Harrison Ford is probably most well-known, especially among Star Wars fans, for his performance as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy as well as the sequel trilogy filmsThe Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker, but it certainly isn’t the only role he’s known for.
As the face of Indiana Jones, Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive, Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, and a host of other films, Ford is one of the most talented and prolific actors in Hollywood.
Below are five facts about the legendary actor Harrison Ford.
1. Real-life pilot
As Han Solo, Ford’s performance as the hotshot pilot of the Millenium Falcon earned him the admiration of a generation of Star Wars fans. But Ford’s role as a pilot isn’t just relegated to the Star Wars films. He’s actually an accomplished pilot in real life and a collector of vintage planes. Like his Star Wars character, Ford has had his share of brushes with death as a pilot, crashing and near-crashing planes multiple times. In 2015, he was flying a World Wars II-era plane when the engine failed. He was forced to crash-land the plane on a Santa Monica, California, golf course. Ford’s quick thinking allowed him to save lives instead of putting anyone in danger, and he himself only suffered minor injuries.
2. No stranger to injury
Ford recently suffered a shoulder injury on the set of Indiana Jones 5, pushing back production by several weeks. This isn’t the first time the actor has been injured during film production, however. Ford injured his ankle on the set of The Force Awakens in 2014, his leg while filming The Fugitive in 1993, and his back on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1983.
3. “I know.”
In The Empire Strikes Back, as Han Solo is about to be frozen in carbonite, Leia finally confesses her love to him. His response: “I know.” It’s one of the most iconic lines in a Star Wars movie, but it wasn’t in the original script. Ford made the suggestion during rehearsals that this is how Han Solo would respond. The suggestion was taken, and the line lives on in infamy, demonstrating Ford’s intimate understanding of the character of Han Solo.
4. Working with Jimmy Buffett
Like many actors, Ford has done voice work. He voiced the character Rooster in The Secret Life of Pets 2 in 2019. A more intriguing and little-known credit on the actor’s resume is on Jimmy Buffett’s 1985 song “Desperation Samba (Halloween in Tijuana).” He didn’t sing on the song, however. He provided the sound of the whip cracks on the track.
5. A hero on and off screen
Ford is often known for playing heroes in his movies, but it turns out, he isn’t just a hero on film. In 2017, Ford was driving on California State Road 126 when noticed a car lose control and drive off the road and into an embankment. Ford pulled over and with several bystanders helped get the woman who was driving to safety.
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