Meet Harrison Ford's Five Kids
From his humble beginnings in Chicago, Illinois, Harrison Ford was able to go from a college dropout to one of Hollywood's biggest leading men. He took his time building an impressive resume, playing notable roles such as Han Solo in "Stars Wars" and Indiana Jones from the "Indiana Jones" franchise. Though he was well-known for reprising those roles over the last four decades, he remained busy with work in films like "Blade Runner," "Witness," and "Air Force One." As his career flourished — earning himself numerous accolades from the People's Choice Awards and the Guinness Book of World Records — Harrison Ford also became a devoted family man. His first marriage to Mary Marquardt resulted in the birth of Benjamin and Willard Ford. Then the actor married known screenwriter Melissa Mathison in 1983, and the two had Malcolm and Georgia Ford. After divorcing in 2004, Harrison married actress Calista Flockhart in 2010. The actor then became the father of her adopted son, Liam Flockhart Ford.
Balancing family life with an acting career is undoubtedly a tough gig. This, however, didn't seem to be a problem for the legendary actor. According to Ford, they're all thriving in their own personal ventures (via The National). "I have five children, all of them are well and happy and doing well in their lives," he told the publication. To learn more about his children and their extraordinary lives, read on.
Benjamin is a well-known chef
Born on September 22, 1966, Benjamin Ford was Harrison Ford's first child. Born at the beginning of his father's illustrious career, Benjamin watched Harrison transition from a professional carpenter to a well-known actor. Instead of following in his father's footsteps, however, Benjamin became a prominent chef. In an interview with Williams Sonoma, Benjamin revealed that his early love for gardening sparked his interest in crafting culinary dishes. "Gardening was the first step in me becoming a chef," he said. "It was a natural progression from raising my own vegetables to then wanting to cook with them." From trying Japan's finest cuisines to his mother's "simple" recipes, Benjamin was fascinated by the world of cooking.
Benjamin also had a passion for baseball, and his future in the sport seemed promising. Unfortunately, his baseball career ended early after a sports accident. "After an injury, I took stock in my future and decided to follow my passion for cooking," he stated. "Los Angeles wasn't the culinary mecca it is today, so I headed north. I found my way into my first kitchens the hard way: knocking on the back door and asking for a job." While the transition saw Benjamin spend years garnering the necessary experience to thrive, the 56-year-old successfully opened up his own restaurant in California — which his father dined at in 2014. Benjamin also published his own cooking book titled, "Taming the Feast," in which he shared several unique recipes for others to try.
Benjamin praised his father for the numerous lessons he taught him on Father's Day
With a family full of creatives, Benjamin Ford has since reflected on how his upbringing allowed him to succeed in his career. Although some of it is a result of his undying will to carve out a path for himself, he also owes a lot to his parents, Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford. During his interview with Williams Sonoma, Benjamin stated that his childhood was filled with inspirational people. "There was freedom to explore in my family, and my parents had amazing friends: writers, musicians, all great conversationalists," he stated. "To this day, I still try to surround myself with artists rather than just chefs. I find it's in those situations that I am the most creative."
This not only shaped his culinary career but the man he became as well. In 2019, Benjamin touched on those same influences in a heartfelt Instagram post dedicated to his dad on Father's Day. Paired with a picture of the two grilling chicken wings, Benjamin praised Harrison for being a father who taught him valuable lessons. "He taught me resiliency as a young father and later helped give me the courage to pursue my dreams," he wrote. "His craftsman approach and his pragmatic view of life are qualities I have tried to emulate throughout my life and kept me on level ground while navigating life's challenges and celebrating my successes. You are the best ... Happy Father's Day!"
Willard became an entrepreneurial tycoon
In 1964, Harrison Ford married Mary Marquardt. The two had their first child Benjamin Ford three years after tying the knot, and in 1969, the two added Willard Ford to their family. Just like his older brother, Willard strayed away from acting on the big screen. Instead, Willard became a successful businessman. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz, the future tycoon went on to tackle the world of real estate. Willard experienced early success in 1999 when he bought the Kim Sing Theatre in Chinatown. According to Willard (via Hollywood Reporter), the space was used for several events for companies ranging from BMW, Nike, Pepsi, and more.
In 2014, he listed the theatre for $4.5 million after owning the landmark for more than a decade. Since the space was well-known by higher-ups in show business, David Kean from Teles Properties told the Hollywood Reporter that the property was likely to be sold. "This is the perfect place for someone in entertainment; either an actor who wants a downtown base or a musician who could have a full recording studio here," he stated. Willard eventually sold it for $3.3 million after it was on the market for two years. This, however, wasn't the end of his entrepreneurial career. Willard also owns Strong Sports Gym, which is located in Los Angeles. Despite the pandemic causing the organization to suspend operations in 2020, it seems the gym is now back in business.
Both Benjamin and Willard have children of their own
As Benjamin and Willard Ford began to live their own lives, it was only a matter of time before they gave Harrison Ford grandchildren. The first to do so was Benjamin, who had two sons, Ethan and Waylon Ford. In 2021, Benjamin paid tribute to his growing boys through an Instagram post. "There is never a day that goes by that I do not thank my lucky star for what these boys brought to my life," he wrote. "Thank you for being my ultimate teacher. I love you to the outer reaches of the universe and back."
Willard soon followed suit, becoming the father of Eliel and Guiliana Ford. While Willard updates his Facebook page with his latest ventures with friends and family, Eliel has done the same on Instagram. Eliel appears to be following in his family's creative footsteps, building a credible career as a director. According to his Instagram, Eliel has worked with celebrities such as Jack Harlow and Euphoria's Javon Walter. Alongside his directorial achievements, his Instagram is also home to pictures of his dad either caught off guard in diners or exploring the streets of Tokyo. Eliel shows love to his little sister, Guiliana, on his Instagram as well. In 2013, Eliel posted a picture of Guiliana holding a bottle of Bud Light with the caption, "My sister got s*** faced in San Francisco."
Malcolm found success as a musician
After divorcing Mary Marquardt, Harrison Ford married the late screenwriter, Melissa Mathison, in 1983. Four years later, Mathison gave birth to Malcolm Ford. As Malcolm began to venture toward a career in acting — starring in "Water to Wine" in 2004 — he eventually transitioned into a full-time musician. Malcolm and Jack Byrne (son of actress Ellen Barkin) started a band called The Dough Roller, which saw Malcolm as the frontman. In 2013, Malcolm told Interview magazine about how his passion for music grew into his career path. "I didn't grow up with music in the house, like every kid had 'Blackbird' playing when they got home from school or something," he told the publication. "My mom would have Wagner on sometimes, but I got into punk music first. My first cassette was Green Jellÿ. That was the band I was really into."
Given his parent's creative backgrounds, Malcolm devoted his time to music and garnered the respect of his contemporaries. The Dough Roller, which also featured Josh Barocas, Jack Byrne, and Kyle Olson, saw early success, producing two studio albums and opening for major acts like Billy Idol, Bob Dylan, and Queens of the Stone Age. According to their Facebook page, the band appears to have either disbanded or collectively stopped releasing music altogether. The last post made regarding show dates was in December 2015.
Georgia briefly followed in her father's footsteps
Born on June 30, 1990, Georgia Ford is Harrison Ford's fourth child and only daughter. Sharing the same mother as Malcolm Ford, Georgia was surrounded by an influx of talent in the film department. Unlike her siblings, who all pursued other interests, Georgia became an actress. By the time she was in her early 20s, Georgia made her on-screen debut in the 2013 comedy, "American Milkshake," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
In a 2013 interview with genConnect U, Georgia fielded questions about her theater background and how it's different from acting in films. "I mean, with theater, you really have one chance, and if you mess up, it's all up to you to fix it in that second," she responded. "Where in [films] you have more space to, kind of make a mistake and see if it works, or fix it later or ... you know, you can always try it again." After working on "American Milkshake," Georgia went on to star in "True Story" in 2015 and "The Visitor" in 2016. Despite the success Georgia experienced as an actress, it is unclear where her career stands as the last project she was cast in was "I'm Being Me" in 2020.
Georgia was diagnosed with Epilepsy
Although Georgia Ford garnered numerous accolades, she had an ongoing battle with a neurological disorder that brought itself to light when she was young. This health issue, however, wasn't a shock to Harrison Ford. During the 2010 premiere of "Morning Glory," Harrison revealed that his family has a long history of epilepsy. The "Star Wars" actor also encouraged others to be informed of the disorder and expressed optimism about finding a way to treat the condition. "It's really important to talk about it and find out about it," he stated. "And there's real important cutting-edge research being done in the area, and I'm very hopeful that someday, very soon, we're going to find a cure for this really devastating affliction."
By 2016, Harrison spoke about his daughter's battle with the disorder at New York University Langone Medical Center's "Find a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures" event (via People). Speaking on Georgia's behalf, Harrison referred to his daughter as her hero before candidly speaking on her experience receiving a proper diagnosis. From first experiencing a seizure at a sleepover to having another while studying abroad, Harrison sought a doctor that could properly treat this condition. Luckily, the actor stumbled upon Dr. Orrin Devinsky from NYU. "Dr. Orrin Devinsky, who is a dear friend, made the diagnosis: epilepsy," he stated during his speech. "He prescribed the right medication and therapy; she has not had a seizure in eight years."
Liam attended Amherst College
After divorcing Melissa Mathison in 1983, Harrison Ford met actress Calista Flockhart in 2002. Their 8-year-long romance culminated in 2010 when they tied the knot — making this Harrison Ford's third marriage. Before her relationship with the "Star Wars" actor, Calista adopted Liam Flockhart Ford in 2001. Once their relationship became serious, Harrison effectively became his father. According to Harrison, he was confident in his parenting skills and suggested that he's not worried about his age affecting his ability to be a good father. (via Independent). "My older children have taught me a lot about parenting," he stated. "My first child was born when I was 25. I reckon I'm a little better at it now."
Despite their private nature, Harrison and Calista were spotted with Liam numerous times attending events together. One of which saw the two help their son move into college. As Harrison's youngest, Liam is the last to attend college. According to Daily Mail, Liam was accepted into Amherst College in 2019. In 2020, Harrison flew his son on a private plane to return for his second year in college. Paired with masks and bookbags, the two were seen hugging their son before parting ways. In 2023, both Harrison and Calista were in attendance to watch the 22-year-old graduate accept his college degree. While it is unknown what the future holds for Liam, it's clear that Harrison's youngest child is quickly growing into a full-fledged adult.
Liam once convinced him to skydive
Alongside his prolific acting career, the "Indiana Jones" actor found himself learning how to pilot airplanes. According to his interview with Downwind magazine, this interest of his dates back to his college years, although he had to put off this hobby since it cost a lot of money. Thanks to his years of work in the entertainment industry, the actor eventually picked up flying again when he was 54 and hasn't looked back since. "Part of the reason why I wanted to learn to fly was because I felt like I had not learned anything in a long time and wanted to see if I could learn something new," he stated. After his devastating plane crash in 2015, many assumed Ford would stay away from the sky for years to come. Though he flew again in 2017, Ford revealed that his son Liam convinced him to tackle a new high-risk venture.
During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2019, Harrison revealed that his youngest son convinced him to skydive during their time in New Zealand. Harrison — who was apprehensive about the idea — ended up enjoying his time in the sky. So much so that this experience influenced him to want to learn how to skydive without an instructor. When Ellen asked the "Stars Wars" actor if Liam was open to doing it again, he responded, "We're talking about it ... we're not talking to his mother about it."
According to Harrison, his children don't think he's 'cool'
While his stoic personality and iconic movie roles earned him public praise, Harrison Ford is not afraid to poke fun at himself. As humble as he appears, he remains grounded in reality thanks to his spouse and children. This may be due to their perception of Ford as a father and husband instead of an A-list celebrity.
In a 2015 interview with Gulf News, Ford suggested that his children are unimpressed by his movie star cool. Despite Benjamin Ford's numerous posts on social media praising his beloved father, Ford seems to believe they only view him as their parent, nothing more. While discussing his return as Han Solo in "Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens," Suzy Maloy asked the actor how his children reacted to his inclusion in the popular franchise again. "My kids do not think I'm cool at all," he replied. "Being in this movie is not going to convince them otherwise. No. They're just glad to see that Dad is still working." During a 2015 interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Ford jokingly referenced this idea of him being uncool to his kids. In a segment where he fielded questions for charity, Ellen prompted the actor to tell the audience something he does that embarrasses his children, to which he responded, "Come home."