Harrison Ford

Following on his success portraying the archaeologist Indiana Jones in four films, Ford also plays a part in supporting the work of professional archaeologists. He serves as a General Trustee^[23] on the Governing Board of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), North America’s oldest and largest organization devoted to the world of archaeology. Ford assists them in their mission of increasing public awareness of archaeology and preventing looting and the illegal antiquities trade.

Ford achieved another huge career boost when he starred as Indiana Jones in the Lucas/Spielberg collaboration Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). He reprised the role for the prequel Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and the sequel Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), which turned Ford himself into a blockbuster phenomenon. He again reprised his role as Indiana Jones for a 1993 episode of the television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and for the 2008 film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 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.

Ford’s work as a carpenter would land the actor his biggest role to date. In 1975, director George Lucas used him to read lines for actors being cast for parts in his upcoming space opera, Star Wars (1977), though Steven Spielberg convinced Lucas that Ford was meant to star in the film, resulting in him being cast as Han Solo. The film was a huge success and boosted Ford’s career. Ford went on to star in the Star Wars sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), as well as the The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978). He wanted Lucas to write in the death of the iconic Han Solo at the end of Return of the Jedi, saying “that would have given the whole film a bottom”, but Lucas refused.