Chicago-born Harrison Ford brought the audience to tears as he accepted the Life Achievement Award at Sunday’s Actor Awards.
The 83-year-old screen legend, whose six-decade career spans The Fugitive, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and, more recently, Apple TV’s Shrinking, was honored for his enduring impact on film and television. After being introduced by Woody Harrelson, Ford took the stage, mixing humor with heartfelt reflection.
“I’m in a room of actors, many of whom are here because they’ve been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I’m here to receive a prize for… being alive,” he joked.
Later in his speech, Ford grew visibly emotional as he reflected on his career and the good fortune he feels he has experienced. “Sometimes we make entertainment; sometimes we make art. Sometimes we’re lucky to make them both at the same time, and if we’re really fortunate, we also get to make a living doing it,” he said. “Success in this business brings a certain freedom that comes with responsibility to support each other, to lift others up when we can, to keep the door open for the next kid, the next lost boy who’s looking for a place to belong.”
“I’m indeed a lucky guy. Lucky to have found my people, lucky to have work that challenges me, lucky to still be doing it. And I don’t take that for granted.”
Ford also thanked his fellow actors, SAG-AFTRA and his wife, Calista Flockhart. “I want to say thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart, to my peers, to my extraordinarily beautiful wife Calista, and my family, who have given me love and courage through all of it,” he said. “And thank you to SAG-AFTRA for honoring me with this prize. This is very encouraging.”
At one point, he quipped that he was only “at the halfway point” of his career, while acknowledging the influence of collaborators including Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, former manager Patricia McQueeny and late casting director Fred Roos.
“This is a tough business to get into. In my case, it’s been a tough business to get out of, thank God, because I love what I do,” he added.
Ford can currently be seen in the third season of Shrinking, in which he plays a therapist living with Parkinson’s disease. The series has already been renewed for a fourth season.
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