Harrison Ford

Born in Chicago, Illinois, the story is now legendary how Harrison Ford, the man we came to know as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, almost wound up as a carpenter. A lacklustre student, Ford dropped out of Wisconsin's Ripon College and headed out to try his luck in Hollywood. Signing on with Columbia and later Universal Studio brough him some unremarkable TV roles in such shows as Ironside, Gunsmoke and The Virginian.

Not at all pleased with the way his career was going, Ford decided to teach himself carpentry and was making a comfortable living at that trade when George Lucas convinced him to put his hammer down and take on the role of Bob Falfa in American Graffiti. Ford agreed and turned in a great performance.

Four years later, Lucas again turned to Ford to take on the role of Han Solo in Star Wars. That film, of course, was huge and turned Ford into an equally huge star, a position he further enhanced with his take on daredevil archeologist Indianna Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark and its sequels.

As for his proclivity to shy away from doing interviews and meeting with the media, he says: "I think it's unseemly to air your problems and dirty laundry in public. I don't feel any obligation or need to make myself seem interesting. I've always said that the most interesting thing about me is the job I do. I myself have very little interest in other people's personal lives." He also starred in the corporate espionage thriller Paranoia (2013)and played a role in The Expendables 3 (2014).

He followed that up with a starring role in The Age of Adaline (2015), then reprised his role as Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and then starred alongside Ryan Gosling in the sequel to his 1989 sci-fi hit Blade Runner, in Blade Runner 2049 (2017), reprising his role as Rick Deckard.

In the animated sequel, The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019), he provided the voice of Rooster. In 2020, he starred in the action/adventure film The Call of the Wild.

Divorced from his second wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, with whom he has two children (his other two children are with first wife Mary Marquardt), Ford seems to have developed a predilection for much younger actresses, first dating Minnie Driver—28 years his junior, before moving on to Calista Flockhart (22 years younger). After many years together, they married June 15, 2010.

The American Film Institute presented Ford with the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Life Achievement at the 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 20, 2002.

Filmography:

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
The Age of Adaline (2015)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
The Expendables 3 (2014)
42 (2013)
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
Ender's Game (2013)
Paranoia (2013)
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Extraordinary Measures (2010)
Morning Glory (2010)
The Beaches of Agnes (2009)
Crossing Over (2009)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Firewall (2006)
Hollywood Homicide (2003)
K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Random Hearts (1999)
Six Days Seven Nights (1998)
Air Force One (1997)
Clear and Present Danger (1994)
The Fugitive (1993)
Patriot Games (1992)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom (1984)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
Blade Runner (1982)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
American Graffiti (1973)