Harrison Ford jokes 'it's a little early' for Life Achievement Award

Saman Shafiq, USA TODAYMon, March 2, 2026 at 4:43 AM UTC

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Harrison Ford feels a "little weird to be getting a lifetime achievement award at the halfway point" of his career.

"It's a little early, isn't it?" Ford, 83, said to the room as it erupted in laughter. "I'm still a working actor."

Accepting the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award from his longtime collaborator Woody Harrelson at the 2026 Actor Awards, Ford said he was "incredibly grateful for this."

"This kind attention. But to be clear, I also am quite humbled," the actor said. "I'm in a room of actors, many of whom are in because they've been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work. While I'm here to receive a prize for being alive."

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The actor, who began his career in the 1960s, said he struggled for about 15 years, going from acting to carpentry before going back to acting and finally landing "a part in a wildly successful film."

"None of this happened on my own," Ford said. "Thank you, George Lucas. Thank you, Steven Spielberg."

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He also thanked casting director Fred Roos and his manager Pat McQueeny for guiding him "through hard times."

"They were both incredibly persistent in their support of me at a time when I really needed it," Ford said. "I would not be here without them. They're no longer with us, but I feel important that I thank them."

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Ford recalled being lost and feeling isolated and alone in his third year of college, until he "found a company of people, who ran plays."

"People I once thought were misfits and geeks turned out to be my people," Ford said. "I found a calling, a life in storytelling … I've had incredible collaborators, every step of the way, and being able to deliver the work we create together to an audience is an honor and a privilege. And because of that privilege, I've come to know myself."

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Ford joked that while showbiz was "a tough business to get into," in his case, "it's been a tough business to get out of, thank God, because I love what I do."

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"The fact that I get to live many lives. We get to explore ideas that affirm and elevate our shared experience," Ford continued. "The stories we tell have a unique capacity to create moments of emotional connection. They bring us together."

Addressing the room, Ford said that while "we're 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, of imagination. Sometimes it makes entertainment. Sometimes we make art. Sometimes we're lucky to make them both at the same time. And if we're really fortunate, we also get to make a living doing it."

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Harrison Ford poses on the red carpet during the Actor Awards in Los Angeles on March 1, 2026.

The actor, who got visibly emotional at this point, said the job also comes with the "responsibility to support each other," and to "lift others up when we can."

"To keep the door open for the next kid," he said. "The next lost boy who's looking for a place to belong."

Ford concluded his speech saying he was "a lucky guy," who was fortunate to have found his people, have work that challenged him, and "lucky to still be doing it."

"I don't take that for granted," Ford said as the room stood up to give him a standing ovation.

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The annual honor is given to an actor "who fosters the 'finest ideals of the acting profession," according to a news release. "The recipient of this award is a well-established performer who has contributed to improving the image of the acting profession and has a history of active involvement in humanitarian and public service endeavors."

The organization said, Ford, who is the 61st recipient of the honor, "has captivated global audiences with genre-defining performances and characters that have become woven into the fabric of our culture, while also contributing meaningfully to various humanitarian and environmental causes."

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SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin, in a statement, described Ford as "an actor whose iconic characters have shaped world culture."

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harrison Ford fights back tears accepting Lifetime Achievement Award

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