Harrison Ford (March 16, 1884 – December 2, 1957) was an early 20th-century American actor. He was a leading Broadway theater performer and a star of the silent film era.
Career
Ford was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Anna and Walter. He began his acting career on the stage, and made his Broadway debut in 1904 in Richard Harding Davis's Ranson's Folly. He went on to appear in productions of William C. deMille's Strongheart; Glorious Betsy by Rida Johnson Young (the production lasted only 24 performances but the play was later adapted for an Oscar-nominated film of the same name); Bayard Veiller's The Fight (which quickly closed); Edgar Wallace's The Switchboard; Edward Locke's The Bubble; and Edgar Selwyn's Rolling Stones.
In 1915, Ford turned to film and moved to Hollywood. He became a leading man opposite stars such as Constance Talmadge, Norma Talmadge, Marie Prevost, Marion Davies, Marguerite De La Motte and Clara Bow. Ford's film career ended with the advent of talkies. His final film, and only talkie, Love in High Gear, was released in 1932. He returned to acting in the theatre, and also directed productions at the Little Theater of the Verdugos in Glendale, California. During World War II, he toured with the United Service Organizations (USO).
Personal life
Ford married New York stage actress Beatrice Prentice (1884–1977), in Rochester, New York on March 29, 1909.
On September 13, 1951, he was struck by a car while out walking and severely injured. He never recovered, and spent the rest of his life at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, and died there on December 2, 1957, at the age of 73. He was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale.
For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Harrison Ford has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of the Musso & Frank Grill at 6665 Hollywood Boulevard.
Ford has no known relation to the later film actor of the same name.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1915Excuse MeLt. Harry Mallory 1916Anton the TerribleDavid Burkin Alternative title: The Austrian Spy Lost film, a fragment remains1917The Mysterious Mrs. MRaymond Van SeerAlternative title: The Mysterious Mrs. Musslewhite Incomplete film, the Library of Congress has reels 1 and 2 The Tides of Barnegat Sidney GrayLost film On the LevelJoe Blanchard Lost film A Roadside Impresario Craig Winton Lost filmThe Crystal GazerDick Alden Lost film The Sunset Trail Kirk Levington Molly Entangled Barney Malone Lost film1918Good Night, PaulPaul Boudeaux A Petticoat Pilot Crawford Smith Lost film Unclaimed GoodsDanny Donegan Lost film Viviette Austin Ware Lost filmA Pair of Silk Stockings Sam Thornhill Sauce for the GooseJohn Constable Lost filmThe Cruise of the Make-Believes Gilbert Byfield Lost filmSuch a Little PirateRory O'Malley Lost film Mrs. Leffingwell's BootsMr. Leffingwell Lost filmA Lady's NameNoel Corcoran Incomplete film, 4 of 5 reels survive1919Who Cares? Martin GreyLost filmYou Never Saw Such a GirlEric BurgessLost filmGirls Edgar HoltLost film Experimental MarriageFoxcroft GreyLost film The Veiled Adventure Richard Annesly The Lottery ManFoxhall PeytonLost film Happiness a la ModeRichard TownsendLost filmThe Third KissOliver CloyneLost film Romance and Arabella BillLost filmHawthorne of the U.S.A.Rodney Blake1920Easy to GetBob MorehouseLost film A Lady in LoveBrent Lost filmFood for ScandalWatt DinwiileOh, Lady, LadyHale UnderwoodLost film Miss HobbsWolff Kingsearl Young Mrs. WinthropDouglas Winthrop Lost filmHer Beloved VillainMartinotLost film1921The Passion FlowerNorbertWedding BellsReginald CarterLost filmA Heart to LetBurton ForbesLost film The Wonderful ThingDonald MannerbyLove's RedemptionClifford StandishLost film1922Foolish WivesRude Soldier/Armless SoldierUncreditedSmilin' ThroughKenneth Wayne/Jeremiah Wayne When Love Comes Peter Jamison Lost filmFind the WomanPhilip Vandevent Incomplete film The Old Homestead Reuben Whitcomb Her Gilded CageLawrence PellLost film Shadows John Malden With Lon ChaneyThe Primitive LoverHector Tomley1923Vanity FairGeorge OsborneLost filmMaytimeRichard WayneIncomplete film, 4 of 7 reels surviveLittle Old New YorkJohn O'DayBright Lights of BroadwayThomas Drake1924The Average WomanJimmy Munroe A Fool's Awakening John Briggs Three Miles Out John LockeThe Price of a Party Robert Casson Incomplete filmJanice MeredithCharles Fownes1925The Mad MarriageWalter ButlerLost filmProud FleshDon JaimeLovers in QuarantineAnthony BluntThat Royle GirlFred KetlarLost film The Marriage WhirlTom Carrol Lost filmThe WheelTed Morton Lost film Zander the Great Dan Murchinson1926The Song and Dance ManJoseph MurdockIncomplete film, first two reels are missingUp in Mabel's RoomGarry Ainsworth Hell's Four HundredJohn North Lost filmAlmost a LadyWilliam Duke Sandy Ramon Worth The Nervous WreckHenry Williams1927 The Night BrideStanley Warrington Lost film The Rejuvenation of Aunt MaryJack WatkinsLost filmThe Girl in the PullmanDr. Donald A. Burton No Control John Douglas JrRubber TiresBill James1928 Golf WidowsCharles BatemanLet 'Er Go GallegherHenry Clay CallahanThe Rush HourDan Morley A Woman Against the World Schuyler Van Loan Lost film A Blonde for a Night Bob Webster Just MarriedJack Stanley Lost filmThree WeekendsTurnerLost film, fragments exist1929The Flattering WordEugene Tesh Short filmHer Husband's WomenThe Philandering Portrait Painter Short film1932Love in High GearDonald Ransome
References
Bibliography
External links
Ford biography and photos at goldensilents.com Harrison Ford at Virtual History 1920 passport photo Studio portraits: photo #1, photo #2 Film stills: with Wallace Reid The Lottery Man (1919) and with Clara Bow in Three Weekends (1928) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/harrison-ford-dangers-assumption-martin-wright