Harrison Ford is one of the most fruitful actors in Hollywood, but we almost missed him as he was discovered at 26-years-old when he worked as a carpenter and nearly gave up on acting. His roles as Han Solo in the Star Warsfilms and the title character in Indiana Jones gained him worldwide fame and he has been one of the most popular actors in Hollywood ever since.
But who is the man behind the hero? Continue reading to reveal some unknown facts about the private life of your favorite Has Solo.
Married Life
Harrison was married twice before he met his current wife Calista Flockhart. From 1964 to 1979 he was married to Mary Marquardt, a former cheerleader whom he married before he became famous.
A lot of people believed that the newfound fame had something to do with the couple’s divorce.
Second Marriage
A few months after Harrison divorced his first wife, he met Melissa Mathison, wife No. 2. Ford and Mathison were married for 21 years, from 1983 to 2004. She’s known for writing the scripts for The Black Stallion (1979) and E.T.(1982).
Harrison and Melissa married at a Santa Monica courthouse in 1983, and they have two kids together.
Divorce No 2
Harrison and Melissa’s love lasted for 21 years, but eventually, it became clear that the love wasn’t there anymore so they first separated in August 2001, and legally divorced in 2004.
The divorce had cost Harrison $85 million, and at the time was the most expensive divorce in Hollywood. Sadly, Melissa died at age 65 from neuroendocrine cancer.
Current Wife, Calista Flockhart
Harrison met the star of Ally McBeal at the Golden Globe awards in 2002. At the time he was already separated from his second wife. Flockhart and Ford didn’t get married until 2010.
Calista Flockhart is also known for her role in Brothers and Sisters. She’s been nominated for many awards and won 3 for her role as Ally McBeal.
Ford’s Children
In September 1967, Harrison became a father for the first time. Mary Marquardt gave birth to their first child together, a boy called Benjamin Ford.
Benjamin respects his father very much, and he often mentions that Harrison is a true inspiration for him.
Inspiration For Success
Harrison wasn’t very famous until Benjamin was a young teenager. Looking at his father providing for his family by doing carpentry work, inspired Benjamin to be hardworking and
passionate in everything he does. He became a chef, and eventually, opened his own gastropub in Los Angeles.
Second Son
In May 1969, Mary and Harrison became parents for the second time. Their second son is called Willard and just like Ben, he chose not to follow his father’s footsteps in the film industry but became an owner of a sports gymnasium and clothing company.
He also runs a successful furniture gallery.
Father for the Third Time
In October 1987, Harrison became a father for the third time, but this time with his second wife, Melissa Mathison.
Unlike his older brothers, Malcolm got the entertainment gene and he is a musician.
First Daughter
In June 1990, Harrison finally became a father to a baby girl with wife Melissa. Georgia, Ford’s only daughter, is an aspiring actress and had some small roles in movies such as American Milkshake and The Visitor.
Adopted Son
Calista Flockhart adopted Liam before she met Harrison. Liam was born on the first day of January 2001, and he was 6 months old when Harrison started dating Calista.
Ford fell in love with little Liam and adopted him after marrying Calista. He often refers to Liam as his “unexpected joy.”
Meeting Calista
Ford was being honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globe Awards in 2002. Calista and Harrison met that night began talking. The chemistry was there and they started dating soon after.
Interestingly enough, during the first few dates the couple had James Marsden joining them as a ‘wingman’.
Keeping a Secret
Beside the ‘wingmen’, no one else knew about the growing romance between Ford and Flockhart.
One of the reasons for that was the fact that in 2002, Ford was still married to Melissa, even though the couple was already separated.
Going Public
In 2003, Ford became more vocal about his new love. He gave an interview to Hello! Magazine saying: “I’m in love. Romantic love is one of the most exciting and fulfilling kinds of love and I think there is a potential for it at any stage of your life.
I was not surprised that I was able to fall in love, and I wasn’t surprised that I did.
The Proposel
In Valentine’s Day 2009 Ford thought it was time to make things official. Calista was completely surprised when, after almost seven and a half years of dating, Ford popped The question during a family vacation.
Wedding Ceremony
In June 2010, Ford was filming Cowboys and Aliens in New Mexico when the couple decided that there is no better time like the present to get married. The wedding was held in a governor’s mansion, with governor Bill Richardson performing the ceremony.
It was a pretty laidback event, where Harrison wore a pair of Wrangler jeans, and Calista wore a white sundress. Liam was a ring bearer.
Age Gap
At the time of their wedding, Ford was 67 years old, and Calista was only 45. The age gap of 22 years is unimportant to them. “It doesn’t faze me. Sometimes I even say, ‘Wow, I keep forgetting that he’s 22 years older than me’,” she said in 2003.
“It doesn’t factor into our relationship at all. I like the way he looks first thing in the morning. It’s not handsome, it’s cute. He looks like a little boy.”
For Better or Worse
In 2015, Ford had a serious crash with his WWII vintage plane. After the crash, he suffered a shattered right ankle, a shattered pelvis, a broken back and a serious bump on the head.
Calista was at his side in the hospital almost nonstop, which proved that their love is strong no matter what.
Passion for Flying
Regardless of the fact that the air crash Ford suffered could have been fatal, his passion for flying was too strong to quit. “My wife, who is a wonderful lady, understands my passion for aviation.
She understands what it means to me and flies with me to this day,” Ford said after the crash.
Anniversary
Last June, Ford and Flockhart celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary. Calista explained that the secret of keeping the passion alive in their marriage is laughter:
“Harrison and I laugh a lot, and humor is everything to me.”
Love Is in the Air
Harrison and Calista met when Ford was separated from his second wife, and when he doubted that he could find love again. But it did happen. “I was 60 when I fell in love with Calista,” the actor said in a recent interview.
“What surprised me most was that I was still capable of establishing a long-lasting relationship, making a serious commitment.”
Father of Five
Harrison is loved by all of his children, and all of them are really proud of their father and find him inspirational and strong human being.
Calista also has only the words of praise for Ford as a dad: “Harrison is a wonderful parent. He’s funny and warm and loving.”
Praise For Calista
Ford is very proud of Calista’s choice to be a mom. When asked by PEOPLEwhat he thinks of her as a mother he said: “The best in the world. She’s a mother by choice – she adopted Liam before we met, as a single parent, which is an awesome responsibility to take.
She’s devoted herself to Liam and has done a really wonderful job raising him. I’m happy to now have a part of the job.”
All About the Family
Ford was always devoted to all of his children, but at an ‘old age’ he found a new meaning of fatherhood while raising Liam. “On the weekends, I do whatever Calista and Liam want to do…
We’ll take a couple of hours on Sunday morning to go motorcycle riding or go for a hike. I just made a birdhouse with my son,” he said.
Ford’s Early Life
Harrison Ford was born on July 13, 1942, to Dorothy and Christopher Ford. His father was an advertising executive and actor, and his mother was a radio actress.
Harrison has a younger brother, Terence, who is also an actor and photographer. Ford spent many years in as a Boy Scout and finished with the second highest rank, Life Scout.
Radio Host
In 1960, Harrison graduated from Maine East High School, Illinois where he was a regular speaker in his high school’s radio station. The first acting class he took was while he attended Ripon College, Wisconsin, where he studied English and philosophy.
He dropped out the college before graduation and later declined an honorary degree.
Career Change
In 1964, Harrison moved to Los Angeles and auditioned for a job in the radio. He did not get the job so he decided that the best thing for him is to learn some trades. He learned carpentry through library books and soon built a deck for actress Sally Kellerman.
He gained reputation as one of the best carpenters in the city and even The Doors hired him as a stagehand.
First Minor Roles
While he was doing his carpentry work, Ford actually signed a $150-a-week contract with Columbia Pictures’ New Talent program. His first know role was an uncredited one as a bellhop in Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round.
Ford continued playing minor roles in many TV shows in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Harrison J. Ford
Because Harrison shared his name with a silent film actor who died in 1957, he decided to call himself Harrison J. Ford. The “J” doesn’t really stand for anything since Harrison has no middle name.
The first credit that he gained as Harrison J. Ford was for A Time for Killing, 1967 Western film.
Back to Carpentry
Soon after, Harrison dropped the “J” and continued to work for Universal Studios, but he wasn’t happy with the roles that were offered to him.
He went back to his carpentry work in order to support his wife and two young sons.
Meeting George Lucas
Ford met George Lucas via carpentry. He hired him to play the villain in his film American Graffiti, a very low budgeted movie in 1974.
More Roles
After the success of American Graffiti, Ford had small roles in TV movies and shows such as The Conversation and Dynasty.
Star Wars
In 1977, George Lucas offered Harrison a role which will put him on the map of Hollywood. Lucas’ new project was Star Wars and the role was Has Solo.
The movie was a huge success and soon after Ford was playing in its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, and Return of the Jedi in 1983.
Indiana Jones
When Steven Spielberg and George Lucas get together to make a movie, you know it will be the smashing hit. And it was. In 1981, this magnificent collaboration created one of the most iconic movie characters of all time, Indiana Jones.
Ford had a great luck getting the role of a globe-trotting archaeologist in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Huge Success
Raiders of the Lost Ark was such a success, that Spielberg decided to film a prequel, where Ford again played the role of Indiana Jones.
The prequel, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, was filmed in 1984. A third installment, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, came in 1989.
Indiana Will Ride Again
After the international success of all three Indiana Jones movies, Ford returned to the role yet again in 1993, for an episode of the television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and again in 2008 for the fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Walt Disney Studios announced recently that Ford is scheduled to appear in a fifth Indiana Jones film, which is due for release in July 2020.
Blade Runner
The early ’80s were very good for Harrison. Around the time the first Indiana Jones film was released, Ford was also given a role in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, that will quickly become a cult sci-fi classic.
The movie was a huge success and was considered ground breaking. In 2017, Harrison repeated the role of Rick Deckard in Blade Runner 2049.
Turned Down Roles
Ford was offered a role in Proof of Life in 2000, which he turned down. Russell Crowe said yes to that role. Some of the other blockbuster movies that he passed were The Perfect Storm, The Patriot and Vanilla Sky.
Presidential
In 1997 Ford played President James Marshall in Air Force One. In 1992 and 1994 Ford played Vice President Jack Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, both movies based on Tom Clancy’s books.
Environmentalist
Ford is vice-chair of Conservation International. He is promoting environmental involvement for EarthShare. There’s a species of spiders named Calponia Harrisonfordi, and a species of ants named Peidole Harrisonfordi, both in his honor.
Perhaps a bigger honor for his environmental work was the opportunity to name a breed of butterflies. He named them after his daughter Georgia.
The Scar
In 1968, Ford was attempting to put his seatbelt on while driving, which resulted in a car crash in which he hit his chin off the steering wheel. That scar became his trademark, and it is fun to see how it’s getting explained in his roles.
In Indiana Jones, the scar is explained by the fact that when he was young, Indiana, played by River Phoenix, hit himself in the face with a whip. In Working Girl, Ford’s character admits that he got the scar from fainting and hitting his chin on a toilet after getting an ear pierced.
Superstar
By 2007, Ford’s movies made approximately $3.10 billion at the domestic box office, and almost $6 billion worldwide. That fact landed him the third all-time box office star, second only to Eddie Murphy and Tom Hanks.
After Ford reprised the role of Han Solo in 2015 in the record-breaking film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he has been named the highest grossing US domestic box office star in history.
Pilot
One of Ford’s biggest passions in life, besides acting, is flying. He is a private pilot of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. He owns few of his own aircraft.
In the early 2000s, Ford became a real-life hero when he helped rescuing a lost hiker near Ford’s home in Wyoming. He was also involved in rescuing a 13-year-old boy who was lost.
Carrie Fisher
Harrison’s co-star, Carrie Fisher, famous Princess Leia, claimed in her third memoir The Princess Diarist, to have had a short affair with Ford during the filming of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977.
She said to one magazine: “I was shocked by the fact that he fancied me. I was a very insecure girl and had only had one boyfriend.”
Properties
Harrison Ford owns an 800-acre ranch in Jackson, Wyoming. Half of this he has donated as a nature reserve, and on the other half, he built himself a farm using his carpentry skills.
When Ford was filming Firewall in Vancouver, British Columbia, he fell in love with Bowen Island and purchased a $13 million waterfront property there.
Star on Hollywood Boulevard
After a long journey, from his original $500 per week salary for his role in American Graffiti, to a $1000 per week for first Han Solo role, Ford came to $25 million plus five per cent of the gross for reprising his role in The Force Awakens.
In 2003, Harrison got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.