can do for them is to get the hell out of their way."[140]
In 2025, the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation gave Ford its inaugural E.O. Wilson Legacy Award for Transformative Conservation Leadership.[141][142]
In 2003, he publicly condemned theIraq War and called for "regime change" in the United States. He also criticizedHollywood for making movies which were "more akin to video games than stories about human life and relationships", and he called for moregun control in the United States.[148]
Ford endorsedJoe Biden's2020 presidential campaign against Trump. He said that he wanted to "encourage people to support candidates that will support the environment" and felt that under Trump, the U.S. had "lost some of our credibility in the world".[152] Along withMark Hamill, Ford worked with the anti-Trump Republican groupThe Lincoln Project to produce and narrate a2020 election ad attacking Trump's disparaging ofAnthony Fauci.[153]
Following on his success portraying the archaeologistIndiana Jones, Ford also plays a part in supporting the work of professionalarchaeologists. He serves as a General Trustee on the Governing Board of theArchaeological Institute of America (AIA), North America's oldest and largest organization devoted to the world of archaeology.[155] Ford assists them in their mission of increasing public awareness of archaeology and preventing looting and theillegal antiquities trade.[citation needed]
Throughout his career, Ford has received significant recognition for his work in the entertainment industry. In 1986, he was nominated forBest Actor at the58th Academy Awards for his performance inWitness, a role for which he also receivedBAFTA andGolden Globe nominations in the same category. Three additional Golden Globe nominations went to Ford in1987,1994 and1996 for his performances inThe Mosquito Coast,The Fugitive andSabrina.[156] In 2000, he was the recipient of theAFI Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute for his body of work, presented to him by two of his closest collaborators and fellow industry giants, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.[157] In 2002, he was given theCecil B. DeMille Award, another career achievement honor, from theHollywood Foreign Press Association at the59th Golden Globe Awards ceremony. On May 30, 2003, Ford received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2006, he received theJules Verne Award, given to an actor who has "encouraged the spirit of adventure and imagination" throughout their career. He was presented with the first-ever Hero Award at the 2007 Scream Awards for his many iconic roles, includingIndiana Jones andHan Solo (both of which earned him a collective threeSaturn Awards forBest Actor in1982,2024 and2016, respectively), and in 2008 he received theSpike TV's Guy's Choice Award for "Brass Balls".[158][159] In 2015, Ford received the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment fromBAFTA Los Angeles.[160] In 2018, Ford was honored by theSAG-AFTRA Foundation with the Artists Inspiration Award for both his acting and philanthropic work alongside fellow honoreeLady Gaga. SAG-AFTRA Foundation Board PresidentJoBeth Williams in the press release said, "Harrison Ford is an acting legend in every known galaxy, but what many do not know are the decades of philanthropic service and leadership he has given to Conservation International to help protect our planet."[161]
^Rinzer, J. W. (2008).The Complete Making of Indiana Jones: The Definitive Story Behind All Four Films. New York: Del Rey, imprint of Random House, Inc. p. 153.ISBN978-0-345-50129-5.Lucas arrived on June 20, [1983]. "Harrison was in really terrible pain," he says. "He was on the set lying on a gurney. They would lift him up and he'd walk through his scenes, and they'd get him back on the bed." That same day Ford filmed his fight with the Thuggee assassin in Indy's suite on Stage 3. "Harrison had to roll backward on top of the guy," Spielberg says. "At that moment his back herniated and Harrison let out a call for help."
^Breznican, Anthony (December 21, 2015)."We Need To Talk About Kylo".Entertainment Weekly.Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. RetrievedDecember 23, 2015.
^Chiorando, Maria (September 27, 2019)."Ford at 2019 UN Climate Summit".plantbasednews.org.Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. RetrievedOctober 19, 2019.
^"Signez la pétition pour Roman Polanski!" [Sign the petition for Roman Polanski!].La Règle du Jeu (in French). November 10, 2009.Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. RetrievedJune 13, 2019.
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