Harrison Ford Harrison Ford is an - nominated actor most famous for his portrayals of the character Han Solo in the " Star Wars " saga as well as the Indiana Jones in the . Ford has also been the star of many high - grossing hit blockbusters such as " " and " " , which have distanced him from his famous " Star Wars " and " Indiana Jones " roles . At one point Ford had roles in the top five box - office hits of all time , though his role in " " ( as Elliot ' s school principal ) was deleted from the final cut of the film . Five of his films have been inducted into the . As of May 2007 , the combined domestic box office grosses of Ford ' s films total approximately 3 . 10 billion with worldwide grosses approaching the $ 6 billion mark , making Ford the number - three all - time domestic box - office star behind and . Biography . Early work . In 1964 Ford moved to , where he signed a contract with for $ 150 a week in the studio ' s New Talent program , playing bit roles in films . His first film appearance was uncredited as a bellhop in " " ( 1966 ) , then followed by " " ( 1967 ) . In his next film he was credited as " Harrison J . Ford " in the 1967 , " " , but the " J " didn ' t stand for anything because he does not have a middle name . It was added to avoid confusion with the other actor named , who died in 1957 . Ford dropped the " J " from his name and worked for playing minor roles in many television series throughout the late 1960s and early 70s including " " , " " , " " , " " , " " , and " " . Ford was offered the role of in " " but he turned down the part because of expressions of bigotry uttered by the leading character . Then , he played in the western " " ( 1968 ) and had an uncredited role in 1970 film " " as an airport worker . Not happy with the acting jobs being offered to him , Ford became a self - taught professional to better support his then - wife and two small sons . Some of Ford ' s carpentry work remains in the area . While working as a carpenter , he became a stagehand for the popular rock band , " " , including operating one of the four cameras for their taped concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1968 . He also built a sun deck for and a recording studio for . He turned to acting again when George Lucas , who had hired him to build cabinets in his home , cast him in a pivotal supporting role for his film " " ( 1973 ) . The relation he forged with Lucas was to have a profound effect on Ford ' s career . After director film " The Godfather " was a success , he hired Ford to do expansions of his office and Harrison was given a small role in his next film , " " ( 1974 ) , and a cameo appearance in 1976 in " " which did not appear in theatres until 1979 . Star Wars . In 1975 , director George Lucas used him to read lines for actors being cast for parts in his upcoming space opera , " . At the reading , Steven Spielberg noticed that Ford was well suited for the part of Han Solo and convinced Lucas to give Harrison the role that would eventually shoot him to fame . Ford went on to star as Han Solo in the next two " Star Wars " sequels , " " and " " , as well as in " The Star Wars Holiday Special " . He asked George Lucas to write in the death of Han Solo at the beginning of the third act of " Return of the Jedi " , saying that it would lend more dramatic weight to the film , but Lucas refused . Ford ' s likeness was used on the covers of Expanded Universe novels that were published decades after the Original Trilogy , giving him an older face . Other films . Ford made many movies in the wake of " " , including " " ( 1977 ) , " " ( 1978 ) , and " " ( 1979 ) . Ford also co - starred alongside in the buddy - western " " ( 1979 ) playing a bank robber with a heart of gold . In these four movies , despite having shot to super - stardom , he played either sidekicks or buddies ( to Gene Wilder or Henry Winkler ) or co - leads with famous veteran actors ( like Robert Shaw and Christopher Plummer ) . Ford then starred in as Indiana Jones in Lucas and Spielberg ' s blockbuster historical action - yarn , " " , and its first two hugely successful sequels ; " " ( ) and " " ( ) which turned Ford himself into a blockbuster phenomenon . Unlike many other actors of the same or similar genre , Ford ' s authenticity as a daring action hero was supported by his willingness to perform many of his own stunts for the Indiana Jones films . During this time , Ford also starred in a number of dramatic - action films : " " ( 1985 ) and " " ( 1986 ) and " " ( 1988 ) . He also starred in ' romantic drama " " ( 1988 ) and now sci - fi classic , " " ( 1982 ) . The 1990s brought Ford the role of in " " and " " , as well as leading roles in " " ( 1990 ) and " " ( 1997 , with Treat Williams ) , ' " " ( 1991 ) , ' " " ( 1993 ) , of " " ( 1995 ) and " " ( 1997 ) . During production of " The Fugitive " , he reprised his role as Indiana Jones in an episode of the television series " " . While often playing the hero in action films , Ford has also played straight dramatic roles in several films , including an adulterous husband with a terrible secret in both " " ( 1990 ) and " " ( 2000 ) , and a recovering amnesiac in " " ( 1991 ) . Many of Ford ' s major film roles came to him by default or unusual circumstances : he won the role of Han Solo while reading lines for other actors , was cast as Indiana Jones because was not available , and took the role of Jack Ryan due to fee demands ( Baldwin had previously played the role in " " ) . Salary . The 2001 edition of the " " listed Ford as the richest actor alive : his reported salary for the 2002 flop " " was $ 25 million . The 27 movies that he has starred in have grossed a combined box office of more than $ 3 . 3 billion . Awards . Despite being one of the most financially successful actors of his generation , Ford has received just one nomination , that of for " " . It has been speculated that this has been because action movies ( such as the " Star Wars " and " Indiana Jones " trilogies ) typically don ' t receive the same critical acclaim as for other genres . In 2000 , he received the from the . On June 2 , 2003 , he received a star on the in front of the . Recent work . Ford ' s star power has waned in recent years , the result of appearing in numerous critically derided and commercially disappointing movies . In 2004 , Ford declined a chance to star in the thriller " " , later commenting that " I didn ' t feel strongly enough about the truth of the material and I think I made a mistake . " The role eventually went to , who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his work . Ford also turned down leading roles in the critically acclaimed films " " and " " as well as " " . Also in 2004 , Ford appeared in the straight - to - video " " as a favor to his son Malcolm . Ford was credited as " Jethro the Bus Driver , " and his line , " What up , biotch ? " has become an . . Ford reprised his role as Indiana Jones in " " , with the story by George Lucas , screenplay by , and direction by Steven Spielberg . The movie was released May 22 , 2008 , and was both a critical and financial success , bringing a revival to Ford ' s career . He later had a main role in the 2011 adaptation of the graphic novel " Cowboys & Aliens " . Current and upcoming projects . Ford has also finished recording narration for the upcoming feature documentary film about the entitled " " . He starred in the independent film " " as Special Agent Max Brogan . He also appeared as himself in the film " " . Ford starred in the film [ [ Extraordinary _ Measures Extraordinary Measures ] " ( scheduled for release January 2010 ) , a story about the true life events of biotech executive [ [ Wikipedia : John Crowley ( biotech executive ) | John Crowley ] - Ford plays the role of Dr . Robert Stonehill ; he is also an executive producer on the project . In an interview on September 14 , 2009 with Ford , he stated that a fifth Indiana Jones film is in primary stages . The story is said to be finished , and Ford has expressed his willingness to reprise the role . Personal life . Ford is one of Hollywood ' s most notoriously private actors , zealously guarding his private life . Outside of film promotion , he rarely appears in the press , preferring to keep to himself at his [ [ Wikipedia : Jackson , Wyoming | Jackson ] ] , [ [ Wikipedia : Wyoming | Wyoming ] ] home . Ford despises the [ [ Wikipedia : Internet | Internet ] ] for facilitating the spread of malicious gossip about him . Ford has been married thrice . He married Mary Marquardt in [ [ 1960s | 1964 ] ] , and they divorced in [ [ 1979 ] ] . They had two sons , Benjamin ( born in [ [ 1960s | 1967 ] ] ) and Willard ( born in [ [ 1960s | 1969 ] ] ) . He married again , to [ [ Wikipedia : Melissa Mathison | Melissa Mathison ] ] , screenwriter of " [ [ Wikipedia : The Black Stallion | The Black Stallion ] ] " , " [ [ Wikipedia : Kundun | Kundun ] ] " , and " [ [ Wikipedia : E . T . The Extra - Terrestrial | E . T . The Extra - Terrestrial ] ] " , on [ [ March 14 ] ] , [ [ 1983 ] ] . They had two children : a son , Malcolm ( born on [ [ March 10 ] ] , [ [ 1987 ] ] ) , and a daughter , Georgia ( born on [ [ June 30 ] ] , [ [ 1990 ] ] ) . Mathison filed for legal separation on [ [ August 23 ] ] , [ [ 2001 ] ] , and their subsequent divorce in [ [ Wikipedia : January 2004 | January 2004 ] ] has become one of the most expensive in Hollywood history , as she was awarded a share of Ford ' s residual paychecks . Ford married actress [ [ Wikipedia : Calista Flockhart | Calista Flockhart ] ] June 15 , [ [ 2010 ] ] in Santa Fe , New Mexico , while filming " Cowboys & Aliens " . External links . [ [ Category : LEGO Star Wars : The Force Awakens voice actors ] ] [ [ Category : Star Wars : Episode VII The Force Awakens actors ] ] [ [ Category : The Star Wars Holiday Special actors ] ] [ [ Category : Star Wars original trilogy actors ] ] [ [ Category : Star Wars video game voice actors ] ] [ [ Category : Star Wars voice actors ] ]