Harrison Ford in photos: Then and now

Over the course of more than 50 years in showbusiness, actor Harrison Ford has become one of Hollywood’s most prolific stars. Having been credited or appeared in nearly 100 films, Ford has established himself as an icon of American cinema, and one of the highest-grossing box office earners ever.

From his role as Han Solo in five Star Wars films to the portrayal of the titular Indiana Jones in four (soon to be five) installments, Ford has appeared in some of the most beloved franchises in film. Besides these large blockbusters, he has also brought his acting chops to other well-known projects, such as Clear and Present Danger, Blade Runner, and Patriot Games. 

However, like most legends of the screen, Harrison Ford’s career did not begin in a Hollywood Hills mansion, but rather as a bit actor working as a carpenter to support his family. Eventually, though, he would be cast in the film American Graffiti by a hotshot young director named George Lucas. From there, the pair would go on to work together in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope, and the rest is history.

The best way to take a look at Ford’s life may be through a series of photos. From the late 1960s to today, Ford has made his mark on the industry, and at age 79, shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Here are five photos detailing Harrison Ford’s life throughout the decades.

Harrison Ford becomes a household name thanks to Star Wars – 1977

While working as a carpenter during the casting for George Lucas’ new project, Star Wars, Harrison Ford was tapped to help read lines to actors during the Han Solo auditions. Lucas was so impressed with the youngster’s performance, that he decided to scrap the remaining auditions and cast Ford himself as the character.

From then on, Ford would become one of the most high-profile actors of his generation, and his Han Solo became a quintessential figure in pop culture. While Ford himself has been outspoken about his indifference towards Star Wars, there is no denying that the role catapulted him into the iconic leading man that he is today.

Harrison Ford is honored with an AFI Life Achievement Award – 2000

Beyond the Star Wars franchise, Harrison Ford has established himself in many other high-profile movies. While he is mostly known for his action roles, Ford also shines in more dramatic performances, such as 42 and Regarding Henry. To put it bluntly, there are very few roles that Ford can’t handle.

At the end of the day, though, he is still best known for Star Wars and Indiana Jones, so it was only fitting that George Lucas himself was on hand when Ford received the Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. With this award, he would join the ranks of other Hollywood legends like Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, and Merryl Streep.

Harrison Ford receives a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame – 2003

By the early 2000s, Harrison Ford was at the top of the acting world. He had starred in everything from major blockbusting franchises to one-off hits, and was one of the highest-grossing actors in history. As such, he kept wracking up large accolades, and perhaps the greatest came in 2003: A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

To receive a star on the Walk of Fame is a rare feat. From its establishment in 1960, less than 3,000 stars have been awarded. However, there are some names that simply couldn’t be left off of a plaque, and Harrison Ford’s is one of them. Plus, the Walk of Fame’s official website states that its purpose is to “maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamour and excitement.” There is perhaps no Hollywood actor more synonymous with this mission than Harrison Ford.

Harrison Ford reunites with his co-stars to ‘awaken’ the Force – 2015

Fans blew the roof off of the Internet in 2012 when it was announced that Disney would be developing a new trilogy of Star Wars films. Perhaps the biggest question that everybody had was whether or not the old guard would return to take up the mantles that they held so long ago.

There was rejoicing among the community, however, when Disney revealed that the three stars of the original trilogy would in fact be reuniting for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Harrison Ford joined both Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher at a Comic-Con International panel for the film, reuniting the iconic trio for a new generation and delighting millions of Star Wars fans around the world.

Harrison Ford rounds out his Star Wars career with surprise cameo – 2019

Most fans probably assumed (rightfully so) that Harrison Ford’s Star Wars career was over after Han Solo was killed by Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens. Add to that Ford’s desire to see the character martyred, and it was no surprise that everyone’s favorite smuggler got the ax at the end of the film. So, this marked the end of Han Solo.

Or so everyone thought.

In reality, Harrison Ford would return to the franchise one final time for a brief cameo in Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Ford’s final on-screen appearance in a galaxy far, far away was as a memory, in which he speaks to Kylo Ren to help ease him back to the Light Side. It is an emotional moment for fans of both the actor and the character, and for Harrison Ford, it allowed him to give Han Solo, his most iconic character of all time, a proper send-off.

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