Photo: Paramount/Getty
Happy Birthday,Harrison Ford! The actor turns 81 on July 13, 2023, and has lived quite the life, from the depths of outer space to the Temple of Doom.Celebrate his latest milestone with a look back on his life in photos.
Happy Birthday,Harrison Ford! The actor turns 81 on July 13, 2023, and has lived quite the life, from the depths of outer space to the Temple of Doom.
Celebrate his latest milestone with a look back on his life in photos.
01of 13Harrison Ford’s Early LifeABC/Disney/GettyFord was born in Chicago, but eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career acting after a season of summer stock theater in Wisconsin. Nabbing a few roles upon his arrival, 1966’sDead Heat on a Merry-Go-Roundmarked his first feature film, in which he played an uncredited bellhop.Throughout the late 1960s, Ford picked up a few television roles while also working as aself-taught carpentertosupport his family.
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Harrison Ford’s Early Life
ABC/Disney/Getty
Ford was born in Chicago, but eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career acting after a season of summer stock theater in Wisconsin. Nabbing a few roles upon his arrival, 1966’sDead Heat on a Merry-Go-Roundmarked his first feature film, in which he played an uncredited bellhop.
Throughout the late 1960s, Ford picked up a few television roles while also working as aself-taught carpentertosupport his family.
02of 13Harrison Ford’s Relationship with George LucasKMazur/WireImage/GettyIn the early 1970s, the actor secured an audition withGeorge Lucasfor the role of Bob Falfa (which he ended up landing for 1973’sAmericanGraffiti) andThe Godfather’sFrancis Ford Coppola(who cast him in 1974’sThe Conversationand 1979’sApocalypse Now). It was these relationships that would help him later in his career.
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Harrison Ford’s Relationship with George Lucas
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In the early 1970s, the actor secured an audition withGeorge Lucasfor the role of Bob Falfa (which he ended up landing for 1973’sAmericanGraffiti) andThe Godfather’sFrancis Ford Coppola(who cast him in 1974’sThe Conversationand 1979’sApocalypse Now). It was these relationships that would help him later in his career.
03of 13Harrison Ford’s Breakout Role in ‘Star Wars’Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/GettyWhile Ford only received minor roles in the aforementioned titles, his work inAmerican Graffitihelped him land his breakout (and highly acclaimed) role in Lucas’sStar Wars.Cast as Han Solo in one of the most successful and groundbreaking films of all time, Ford co-starred alongsideMark HamillandCarrie Fisherin the 1977 space opera film.In the years that followed, he reprised his role in its several sequels, includingStar Wars: The Force Awakens(2015) andStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker(2019).
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Harrison Ford’s Breakout Role in ‘Star Wars’
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty
While Ford only received minor roles in the aforementioned titles, his work inAmerican Graffitihelped him land his breakout (and highly acclaimed) role in Lucas’sStar Wars.
Cast as Han Solo in one of the most successful and groundbreaking films of all time, Ford co-starred alongsideMark HamillandCarrie Fisherin the 1977 space opera film.
In the years that followed, he reprised his role in its several sequels, includingStar Wars: The Force Awakens(2015) andStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker(2019).
04of 13Harrison Ford’s ‘Indiana Jones’ SuccessParamount/GettyFord gained much recognition from his role as Han Solo, and solidified his status as a leading actor when he was tapped to playIndiana Jonesin 1981’sRaiders of the Lost Arc.An action-adventure collaboration between Lucas and Steven Spielberg, the franchise saw a significant amount of success similar toStar Wars.
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Harrison Ford’s ‘Indiana Jones’ Success
Paramount/Getty
Ford gained much recognition from his role as Han Solo, and solidified his status as a leading actor when he was tapped to playIndiana Jonesin 1981’sRaiders of the Lost Arc.
An action-adventure collaboration between Lucas and Steven Spielberg, the franchise saw a significant amount of success similar toStar Wars.
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Harrison Ford in ‘Blade Runner’
Warner Bros./Getty
06of 13Harrison Ford’s Oscar NominationSunset Boulevard/Corbis/GettyWhile Ford has garnered a number of accolades throughout his career, he only ever received oneAcademy Awardnomination. The honor came for his role as John Book in 1985’sWitness.Ford earned the nod in the Best Actor category at the 58th Academy Awards in 1986 alongsideJames Garner,Jack Nicholson,Von Voight, and winnerWilliam Hurt— who won for his role inKiss of the Spider Woman.
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Harrison Ford’s Oscar Nomination
While Ford has garnered a number of accolades throughout his career, he only ever received oneAcademy Awardnomination. The honor came for his role as John Book in 1985’sWitness.
Ford earned the nod in the Best Actor category at the 58th Academy Awards in 1986 alongsideJames Garner,Jack Nicholson,Von Voight, and winnerWilliam Hurt— who won for his role inKiss of the Spider Woman.
07of 13Harrison Ford’s Nonprofit WorkChris Constantine/AlamyA long-timeenvironmental activist, Ford has beenchampioning environmentalism, sustainability and archaeology since the early 1990s. He has served as vice chair of the nonprofitConservation Internationalsince 1999, in addition to fronting a number of campaigns through the years.Among the variety of causes Ford advocates for, the issue of climate change is among his most passionate.
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Harrison Ford’s Nonprofit Work
Chris Constantine/Alamy
A long-timeenvironmental activist, Ford has beenchampioning environmentalism, sustainability and archaeology since the early 1990s. He has served as vice chair of the nonprofitConservation Internationalsince 1999, in addition to fronting a number of campaigns through the years.
Among the variety of causes Ford advocates for, the issue of climate change is among his most passionate.
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Ford starred alongsideJames Earl Jones, Anne Archer, andSamuel L. Jacksonin the film that grossed $178 million worldwide at the box office.
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Harrison Ford Marries Calista Flockhart
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Ford was first married to Mary Marquardt from 1964 until they divorced in 1979. They share two sons together. His second marriage was with screenwriter Melissa Mathison from 1983 until their separation in 2000 and finalized divorce in 2004. They had a son and daughter together.
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Harrison Ford’s Aviation History
Getty
In 1998, Ford toldPEOPLEthat his favorite place to be was in the air — and at age 54, he became a licensed pilot. “I feel engaged and comfortable and free. It’s become a big part of my life,” he said. This is a passion he shares with his wife, Flockhart, and their son Liam.
As the former Young Eagles Chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Ford inspired ascholarship through EAAto “help young people achieve their dreams of flight at whatever level.”
11of 13Harrison Ford’s Golden Globes HonorSGranitz/WireImage/GettyFord is a four-timeGolden Globenominee in the best actor category for his roles inWitness(1985),The Mosquito Coast(1986),The Fugitive(1993), andSabrina(1995). In 2002, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association bestowed him with the Cecil B. deMille Award, deemed the ceremony’s highest honor.
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Harrison Ford’s Golden Globes Honor
SGranitz/WireImage/Getty
Ford is a four-timeGolden Globenominee in the best actor category for his roles inWitness(1985),The Mosquito Coast(1986),The Fugitive(1993), andSabrina(1995). In 2002, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association bestowed him with the Cecil B. deMille Award, deemed the ceremony’s highest honor.
12of 13Harrison Ford’s Hollywood Walk of Fame StarSGranitz/WireImage/GettyFord was honored with a star on theHollywood Walk of Famein 2003. Two decades later, he returned to the famous boulevard to induct hisStar Warscostar and friend, Mark Hamill.Theactor received his star in 2018, in which Ford delivered a sentimental speech alongside Lucas.
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Harrison Ford’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Ford was honored with a star on theHollywood Walk of Famein 2003. Two decades later, he returned to the famous boulevard to induct hisStar Warscostar and friend, Mark Hamill.
Theactor received his star in 2018, in which Ford delivered a sentimental speech alongside Lucas.
13of 13Harrison Ford’s ‘Indiana Jones’ ReprisalRobino Salvatore/GC ImagesThroughout the 2000s, Ford has appeared in a variety of titles — but most notably, he has reprised a few of his iconic roles.In addition to playing Han Solo again in 2015’sStar Wars: The Force Awakensand 2019’sStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he also reprised his role as Rick Deckard in 2017’sBlade Runner 2049.His latest,Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,dropped this summer to big box office numbers.
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Harrison Ford’s ‘Indiana Jones’ Reprisal
Robino Salvatore/GC Images
Throughout the 2000s, Ford has appeared in a variety of titles — but most notably, he has reprised a few of his iconic roles.
In addition to playing Han Solo again in 2015’sStar Wars: The Force Awakensand 2019’sStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he also reprised his role as Rick Deckard in 2017’sBlade Runner 2049.
His latest,Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,dropped this summer to big box office numbers.
source: people.com
