Harrison Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harrison Ford
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Ford in 2017
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| Born | July 13, 1942 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1964–present |
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Works
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Full list |
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| Children | 5 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Vice Chair of Conservation International | |
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Current holder
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| Assumed position 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is a famous American actor. He has starred in many well-known movies over seven decades. His films have earned billions of dollars around the world. Ford has received many important awards, like the AFI Life Achievement Award and the Cecil B. DeMille Award. He was also nominated for an Academy Award, which is one of the biggest honors in movies.
Ford first appeared in a movie in 1966. After some smaller roles, he became super famous as Han Solo in the space adventure film Star Wars (1977). He played Han Solo in four more Star Wars movies over the years. Ford is also well-known for playing Indiana Jones in the Indiana Jones film series, starting with Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). He also starred as Rick Deckard in the science fiction movie Blade Runner (1982) and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017). He played Jack Ryan in the action thrillers Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994).
Ford was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the thriller Witness (1985). Some of his other popular films include Working Girl (1988), The Fugitive (1993), and Air Force One (1997). More recently, Ford has starred in TV shows like the western series 1923 (2022–present) and the comedy series Shrinking (2023–present).
Outside of acting, Harrison Ford is a licensed pilot. He has even helped with rescue missions near his home. He is also an environmental activist and has been a leader for Conservation International since 1991.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Harrison Ford was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 13, 1942. His mother, Dorothy, was a radio actress, and his father, John, worked in advertising and was also an actor. Harrison has a younger brother named Terence. His father was of Irish background, and his mother's family came from Belarus. Ford joked that he and his brother were raised to be "Democrats" and "liberals of every stripe."
Ford was a Boy Scout and earned the rank of Life Scout. He even worked at a Scout camp, teaching about reptiles. This inspired the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), where young Indiana Jones is shown as a Life Scout. Ford finished high school in 1960 in Park Ridge, Illinois. He was the first student voice on his high school's radio station. He later went to Ripon College to study philosophy. He took a drama class to overcome his shyness and found he loved acting.
Becoming an Actor
Early Acting Days
In 1964, Harrison Ford moved to Los Angeles to try to become an actor. He signed a contract with Columbia Pictures and started playing small roles in movies. His first movie role was as a bellhop in Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966). He was later credited as "Harrison J. Ford" in the 1967 Western film A Time for Killing. He added the "J" to avoid confusion with an older silent film actor also named Harrison Ford. He soon dropped the "J" and worked for Universal Studios, appearing in many TV shows in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Ford wasn't happy with the small roles he was getting. So, he taught himself to be a carpenter to support his family. He built things for famous writers like Joan Didion. A casting director named Fred Roos helped Ford get an audition with director George Lucas. This led to Ford getting a role in Lucas's film American Graffiti (1973). This connection with George Lucas would change Ford's career forever.
Rise to Stardom
Ford started getting bigger roles in the late 1970s. His work in American Graffiti helped him get his first main movie role. George Lucas asked Ford to read lines for other actors auditioning for a new space movie called Star Wars (1977). Lucas was so impressed with Ford's reading that he cast him as Han Solo. Star Wars became a huge success and made Ford, along with Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, famous around the world. He played Han Solo again in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
Ford became a leading actor with Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). This action-adventure film was a team-up between George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. It gave Ford his second major role as the brave archaeologist Indiana Jones. The movie was a massive hit. Spielberg wanted Ford for the role from the start, but Lucas was unsure. However, Ford got the part after another actor couldn't do it. Ford played Indiana Jones again in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
After his success as Indiana Jones, Ford starred as Rick Deckard in the science-fiction film Blade Runner (1982). This movie became a cult classic and is now one of Ford's most respected films. Throughout the 1980s, Ford showed he could play many different types of characters. He starred in serious dramas like Witness (1985) and The Mosquito Coast (1986). He also appeared in the romantic comedy-drama Working Girl (1988).
In the 1990s, Ford played Jack Ryan in two action films: Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994). He also starred in other popular thrillers like The Fugitive (1993), The Devil's Own (1997), and Air Force One (1997). Many critics praised his acting in The Fugitive. This period was very successful for Ford, with many of his films becoming top hits at the box office.
Recent Work
In 2008, Ford returned as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. This movie was very popular and earned a lot of money worldwide. Ford also appeared in the science-fiction Western film Cowboys & Aliens (2011).
In 2015, Ford played Han Solo again in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This movie was a huge success, just like the earlier Star Wars films. Ford's character was killed off in this movie, but he later made a brief appearance as a vision in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). In 2017, he returned as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner 2049, which critics really liked.
In 2022, Ford began starring in the TV series 1923 with Helen Mirren. He also started in the comedy-drama series Shrinking in 2023, where his performance was praised. Ford played Indiana Jones one last time in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). In 2025, he will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross in the films Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*.
Life Outside Acting
Personal Life
Harrison Ford has been married three times and has five children. His first marriage was to Mary Marquardt from 1964 to 1979. They had two sons. His second marriage was to screenwriter Melissa Mathison from 1983 to 2004. They had a son and a daughter.
Ford started dating actress Calista Flockhart in 2002. They got married in 2010. Calista had adopted a son before meeting Ford, and Ford adopted him too. Ford and Flockhart live on a large ranch in Jackson, Wyoming, where Ford has lived since the 1980s. He has given about half of his ranch land to be a nature reserve. Ford is known for keeping his personal life private.
Aviation and Rescue Work
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Harrison Ford is a licensed pilot for both planes and helicopters. He has even helped local authorities in Wyoming with emergency helicopter rescues. For example, he once rescued a hiker who was lost and dehydrated.
Ford started learning to fly in the 1960s but couldn't afford to continue. In the mid-1990s, he bought a plane and took lessons again. He keeps his aircraft at Santa Monica Airport. His helicopter has been used in two mountain rescues during his time with the Teton County Search and Rescue team.
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From 2004 to 2009, Ford was the chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program. This program introduces young people to aviation. He has flown over 280 children as part of this program. In 2016, he flew the two millionth Young Eagle, making it a very successful program for youth. Ford also supports other aviation charities and works to protect pilots' rights.
Ford has been involved in a few minor aviation incidents, but he was never seriously hurt. These incidents show that even experienced pilots can face challenges.
Environmental Activism
Ford is the vice-chair of Conservation International, an organization that works to protect nature. Since 1992, he has spoken out in public messages to encourage people to get involved in environmental protection. He has also supported efforts to restore the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park. Ford appeared in the documentary series Years of Living Dangerously, which talks about climate change.
Scientists have even named new species after Harrison Ford! A spider species, Calponia harrisonfordi, an ant species, Pheidole harrisonfordi, and a snake species, Tachymenoides harrisonfordi, are all named in his honor. This is because of his important work with Conservation International.
In 2013, while filming an environmental documentary in Indonesia, Ford spoke with the Indonesian Forestry Minister about protecting forests. In 2019, he gave a powerful speech at the United Nations' Climate Action Summit. He spoke about the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and urged people to listen to young activists who are trying to make a difference.
Political Views
Harrison Ford is a lifelong member of the Democratic Party. He has spoken out on various political issues. In 1995, he supported the Dalai Lama and an independent Tibet. In 2003, he criticized the Iraq War and called for more gun control in the United States. He has also supported candidates who he believes will protect the environment.
Filmography
Awards and Honors
Harrison Ford has received many awards for his acting. In 1986, he was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Witness. He also received Golden Globe nominations for The Mosquito Coast, The Fugitive, and Sabrina.
In 2000, the American Film Institute gave him the AFI Life Achievement Award for his amazing career. In 2002, he received the Cecil B. DeMille Award, another honor for his career, at the Golden Globe Awards. On May 30, 2003, Harrison Ford received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He has also received awards like the Jules Verne Award for encouraging adventure and imagination, and the Hero Award for his iconic roles like Indiana Jones and Han Solo. In 2015, he received the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for his worldwide contribution to entertainment. In 2018, he was honored for both his acting and his charity work.
Other important film honors include an Honorary Cesar and an Honorary Palme d'Or from the Cannes Film Festival. He has also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from several film festivals.
Ford has also been honored for his involvement in aviation. He received the Living Legends of Aviation Award and the Experimental Aircraft Association's Freedom of Flight Award. In 2024, Ford received the Disney Legends Award for his contributions to The Walt Disney Company.
See also
In Spanish: Harrison Ford para niños
