Harrison Ford Through the Years: From ‘Indiana Jones’ to ‘Shrinking’ and Beyond

Credit: Lucasfilm/Paramount Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock

Harrison Ford Through the Years: From ‘Indiana Jones’ to ‘Shrinking’ and Beyond

A legend in film and television! Best known for his roles in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford’s career has spanned over six decades and he has become an icon in the film industry. The Witness actor was born in July 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Maine East High School in 1960, Ford attended Ripon College in Wisconsin where he fell in love with acting during his senior year. “I did a couple of plays, and people encouraged me,” the Mosquito Coast star recalled in a March 2000 interview with Bangor Daily News. “It was the only thing I had found in college where I felt a sense of community and utility.” After college, Ford went to Hollywood where he worked for Columbia Pictures and as a carpenter, appearing in many minor television roles as he balanced the jobs. The Illinois native then landed his breakout role in George Lucas’ 1973 film American Graffiti, which led him to his starring role as Han Solo in 1977’s Star Wars. Following the success of Star Wars, Ford landed the leading role of Indiana Jones in Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, which led to many successful spinoffs. Almost four years later, Ford appeared in 1985’s Witness, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. The licensed pilot – who spends much of his time flying on his 800-acre ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming – has continued to score several groundbreaking projects over the years and plans to keep acting for a long time. [jwplayer Ha9fqtwG-zhNYySv2] “I think it’s the place I feel most useful. It’s what I know the most about. I lost my chops as a carpenter,” he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2023. “But I feel comfortable wrestling with how to make behavior out of words on a page and tell a story, and I’m still excited about the prospect of telling a story. I think this is a service occupation – telling stories. We need it. Whether it’s drawing on caves or religious tenets, we love telling stories.” Ford has won numerous accolades throughout his lengthy career, including the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2000, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2002 and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. As for his romantic life, the Shrinking star was married to Mary Marquardt from 1964 to 1979, welcoming sons Benjamin and Willard in 1966 and 1969, respectively. Following their split, he was married to Melissa Mathison from 1983 to 2000. The twosome welcomed son Malcolm in 1987 and daughter Georgia in 1990. Following the respective breakups, Ford married Calista Flockhart in June 2010 and the couple are parents of Liam, the son she adopted before meeting the actor. Keep scrolling for a look back at Ford’s life and career over the years:

Credit: Lucasfilm/Paramount Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock

Harrison Ford Through the Years: From ‘Indiana Jones’ to ‘Shrinking’ and Beyond

A legend in film and television! Best known for his roles in Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford’s career has spanned over six decades and he has become an icon in the film industry. The Witness actor was born in July 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Maine East High School in 1960, Ford attended Ripon College in Wisconsin where he fell in love with acting during his senior year. “I did a couple of plays, and people encouraged me,” the Mosquito Coast star recalled in a March 2000 interview with Bangor Daily News. “It was the only thing I had found in college where I felt a sense of community and utility.” After college, Ford went to Hollywood where he worked for Columbia Pictures and as a carpenter, appearing in many minor television roles as he balanced the jobs. The Illinois native then landed his breakout role in George Lucas’ 1973 film American Graffiti, which led him to his starring role as Han Solo in 1977’s Star Wars. Following the success of Star Wars, Ford landed the leading role of Indiana Jones in Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, which led to many successful spinoffs. Almost four years later, Ford appeared in 1985’s Witness, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. The licensed pilot – who spends much of his time flying on his 800-acre ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming – has continued to score several groundbreaking projects over the years and plans to keep acting for a long time. [jwplayer Ha9fqtwG-zhNYySv2] “I think it’s the place I feel most useful. It’s what I know the most about. I lost my chops as a carpenter,” he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2023. “But I feel comfortable wrestling with how to make behavior out of words on a page and tell a story, and I’m still excited about the prospect of telling a story. I think this is a service occupation – telling stories. We need it. Whether it’s drawing on caves or religious tenets, we love telling stories.” Ford has won numerous accolades throughout his lengthy career, including the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2000, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2002 and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. As for his romantic life, the Shrinking star was married to Mary Marquardt from 1964 to 1979, welcoming sons Benjamin and Willard in 1966 and 1969, respectively. Following their split, he was married to Melissa Mathison from 1983 to 2000. The twosome welcomed son Malcolm in 1987 and daughter Georgia in 1990. Following the respective breakups, Ford married Calista Flockhart in June 2010 and the couple are parents of Liam, the son she adopted before meeting the actor. Keep scrolling for a look back at Ford’s life and career over the years:

Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock

1942

The Star Wars actor was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 13, 1942. Both of his parents, Dorothy and John, were former actors.

Credit: Kobal/Shutterstock

1960

After graduating from Maine East High School, Ford attended Ripon College in Wisconsin where he studied philosophy. During his final quarter of his senior year, he took a drama class and became fascinated with acting.

Credit: Bei/Shutterstock

1964

Ford was married to Marquardt from 1964 until their divorce in 1979. The duo share two sons – Benjamin and Willard, born in 1966 and 1969, respectively.

Credit: Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

Late 1960s to Early 70s

The Illinois native began working for Columbia Pictures where he appeared in many minor roles in television series.

Credit: Lucasfilm/Coppola Co/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

1973

After doing work as a carpenter in addition to trying to make it as an actor, Ford finally landed his breakout role in Lucas’ 1973 film American Graffiti. “It was the first movie where the director let me have any input. It was the first time anyone ever listened to me,” Ford said in a 2002 interview with Empire magazine.

Credit: Lucasfilm/Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

1977

Lucas liked the Conversation’s actor so much that he cast him as the lead role of Han Solo in the epic space-opera film Star Wars. The film was so successful that it spawned several sequels including 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back and 1983’s Return of the Jedi.

Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock

1981

After the success of Star Wars, Ford signed on as the leading actor in the action-adventure film Raiders of the Lost Ark, which was directed by Spielberg. The film became the highest-growing movie of the year and resulted in four more sequels.

Credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock

1982

Departing from his usual roles, Ford starred as Rick Deckard in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, which went on to become a cult favorite.

Credit: Crollalanza/Shutterstock

1983

The actor was married to Mathison from 1983 until their separation in 2000. The twosome welcomed a son, Malcolm, in 1987 and a daughter, Georgia, in 1990. Mathison died in 2015.

Credit: Merrick Morton/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

1992

Ford became the second actor to portray Jack Ryan in two films of the film series: 1992’s Patriot Games and 1994’s Clear and Present Danger.

Credit: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

1993-1997

The Random Hearts star appeared in several action-based thrillers throughout the rest of the decade, including The Fugitive with costar Tommy Lee Jones.

Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

2010

Ford and Flockhart married in June.

Credit: Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

2011

The Age of Adaline actor starred alongside Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde in the science fiction/western hybrid film Cowboys & Aliens.

Credit: Legendary Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock

2013

Ford appeared in several supporting roles including Paranoia with Liam Hemsworth and Gary Oldman, Ender’s Game and 42. His performance in 42 was praised by many critics.

Credit: NINA PROMMER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

2019

The Anchorman 2 star had his first voiceover role in The Secret Life of Pets 2.

Credit: 20th Century Studios/Moviestore/Shutterstock

2020

Ford headlined a big film adaptation of Jack London’s The Call of the Wild, playing prospector John Thornton.

Credit: Arlene Richie/Shutterstock

2022

In October, it was announced that Ford would be cast in the 2024 films Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock

2023

The Blade Runner star appears alongside Jason Segel in the dramedy Shrinking. Ford will also reprise the role of Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which he said will be his last appearance as the character.