Harrison Ford knows the work it takes to make love last.
During an appearance on NPR’s “Wild Card with Rachel Martin,” the 83-year-old “Shrinking” actor spoke candidly about love and relationships, including his 15-year marriage to actor Calista Flockhart.
After host Rachel Martin asked Ford what age has taught him about love, Ford replied, “Old people can love, too.”
“You know, you think about falling in love and all of that business,” Ford explained. “You think it’s the business of youth or something, you know, and staying in love is the issue. Maintaining, nurturing, basically, not f—ing up.”
“We all who are in love or in relationships work on that every day,” Martin said.
“With some days off for bad behavior,” Ford added.
Martin then asked Ford how long he’s been married.
“If you ask me, I would say all my life,” he responded. “I was married for the first time at 23 years of age, which should be illegal.”
Ford was married for the first time in 1964 to Mary Marquardt, according to People. The couple had two children together before their divorce. Ford later married screenwriter Melissa Mathison and had two more children before they finalized their divorce in 2004.
“Things turned out all right for everybody,” he said.
“But getting married again is an act of optimism,” Martin pointed out. “So you clearly were not soured on the institution itself.”
Since 2010, Ford has been married to Flockhart. After they wed, Ford adopted her son, Liam.
“I like everybody else, just like everybody else, I love being in love,” Ford said.
Ford, who has built a career as one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars with defining roles in “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” and “The Fugitive,” spoke with emotion about his marriage to Flockhart during his acceptance speech for the 2024 Critics Choice Awards career achievement award.
“I want to thank my lovely wife, Calista Flockhart, who supports me when I need a lot of support,” Ford said, fighting back tears while the audience applauded.
As Flockhart looked on with tears in her eyes, he continued, “and I need a lot of support.”
