Harrison Ford’s Future Wife Adopted Son Saved Him from Loneliness after Separation from 4 Biological Kids

Hollywood legend Harrison Ford knows the many faces of parenthood. Although he has four biological children, he focused his life on the son he adopted after marrying Calista Flockhart.

Harrison Ford is not your typical movie star. While some actors cannot keep a partner for more than five months, Ford’s two failed marriages lasted over a decade.

The first “lucky one” was Mary Marquardt. The couple married in 1964 and welcomed sons Benjamin and Willard. The late 1960s and most of the 1970s were so financially challenging to Ford that he had to make ends meet as a carpenter.

AN AFFAIR THAT BROKE A FAMILY

When Ford began his career as an actor, he struggled to book parts that paid enough to provide for his family. He became so frustrated that he started working with wood to help pay the bills. 

Ford’s career improved in 1973 when director George Lucas cast him in “American Graffiti.” However, the actor couldn’t find a steady source of income afterward.

He met director Francis Ford Coppola and began working for him as a carpenter and actor, landing small parts in 1974’s “The Conversation” and 1979’s “Apocalypse Now.”  

Two years before “Apocalypse Now,” though, Ford had already established himself as a respected actor in Hollywood with his portrayal of Han Solo in “Star Wars.” That project changed his life in more than one way.

Although Ford was married to Marquardt, he had an affair with his “Star Wars” co-star Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), which ultimately led to Ford and Marquardt’s divorce in 1979. 

Ford then tied the knot with Melissa Mathison in 1983 and welcomed two children, Malcolm and Georgia, before divorcing in 2004. Now, the actor is married to Calista Flockhart, but he was not looking for love when he met her.

LOVE WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

After Mathison filed for divorce in mid-2001, Ford wouldn’t stop making headlines for his frequent nightclub outings. Some tabloids linked him to other actresses, like Minnie Driver and Lara Flynn Boyle, but most reports were untrue. Ford revealed: 

“[The media] spun the most cloth with the least material again and again. It was very hurtful to my kids. It was hurtful to a lot of people because 90 percent of it was wrong.”

Ford also shared his thoughts on feeling lonely, explaining that he wouldn’t like to live his life in a way that mitigates that feeling. Luckily, Flockhart came into his life and changed everything.

Adopting Liam also improved Ford’s relationship with his eldest son, Benjamin.

They met at the January 2002 Golden Globes ceremony, but Ford was not looking for love. However, love works in mysterious ways, and a spilled glass of wine did the trick.

Flockhart said they talked for about 20 minutes before Ford spilled the drink, but Ford claimed it was actually Flockhart who did it.

After that, they became almost inseparable, and Ford’s “Patriot Games” co-star Anne Archer knows why. She pointed out that Ford was “not a player,” and he was “more comfortable in a relationship.”

LEARNING TO LOVE HIS ADOPTED SON

Before meeting Ford, Flockhart adopted Liam. Once the actors became a couple, Liam became part of Ford’s family. Fortunately, Ford’s eldest children gave Liam and Flockhart a warm welcome. 

Ford admitted he loved participating in Liam’s life, and Flockhart said her partner’s “wonderful” family was “really good” to her. It is essential to point out that Ford didn’t turn his back on his eldest kids.

In 2002, Malcolm and Georgia moved from New York City to Los Angeles. After that, Ford would have dinner dates with them every Sunday night. Ford was so determined to be part of his children’s lives that he would live wherever the kids were studying. 

Adopting Liam also improved Ford’s relationship with his eldest son, Benjamin, mainly because Benjamin’s son, Ethan, became best friends with Liam. Nowadays, all of Ford’s children are doing well.

Things almost took a tragic turn in March 2015 when Ford was injured following a plane crash.

Benjamin, 54, is a restaurateur; Willard, 52, is an entrepreneur and owner of the Ludwig Clothing Company; Malcolm, 34, tried his luck in Hollywood but eventually became the frontman of the indie band The Dough Rollers; and Georgia, 31, is an actress.

Ford worked hard so that his children could have a normal childhood, which is probably why not everyone has a job in Hollywood. Liam, 21, is a college student. In 2003, Ford talked about his parenting skills and revealed:

“I still work on being a better father [and] a better mate. I’ve learned a lot from my relationships [and] my kids. I think I have made some progress.”

UNCONDITIONAL, DECADES-LONG ROMANCE

Ford and Flockhart began dating in 2002 and stayed together for almost eight years before Ford popped the question on 2009’s Valentine’s Day. 

In June 2010, they tied the knot at the Governor’s Mansion in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Things almost took a tragic turn in March 2015 when Ford was injured following a plane crash.

He spent days recovering in the hospital, and Flockhart stayed by his side for as long as she could. Ford and Flockhart’s close friends were not surprised by her reaction after the accident because they knew they had always focused on their family.

An insider revealed the couple’s life before and after saying “I do” was “focused on Liam.” The plane crash was hard to process for Ford and Flockhart because it was one of their favorite mutual pastimes.

The actor, known for piloting planes, said flying was important to him, and he enjoyed doing it with his wife because she loved it. He added: 

“[Flockhart] likes the process, she likes what she sees from the air, […] seeing me happy. I think a lot of it has to do with that she loves to see me doing something that I love.”

Although Flockhart had always been a bit nervous about flying, she became completely confident in her husband’s piloting skills after going to Santa Barbara.

Ford made a full recovery after the crash and kept piloting. The “Indiana Jones” star and Flockhart have been married for 12 years and in a relationship for 20. What a fantastic love story!