Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. He is best known for his performances as the tough, wisecracking space pilot Han Solo in the Star Wars film series, and the adventurous archaeologist/action hero in the Indiana Jones film series. Ford has also been the star of many high-grossing hits Hollywood blockbusters such as Air Force One and The Fugitive, 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 1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (as Elliot's school principal) was deleted from the final cut of the film. Five of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry.
As of May 2007, the combined domestic box office grosses of Ford's films total approximately US$3.10 billion, with worldwide grosses approaching the US$6 billion mark, making Ford the number-three all-time domestic box-office star behind Eddie Murphy and Tom Hanks.
He was ranked #1 in Empire magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
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 Jackson, Wyoming home. Ford despises the Internet for facilitating the spread of malicious gossip about him.
Ford has been married twice. He married Mary Marquardt in 1964, and divorced her in 1979. He had two sons with her, Benjamin (born in 1967) and Willard (born in 1969). He married again, to Melissa Mathison, screenwriter of The Black Stallion, Kundun, and 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 January 2004 has become one of the most expensive in Hollywood history, as she was awarded a share of Ford's residual paychecks. Ford has since been dating actress Calista Flockhart.
Ford is a private pilot of both planes and helicopters, and owns an 800-acre (3.2-km²) ranch in Jackson, Wyoming, approximately half of which he has donated as a nature reserve. On several occasions, Ford has personally provided emergency helicopter services at the behest of local authorities, in one instance rescuing a hiker overcome by dehydration. The hiker was asked by local reporters what it felt like to be rescued by "Indiana Jones", referring to Ford's famous role. The hiker then replied that he wasn't saved by Indy, but rather by "Han Solo".
He is the current Chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program, taking over after Chuck Yeager retired.
Ford sits on the board of directors of Conservation International.
Ford is an Honorary Chairman of the Indianapolis Prize, the world's leading award for animal conservation.
Ford was awarded the Jules Verne Spirit of Nature Award for his ongoing work in preservation of the planet