Let's be honest: Who isn't in love with Harrison Ford? Whether he whipped his way into your heart as Indiana Jones or you pined over him as Han Solo, the now-81-year-old actor has spent his entire career being a heartthrob. And, as one Cannes journalist so memorably expressed in 2023, he's still got it.
Amazingly, Ford shows no sign of slowing. He earned a Critics Choice Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2023 Apple TV+ comedy "Shrinking." And he's taken on yet another blockbuster franchise as the MCU's new Thunderbolt Ross. Ford will also reprise his role as Jacob Dutton in the "Yellowstone" prequel series, "1923" Season 2.
Beyond his most legendary characteristics—his skills as a horseman, his many plane incidents—Ford is also a devoted husband to his wife, actress Calista Flockhart, 59. The ultra-private duo have been married since 2009, and they currently reside on a ranch in Jackson, Wyoming. (Did we mention they're very, very private?)
Although they're not prone to public date nights, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart's romance spans over two decades. Read on for a rundown of their relationship, from a chance encounter at the Golden Globes to their laid-back rancher lifestyle.
Third Time's The Charm
You can't talk about Ford's love story without addressing the two marriages that came before Flockhart. In 1964, the actor married his college girlfriend, Mary Marquardt, and they had two children—Benjamin and Willard—before divorcing in 1979. The pair met while attending Ripon College in Wisconsin, where Marquardt was studying culinary arts and Ford was taking drama classes to "get over his shyness."
During their 15-year marriage, Marquardt supposedly encouraged her husband's acting dreams and even supported their family with chef jobs while he took on low-paying gigs. When he eventually got his big break in "Star Wars" in 1977, his newfound fame and popularity with the ladies took a toll on their marriage. Rumored affairs—including one with Carrie Fisher—put a strain on their relationship and led to their split.
Ford then tied the knot with Melissa Mathison in 1983, who was famously wrote the script for "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." They met on the set of "Apocalypse Now" in 1976, while Ford was still married and Mathison was working as a production assistant. They didn't start dating until 1982, but it must have been a whirlwind romance because they quickly married the following year. The couple spent the next two decades together before divorcing, during which time they had two kids, Malcolm and Georgia. In 2015, Mathison passed away after a battle with neuroendocrine cancer.
The Ultimate Meet-Cute
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His second divorce wasn't even finalized when Ford met his future wife, Calista Flockhart. In 2002, the then-60-year-old actor was introduced to Flockhart—made famous for her title role in the hit Fox series "Ally McBeal"—at the Golden Globe Awards.
Despite being 22 years his junior, they had an instant connection and were soon seen walking red carpets together and spending time with her adopted son, Liam. Flockhart said that their age difference doesn't even faze her: "Sometimes I even say, 'Wow, I keep forgetting that he's [22] years older than me. It doesn't factor into our relationship at all."
In a 2003 interview, Ford opened up about finding love for the third time in his life, saying that he "wasn't surprised." Knowing the magnetism of this iconic actor, neither are we.
"Romantic love is one of the most exciting and fulfilling kinds of love, and I think there is a potential for it at any stage of your life," he said. "I was not surprised that I was able to fall in love, and I wasn't surprised that I did."
This couple's courtship lasted much longer than his previous ones. Finally, in 2009, the couple announced their engagement. Ford popped the question to Flockhart on Valentine's Day while they were on a getaway with her son Liam. The pair were married on June 15, 2010, in a private ceremony at the Santa Fe Governor's hilltop mansion. In true Harrison Ford fashion, he wore Wrangler jeans while she donned a simple white sundress.
Real-Life Ranchers
Since then, Ford and Flockhart have enjoyed a blissful home life. They currently reside at the gorgeous, 800-acre ranch in Jackson, Wyoming, where Ford has lived since the 1980s. A true man of the land, he apparently donated half of his acreage to a nature reserve and is an active participant in various wildlife conservation efforts. He also adopted Flockhart's son, Liam, as his own.
Seeing as how they spend most of their time in a remote part of the wilderness, it's no surprise this couple likes to keep their relationship out of the public eye. In recent years, however, the duo have graced red carpets together.
In a 2022 interview with ET, Ford and his "1923" wife Helen Mirren talked about how their real-life marriages influenced how they approached their onscreen partnership. He acknowledged that Cara Dutton is Jacob Dutton's strength and stay, much like Flockhart is for him:
"I don't consider myself a great man," he said. "But I do have a great wife."
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