Advertisement

Why Harrison Ford “Was Not Surprised” When He Fell for Wife Calista Flockhart 21 Years Ago

Why Harrison Ford “Was Not Surprised” When He Fell for Wife Calista Flockhart 21 Years Ago


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below."

Harrison Ford is a Hollywood staple thanks to his monumental movie role in the Star Wars franchise and his work in TV shows, like the Paramount+ show 1923 and the Apple TV+ drama Shrinking. While he may be a prominent face on camera, one element of his life purposely stays hidden. He's been in a relationship with actress Calista Flockhart for over two decades, and their paths crossed at the most unexpected time.

Harrison and Calista first met at the 2002 Golden Globes, where she received a nomination for playing the titular role in Ally McBeal. He also had a big night at the event as the recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award. At the time, the Indiana Jones star was in the middle of divorcing his second wife Melissa Mathison (which was later finalized in 2004).

Apart from Harrison and Calista's 22 year age gap (he was 60 and she was 38), he was also a dad to four children — Ben and Willard with his first wife Mary Marquardt; Malcolm and Georgia with Melissa. Meanwhile, Calista had just adopted her infant son Liam only a year prior in January 2001. Still, sparks immediately began to fly when the two met at the major Hollywood event.

harrison ford wife calista flockhart marriage kids
Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart in January 2002.Getty Images

"I'm in love," he told People in June 2003. "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. I was not surprised that I was able to fall in love, and I wasn't surprised that I did."

The couple was eventually spotted together during casual outings on his motorcycle and red carpet events. Their relationship changed on Valentine's Day 2009, when The Mosquito Coast star proposed to Calista after seven years of dating. It was around this time that Harrison adopted her son Liam as his own. He later spoke about how Liam always was part of the duo's relationship.

actor harrison ford with girlfriend actress calista flockhart arriving at the k 19 the widowmaker ny premiere at the ziegfeld theater in new york city july 17, 2002 photo evan agostiniimagedirect
Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart in July 2002.Getty Images

"I think Liam was about 6 or 8-months-old when I met him and Calista," he told Parade in January 2010. "We have been together ever since ... I wasn’t expecting it at all. The unexpected part was certainly true. And the joy part is also true."

Harrison and Calista made things official in June 2010, when the two wed in an intimate ceremony in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with Liam in attendance. While the pair continued to celebrate the good times together, they stuck by each other through tough times too. An avid pilot, Harrison got into a plane crash while flying over an L.A. golf course in 2015. Calista quickly rushed to her husband's side and stayed with him as he recovered.

harrison ford wife calista flockhart marriage kids
Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart in January 2016.Getty Images

The Supergirl actress later opened up to People about how difficult the incident had been for her family. "He loves it, so I love it, and I support him 100 percent," she told the magazine. "I think it just makes you realize once again that life can turn on a dime, and we just have to appreciate every second we’re here, because you never know."

But the longtime couple don't just discuss hardships they've dealt with throughout their relationship. They're also known to share more mundane details about their lives, like when Calista laughed about Harrison's limited texting skills during a 2015 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. As for spending time with Liam, they leaned on each other after dropping him off at college in August 2020.

los angeles, california december 02 harrison ford and calista flockhart attend the 1923 la premiere screening after party on december 02, 2022 in los angeles, california photo by alberto e rodriguezgetty images for paramount
Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart in December 2022.Getty Images

Above all, he's still as in love with his wife as he was when they met two decades ago. As it turns out, he has an idea for how to still spice up their marriage — working on a project.

"We'd love to find one we could do together," he told Fox News in January. "She's just going back to work after having devoted herself to the raising of our son, Liam, for the last 20 years ... [She's] enjoying going back to work. I'm hoping we will find something to do together."

You Might Also Like