Hollywood icon Harrison Ford is set to receive one of the entertainment industry's highest honours, the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, this spring. The veteran actor, 83, will accept the accolade at the 32nd Actor Awards ceremony on March 1.
A Career Spanning Decades and Defining Culture
The award recognises Ford's extraordinary contribution to film and television over a remarkable six-decade career. Sean Astin, President of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), praised Ford as "a singular presence in American life" whose iconic characters have had a profound global impact. Astin added that the union was honoured to celebrate "a legend whose impact on our craft is indelible."
Ford first captured the world's imagination as the charming smuggler Han Solo in 1977's 'Star Wars', a role he reprised as the franchise expanded. He then cemented his status as a leading man by launching another beloved series as the adventurous Indiana Jones in 1981's 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. His filmography also includes the seminal sci-fi noir 'Blade Runner' as Rick Deckard, a role he returned to decades later, and a host of other memorable performances in films like 'The Fugitive'.
An Actor's Gratitude and a Legacy of Accolades
In response to the honour, Harrison Ford expressed deep gratitude. "I am deeply honoured to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award," he stated. "To be acknowledged by my fellow actors means a great deal to me. I’ve spent most of my life on film sets, working alongside incredible actors and crews, and I’ve always felt grateful to be part of this community."
This latest award joins a distinguished list of career honours for Ford, which includes the Critics' Choice Career Achievement Award (2024), the Golden Globes Cecil B. DeMille Award (2002), and the AFI Life Achievement Award (2000). The SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award specifically honours an actor who embodies the "finest ideals of the acting profession" and also acknowledges Ford's dedicated work to humanitarian and environmental causes.
The Ceremony and a Prestigious History
The award presentation will be a highlight of the 32nd Actor Awards, to be streamed live globally on Netflix from the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall. The honour was first introduced in 1962, with past recipients forming a who's who of Hollywood royalty, including:
- Katherine Hepburn
- James Stewart
- Audrey Hepburn
- Robert Redford
- Clint Eastwood
- Helen Mirren
The most recent recipient was actress and activist Jane Fonda, who used her 2024 acceptance speech to eloquently describe the actor's purpose: "What we create is empathy. Our job is to understand another human so profoundly that we can touch their souls."
This award serves as a fitting tribute to Harrison Ford, whose characters have not only defined blockbuster cinema for generations but have also left a permanent mark on global culture.
