Harrison Ford: remember his best films?
Harrison Ford got started in the acting business over five decades ago. Although at first, he struggled to find decent roles, he soon achieved mega-star status. Click on to see how the actor got his start in Hollywood and how he has changed over the years.
In 1964 at 22 years of age, Ford applied for a job in radio voice-overs. He didn't get the job, but he did land a gig with Columbia Pictures to play bit roles in films.
This is Harrison Ford in his first on-screen appearance as a bell boy in the film 'Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round' in 1966.
Although still uncredited, in 1967, Harrison had a speaking role in the film 'Luv.'
Ford's first credited role was as Lt. Shaffer in the film 'A Time for Killing' in 1967.
Ford had many small roles in different films throughout the late 60s and into the 70s. Here we see Ford in 'Kung Fu' in 1972.
Harrison had all but given up on finding decent acting jobs when he landed an audition with George Lucas for 'American Graffiti' (1973).
'American Graffiti' changed everything for Ford, and many more attractive roles followed.
The actor's first starring role came when George Lucas asked him to read for the first 'Star Wars '(1977) film. He landed his first starring role as Han Solo - the rest is history.
'Star Wars' kept Ford busy for many years with 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980), 'Return of the Jedi' (1983), and the 'Star Wars Holiday Special' (1978).
With the film 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981), Harrison Ford's status as a star became solidified. The franchise gave Ford work for many years.
Now that Ford had made a name for himself, the amazing opportunities came constantly. Here we see Ford in 'Blade Runner.'
Here we see Ford alongside his wife, Melissa Mathison, during Writers Guild Awards in 1983.
Harrison and his family benefitted from his success massively. Before his role in 'American Graffiti,' Ford worked on the side as a carpenter just to make ends meet.
Ford tried his hand at a drama film with 'Mosquito Coast' in 1986. Ford has said that working with director Peter Weir was one of the best experiences of his career.
Ford used his success to diversify and try out different genres of films. Here we see Harrison in the comedy 'Working Girl' with Melanie Griffith and Sigourney Weaver.
In the 90s, Harrison kept busy with a plethora of action films such as 'The Fugitive' (1993), among many others.
Even though action films are what Ford became best known for, he still branched out from time to time, for example, with his role in the remake of the film 'Sabrina.'
Nothing lasts forever, and in the late 90s and early 2000s, Ford's career took a bit of a downturn. From that time period, many of his films, such as 'Six Days Seven Nights' (1998), received bad reviews and did poorly at the box office.
You can see Ford here with his co-star, the late actress Anne Heche
'What Lies Beneath' is a suspenseful mystery about a couple sensing the presence of a ghost in their isolated lakeside cottage. The cause of the upheaval turns out to be very different from what you'd expect. The film with Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer did well at the box office but got a meager response from the critics.
In the early 2000s, Ford passed on two important roles that could have landed him awards, 'Traffic' and 'Syriana.' He also surprised the world when he began dating Calista Flockhart, who is 23 years younger.
The release of 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' brought Ford success in 2008. However, as the years passed, he began to accept supporting roles in diverse genres. In 2011 the actor even did a commercial for a Japanese video game.
In 2015 Harrison Ford returned to his role as Han Solo for the 'Star Wars' sequel 'Star Wars the Force Awakens.' In 2015 it was also announced the actor would take up his role as Rick Deckard in 'Blade Runner 2049.'
Ford's pace has slowed down in recent years. Here we see the actor alongside Calista Flockhart at an awards ceremony in 2018. In 2019 he had his first voice-over role in the animated film 'Pets 2.'
Ford also let his hair down - literally! He was photographed several times with an ever more luscious beard and hairdo.
In 2020 Ford played the role of Jack Thorton 'The Call of the Wild.' The film received mixed reviews.
In 2021 Ford had to hit the gym to buff up for the fifth instalment of the 'Indiana Jones' saga. The film is a sequel to 2008's 'The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.'
After filming wrapped up for 'Indiana Jones 5', Harrison Ford attended different fan events. Here we see the 80-year-old speaking at D23 Expo 2022 at Anaheim Convention Center.
In 2023 he had the honor to award the Best Picture Oscar to 'Everything Everywhere All at Once.' The beauty of it was that one of its actors, the Oscar-winning Ke Huy Quan, knew Ford from a long time ago...
Quan had worked with Harrison Ford in 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' when he was just a little kid. The two actors had a moving reunion on the stage of the 2023 Oscars.
At the 2023 Cannes Festival, the long-awaited (and final) sequel 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' premiered. What's more, Harrison Ford received a Palme D'Or, an important award at the festival, honoring stars for their contributions to filmmaking.
The last Indiana Jones movie does not mean the end of Harrison Ford's career though! Even though the archaeologist has hung up his hat, the actor continues his way on the film sets. In fact, he will be in the Marvel blockbuster 'Captain America: New World Order' in 2024.