Harrison Ford's enduring love for acting over retirement
He is 82 years old, has received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, has an extensive filmography on his résumé, and has millions of fans worldwide. Now, he reveals why he is not planning to retire.
Harrison Ford is a Hollywood icon. He began his career in the 1960s, debuting on screen in the feature film "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round." Although he didn’t lack roles, appearing in movies like "The Conversation" by Francis Ford Coppola and "American Graffiti" by George Lucas, he planned to give up acting and pursue carpentry.
Everything took a different turn with the groundbreaking role of Han Solo in George Lucas’ "Star Wars" (1977). Soon after, he reunited with Coppola on the set of "Apocalypse Now" (1979). In 1981, he created one of his most famous characters, Indiana Jones, in Steven Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Other notable productions with Ford that have left a lasting mark in the history of cinematography include Blade Runner, The Fugitive, and What Lies Beneath. Today, in his ninth decade of life, he could rest on his laurels and indulge in his hobby: aviation. Fortunately for viewers, he continues to act.
Harrison Ford - what is the actor doing now?
His latest project is the series "Shrinking" on Apple TV+, a platform that doesn’t prioritize promoting its titles, even with such stars. Why does Ford continue to work instead of retiring?
In an interview with Vanity Fair, he admitted that working on this project was unique, mainly due to his interaction with other talented people. "Oh man, I get out of it essential human contact. I get to imagine with people that have great skill and experience…. It’s fun to work with these people," said the 82-year-old actor.
"Shrinking" focuses on the character Jimmy (played by Jason Segel) – a therapist who, after experiencing personal tragedy, starts telling his patients exactly what he thinks, regardless of professional ethics. Ford plays Dr. Paul Rhoades, head of the cognitive-behavioural therapy practice, and Jimmy's colleague.
Although Ford is primarily associated with serious roles, the actor emphasized his love for comedy: "I always enjoyed humor. I loved jokes. I loved the construction of jokes. My father was a joke teller. The wordsmithing and the ideas that lay behind a joke have always interested me. (...) I do like to invest characters that I play with their own personal sense of humor. I think everybody has one, even if they're not funny," added Ford.
Ford revealed that the "Shrinking" project perfectly fit his professional needs because the atmosphere on set was friendly and, above all, fun. The actor values working with people who enjoy themselves, which further convinced him to participate in the comedy series. "I don’t like to get too serious," he emphasizes.
The second season of "Shrinking" will premiere on Apple TV+ on October 16th, 2023, at 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
