Harrison Ford, the legendary actor known for Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Blade Runner, has made it clear he has no plans to retire. At 83 years old, he remains active in Hollywood, recently earning his first Emmy nomination for his role in Apple TV+’s Shrinking. He also shared a funny story about accidentally punching Ryan Gosling while filming Blade Runner 2049.
Harrison Ford on Retirement: “They Need Old People Too”
When asked if he ever plans to retire, Ford gave a straightforward answer:
“No. That’s one of the things I thought was attractive about the job of an actor, was that they need old people, too, to play old people’s parts.”
Ford explained that acting allows him to keep working no matter his age. He recently appeared in Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World as President Thaddeus Ross and finished filming Season 3 of Shrinking, where he plays a therapist with Parkinson’s disease.
First Emmy Nomination for Shrinking
Ford received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Shrinking. He plays Dr. Paul Rhoades, a therapist dealing with his own health struggles.
“I don’t think there’s anything competitive about creativity, and I don’t understand the need to compare and contrast one person’s work to another’s. If you like it, you like it; if you don’t like it, look at something else. I’m grateful, but I would have done what I did — and I’ll do what I’m doing — regardless of whether it’s deemed worthy of mention or not. Because it’s what I do. It’s what I love doing. I love telling stories. I love pretending to be somebody else.”
Ford praised his Shrinking co-stars, including Jason Segel and Jessica Williams, calling them a supportive and talented group.
Working with Michael J. Fox on Parkinson’s Storyline
In Season 3 of Shrinking, Michael J. Fox joins the cast. Ford spoke about how Fox’s real-life experience with Parkinson’s disease helped shape his performance.
“Michael’s courage, his fortitude and his grace, more than anything else, is on full display. He’s a very smart, very brave, noble, generous, passionate guy, and an example to all of us, whether we’re facing Parkinson’s or not. You cannot help but recognize how amazing it is to have such grace. So he gives me both a physical representation of the disease to inform myself with, but more than that, he allows me to believe that Paul could believe that he could be adequate to the challenge. The truth is that we can’t be f–king around with this just to make a joke or anything. Parkinson’s is not funny. And I want to get it right.”
Ford emphasized the importance of portraying Parkinson’s disease accurately and respectfully.
The Time He Accidentally Punched Ryan Gosling
Ford shared a funny behind-the-scenes story from Blade Runner 2049, where he accidentally hit Ryan Gosling during a fight scene rehearsal.
“We were rehearsing a fight and we got too close and I hit him. I apologized right away. What more could I do? Can’t take back a punch. Just take it. He’s a very handsome man. He’s still very handsome.”
Gosling joked about the incident in a past interview, saying:
“A Harrison Ford punch is a different animal altogether.”
Ford also recalled bringing Scotch whiskey to Gosling’s trailer to apologize, but Gosling was busy, so Ford ended up drinking it himself.
Ford’s Long Career and Future Projects
Ford has been acting for over five decades, starring in some of the biggest films in history, including:
- Star Wars (Han Solo)
- Indiana Jones series
- Blade Runner (Rick Deckard)
- The Fugitive (Dr. Richard Kimble)
- Air Force One (President James Marshall)
Recently, he appeared in 1923, the Yellowstone prequel, and will next be seen in Captain America: Brave New World.
Despite his long career, Ford says he still enjoys acting and has no plans to slow down.
