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How to Age Like Harrison Ford
The star of ‘Shrinking’ (and more classic movies than we can count) shares his wisdom on growing old and never giving up
Some of the best things in Harrison Ford’s life — getting his pilot’s license, his marriage to Calista Flockhart — happened after he turned 50.
Contour by Getty Images
Harrison Ford is 82, but he has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
The Apple TV+ dramedy Shrinking, in which Ford plays a psychiatrist with Parkinson's disease (reportedly inspired by Michael J. Fox), has already been renewed for Season 3. And he’s also costarring with Anthony Mackie in the new Marvel action movie Captain America: Brave New World, which opens in theaters nationwide on Feb. 14.
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How does Ford continue to make so many amazing movies that stand the test of time? It’s not just his stuntmen who make him look good. As Ford has explained to us, in several profiles and interviews, he refuses to let growing old be a detriment. Some of the best things in his life — getting his pilot’s license, his marriage to Calista Flockhart — happened after he turned 50.
Here are 13 of our favorite words of wisdom that Ford has shared with AARP over the years.
On why he keeps working even though he doesn’t need to
“I take pleasure in being useful.”
On why he got married for a third time
“Because (Calista and I) lived together for 10 years and it seemed like we were going to get along. And I love her and she wanted to get married, and I wanted to get married.”
Harrison Ford portrays the Red Hulk in “Captain America: Brave New World.”
Disney
On the virtues that he lives by
“Finish what you start, be tough but fair, take pride in your work, do your best.”
On why he loves flying airplanes
“Flying absolutely reinvented my life. When I’m flying, I’ve got to do it according to the rules, just like everybody else. I’m not cut any slack for any other reason. I’m just another pilot.”
On why being young is overrated
“I don’t want to be young again. I was young, and now I enjoy being old. You are certainly physically diminished by age but there are wonderful things about age — richness of experience, the full weight of all the time you’ve been spending getting to being old — and there’s a certain ease in it for me.”
Harrison Ford as Dr. Paul Rhoades in “Shrinking” on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+
On what he considers the most important things in life
“People and work. And learning.”
On what still excites him about making movies
“I love acting probably more than I did before. I like working and problem-solving with people on a story…. I just want to make good movies that people want to go see. I hate making movies that people don’t go to.”
On why he finally got his pilot’s license at 54
“I wanted to see whether I could learn something new, especially something really challenging on a technical level that requires hands-on skills.”
Harrison Ford with Wendie Malick on Apple TV+'s “Shrinking.”
Apple TV+
On why age is less important than health
“I just don’t think of age and time in respect of years. I just have too much experience of people in their 70s who are vigorous and useful and people that are 35 that are in [lousy] physical shape and can’t think straight. I don’t think age has that much to do with it.
On why he hasn’t retired yet
“This is a different time. Our health has changed considerably since Clark Gable’s time. Back then, someone of my age might have retired for health reasons or not lived as long as I’ve been lucky enough to live.”
On what will finally make him quit
“I don't see any reason to stop as long as my presence is tolerated. And I still love what I’m doing and find it challenging and engaging. So I’ll stop when I don’t feel good anymore.”
On why he’s not afraid of flying
“More people are kicked to death by mules than die in aviation accidents worldwide.”
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