Harrison Ford reflects on love, marriage, and aging: ‘Old people can love too’

Harrison Ford is opening up about love, aging, and what it takes to maintain a lasting relationship. In a candid conversation on NPR's Wild Card with Rachel Martin, the 83-year-old actor spoke about his experience with marriage and how his perspective on love has evolved over time.

“Old people can love, too,” Ford remarked. “You think about falling in love as something for the young, but staying in love is the real work—maintaining, nurturing, basically not messing it up.” He humorously added that he also needs “some days off for bad behavior.”

Ford met his current wife, actress Calista Flockhart, at the Golden Globes in 2002 when he was 59. They married in 2010 in New Mexico, with Ford now describing their relationship as lifelong. “If you ask me, I would say all my life,” he said, joking that marrying at 23—his age during his first marriage—“should be illegal.”

Ford was previously married to Mary Marquardt (1964–1979) and screenwriter Melissa Mathison (1983–2004). Despite two divorces, Ford said he never gave up on love. “I’m just like everybody else. I love being in love,” he said. In a past interview with Hello! magazine, he added, “Romantic love is exciting and fulfilling—and possible at any stage in life.”

After marrying Flockhart, Ford adopted her son Liam, calling the experience a “wonderful opportunity” to be part of a child’s growth. The actor has four other children from previous relationships.

Ford also praised Flockhart during his 2024 Critics Choice Awards speech, thanking her for her ongoing support. While they haven’t worked together professionally yet, he told Us Weekly in February 2025 they remain open to it.

These days, Ford finds joy in working close to home. On his Emmy-nominated role in Shrinking, he said, “I sleep in my own bed, I’m in the same town as my wife and children—and I’m doing smart, meaningful work.” For Ford, being near family is what truly makes a job fulfilling.