Harrison Ford received a standing ovation Sunday as he accepted the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little early isn\u2019t it?\u201d Ford joked, noting that \u201cit\u2019s a little weird to be getting a lifetime achievement award at the half point of my career.\u201d <\/p>\n
The 83-year-old is one of the industry\u2019s highest-grossing actors after catapulting to global stardom with his role as Han Solo<\/a> in the \u201cStar Wars\u201d franchise, a legacy further cemented by his lead role in the \u201cIndiana Jones\u201d movies.<\/a> <\/p>\n Ford fought back tears, thanking his fellow actors, writers, directors and cast members. He \u201cfound a calling. A life in storytelling. An identity in pretending to be other people,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cWhile we\u2019re all at different stages of our lives and careers in this room, we all share something fundamental. We share the privilege of working in the world of ideas, of empathy, or imagination,\u201d Ford said. \u201cBecause of that privilege, I\u2019ve come to know myself.\u201d <\/p>\n Ford said he was \u201cnot an overnight success,\u201d having spent the first 15 years of his career jumping between acting and carpentry before landing an acting role. <\/p>\n Ford thanked film producer and casting director Fred Roos and his longtime manager, Pat McQueeney, who he said were integral to his success.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re no longer with us, but it feels important that I think of them now. I feel them here tonight. They would be happy for me,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n SAG-AFTRA\u2019s recognition on Sunday is one of several<\/a> lifetime achievement awards bestowed upon the actor over his extensive six-decade career, which is defined by two of Hollywood\u2019s biggest film franchises.<\/p>\n A highlight reel of Ford\u2019s various acting performances played ahead of his accepting the award. <\/p>\n The award was presented by actor Woody Harrelson, who lauded Ford\u2019s varied achievements and called him a \u201ctimeless American treasure.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s too much of me in this tribute to Harrison, but I\u2019m an actor, what do you expect?\u201d Harrelson quipped. The actor first met Ford after following him into a sushi restaurant and the pair \u201csealed their friendship\u201d over lunch, during which \u201cat one point, we laughed \u2014 and I\u2019m not kidding \u2014 for three minutes straight,\u201d Harrelson said. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is a life achievement award and he has lived a full one,\u201d Harrelson said. <\/p>\n Ford hasn\u2019t shown signs of slowing down in recent years. The actor plays therapist Paul Rhoades in the Apple TV show \u201cShrinking,\u201d<\/a> which earned him his first-ever Emmy nomination<\/a> last year. He also recently starred in the \u201cYellowstone\u201d prequel \u201c1923\u201d and appeared in his first Marvel movie, \u201cCaptain America: Brave New World.\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n Ford \u201cthinks working more is the antidote to aging,\u201d Harrelson said. The actor recently reprised his iconic role as a swashbuckling archaeologist in the 2023 sequel \u201cIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n Despite Ford\u2019s massive success in the industry, the actor has yet to win a major competitive acting award. The Life Achievement Award is the first that Ford snagged from the guild. He was nominated last year for actor in a comedy series for his role in \u201cShrinking\u201d but lost to Martin Short for his performance in \u201cOnly Murders in the Building.\u201d<\/p>\n Ford said he was \u201cquite humbled\u201d to be honored with the award in a room full of actors, \u201cmany of whom are here because they\u2019ve been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I\u2019m here to receive a prize for being alive.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cSometimes we make entertainment. Sometimes we make art. Sometimes we\u2019re lucky and we make them both at the same time,\u201d Ford said. <\/p>\n