Harrison Ford Explains How A Studio Exec Once Said He ‘Had No Future’

In the early years of his career, Harrison Ford received a piece of advice that could have derailed everything.

While under a contract with Columbia Pictures in 1966, Ford reflected on his early struggles during a Wednesday interview with Variety. The role in question? A small part in the 1966 film “Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round,” one that earned him just $150 per week.

That’s when things took an unexpected turn.

“I was called into the office of the head of the new talent program, and he told me that I had no future in the business,” Ford recalled. The comment didn’t shake Ford’s ambition, but it wasn’t the end of the unsolicited advice.

“He wanted me to change my name. He thought that ‘Harrison Ford’ was too pretentious a name for a young man,” Ford said.

Then came the suggestion about his appearance.

“He asked me to get my haircut like Elvis Presley,” he said — a suggestion he did not take into consideration.

Years later, after Ford found massive success, he reencountered the same executive. He recalled meeting him “across a crowded room.” The executive handed him a card.

It read, “I missed my guess.”

Ford, of course, went on to become a Hollywood icon, best known for his roles in the “Star Wars” franchise and the “Indiana Jones” films.

In a 2023 interview with BBC Radio 1’s Ali Plumb, he emotionally reflected on the legacy of Indiana Jones and how he was able to make the character relatable across decades. Ford’s words touched Plumb, who offered his own take on the actor’s legacy.

“Can I just say on behalf of all the fans, thank you. It’s been such an adventure. We love you so much. I don’t want to make you blush or anything, but you mean the world to us, and thank you,” Plumb said.