There isn’t another living actor who has more iconic films on his resume than Harrison Ford. While playing a lead part in the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, and Jack Ryan franchises would likely be enough to solidify Ford as an all-time great, he also has many smaller films that are also worthy of praise, such as his Oscar-nominated role in Witness and his powerful performance in the film version of The Fugitive. Many young actors may have tried to model themself off of Ford’s success, but he did not exactly have a typical route to Hollywood stardom. Shortly after dropping out of school, earning his first onscreen speaking credit in the slapstick comedy Luv, Ford worked as a camera technician and roadie for a documentary on The Doors.

Harrison Ford Was a Camera Assistant for The Doors

Despite earning a variety of guest roles on popular television shows at the time, Ford found it difficult to find work as an outsider in the industry given his lack of established connections. Since he was still trying to find regular work that would provide for his family, Ford’s UCLA friend Paul Ferrara offered him the chance to work on a second unit camera crew as part of a documentary on The Doors during their infamous Northern California Folk-Rock Festival appearance. Although he admitted that he learned a lot about the technical side of filmmaking while in such close proximity to Jim Morrison, Ford would later recall that he “couldn’t keep up with those guys” because their rowdy lifestyle “was too much.”

Learning about the technical process of filmmaking was essential to Ford’s success as an actor, as he would make his big break by appearing in very technically ambitious films that required the use of multiple camera units. Although he may not have been a known quality when he began doing more regular auditions, Ford’s awareness of what it was like to be on set gave him certain advantages. Ford’s sense of humility and honesty may have also been beneficial, as Morrison was known for bringing a chaotic sense of kinetic energy to all the projects he was involved in, resulting in many delays. It isn’t a coincidence that Ford kicked off his career by working with filmmakers known for keeping a tight schedule and doing extensive planning before a shoot, such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Peter Weir.

Ford’s Unique Experiences Made Him a Better Actor

One of Ford’s greatest strengths as an actor is his authenticity, as he has the life experience needed for his characters to feel realistic. Ford is believable as a world-weary archaeologist in Raiders of the Lost Ark, an accomplished doctor in Frantic, and a veteran law enforcement officer in Witness because he has had enough worldly experiences to give him an amalgamation of skills. Many audiences were drawn to Ford because he felt like an “outsider” who did not grow up in New York or Los Angeles and thus did not have the advantage of being in an “industry town.” Ford’s humble beginnings have made it easier to root for him, especially when he took so many risks on up-and-coming filmmakers. However, Ford’s reluctance to give many specific details about his work with Morrison has also given him an enigmatic quality that somehow makes his star persona even more intriguing.

Although he is known for being one of the most accomplished musicians of his generation, Morrison is known for having an idiosyncratic sense of humor that Ford may have adopted, as he is often not given enough credit for his humor and great comedic timing. While both the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises allowed him to deliver many memorable one-liners, he has also succeeded in appearing in great romantic comedies such as Regarding Henry, Working Girl, and Sabrina, where he was able to be both utterly charismatic and surprisingly silly. Considering that Ford is doing some of the best work of his career right now with his comedic supporting role on the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, it’s safe to say that his time with The Doors may have had a much greater influence on his career than anyone may have expected.

Shrinking

Release Date

January 26, 2023