Harrison Ford
“A carpenter, a vest, a hat, a rain, and later planes he walked away from.”
Harrison Ford broke through in 1977 as the roguish smuggler Han Solo in Star Wars, after years of bit parts and carpentry work. In 1981 he became a second blockbuster icon as adventurer Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Carpenter Turned Star
Frustrated by small parts, the Chicago-born actor took up carpentry to pay the bills. He was building cabinets when George Lucas cast him as Han Solo in Star Wars.
Two Franchises
Star Wars and Indiana Jones made him the face of two of cinema's biggest series. By the 1980s he was among the most bankable stars in the world.
Dramatic Range
Witness brought his sole Oscar nomination in 1985 and showed his dramatic depth. Hits like The Fugitive and Air Force One kept him a leading man into a sixth decade onscreen.
Career Timeline
- 1942Born in Chicago.
- 1977Solo.
- 1981Raiders.
- 1982Blade Runner.
Biggest Hits
- He worked as a professional carpenter to support his family while landing only minor acting roles in the early 1970s.
- He is a licensed pilot who owns multiple aircraft and has personally assisted in mountain rescues by helicopter.
Portrait: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons