Harrison Ford’s well-known reputation for seeming gruff in public is reportedly just a performance, according to Michael Urie, who recently worked with him on the series Shrinking. Insights into Ford’s off-camera demeanor and longstanding marriage reveal more about the man behind the “Harrison Ford public persona.”
Behind the Scenes: A Different Harrison Ford Emerges
Michael Urie, who has become acquainted with Ford while filming the comedy drama Shrinking, challenges the perception that Ford is always irritable. Urie shares that, despite Ford’s portrayal of a “cantankerous” figure at events, the legendary actor is far more lighthearted and fun on set.
“He’s silly and makes work fun. He loves being [on set], he really, really loves being there,”
Urie explained to PEOPLE magazine.
He adds further,
I know he seems cantankerous on the red carpet, [but] that’s just an act. He’s actually very sweet, and he loves being there.
—Michael Urie, Actor
Urie also praised Ford’s dedication to his craft and the attention he gives each performance, remarking that Ford approaches every scene thoughtfully and with care.
He is a really careful actor, he’s really thinking about the work. He really cares about the scene; he treats every scene like it’s its own thing.
—Michael Urie, Actor
A Closer Look at Ford’s Long-Lasting Relationship
Outside his career, Harrison Ford is also candid about his personal life, especially about his marriage with Calista Flockhart, whom he wed in 2010. Despite being in his eighties, the actor maintains that being in love is not exclusive to the young. During a recent appearance on NPR’s Wild Card with Rachel Martin, Ford discussed the enduring nature of romance and companionship.
“Old people can love, too. You know, you think about falling in love and all of that business,”
he commented during his interview. He reflected on the idea that love is commonly linked to youth, before adding,
You think it’s the business of youth or something, you know, and staying in love is the issue.
—Harrison Ford, Actor
Ford humorously revealed the secret to his enduring marriage, giving a candid response:
maintaining, nurturing, basically, not f****** up.
—Harrison Ford, Actor
Personal Reflections and Life Lessons
Ford’s marital journey includes previous relationships, having been married to Mary Marquardt and Melissa Mathison before finding lasting happiness with Flockhart. Looking back on marrying young, Ford is self-deprecating about his early choices, joking during his interview,
If you ask me, I would say all my life. I was married for the first time at 23 years of age, which should be illegal.
—Harrison Ford, Actor
Through his evolving career and multiple marriages, Ford casts an honest and nuanced light on both his professional and personal life. His openness about maintaining relationships and the realities of growing older contrasts sharply with his usual public image, offering fans a more complete perspective of the person behind the Harrison Ford public persona.
These insights from co-stars like Michael Urie and Ford himself melt away the myth of the permanently grumpy movie icon. As Ford continues to act and make audiences laugh, his blend of careful artistry and wit continues to resonate in both Hollywood and through media appearances like those with PEOPLE magazine and NPR’s Rachel Martin.
