Saved a hiker and collaborated with The Doors: 5 interesting facts about Harrison Ford

In the world of Hollywood legends, one name that is constantly mentioned in conversations about the greatest movie stars of all time is Harrison Ford. He has been gracing the silver screen for more than five decades, leaving an indelible mark thanks to such roles as Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones. SSPDaily has revealed 5 interesting facts about this star that may shock you.

Harrison Ford's unexpected breakthrough

Sometimes fate works in a mysterious way. Ford's big breakthrough in his acting career happened unexpectedly, and it was prompted by a rather urgent matter: a break in work. In 1966, Ford signed a contract with Columbia Pictures, playing mostly minor roles in films and TV series.

As Ford recalls, his turning point came during a seemingly routine interview. "I was extremely lucky," Ford recalled in a 2011 interview. "I had a five-minute interview. How tall are you? Do you speak Spanish? Can you ride a horse? We'll let you know."

"I went down to the elevator, realized I had to go to the bathroom, and when I came back, this guy's assistant was gesturing for me to come in. He asked, "Do you want to sign a contract?" and I said, "What does that mean?" And he replied, "150 dollars a week". It took me a while to realize that I didn't have to pay him 150 dollars a week. So now I was an actor. You can't get any luckier than that."

Ford's unusual collaboration with The Doors

Before becoming a Hollywood star, Harrison Ford took on various odd jobs, including carpentry. He is known to have worked on projects for such famous directors as Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas, who later invited him to appear in their films.

In one particularly unique project, the celebrity worked as a second unit cameraman on a documentary about the legendary rock band The Doors called A Feast of Friends. He spent more than a week watching the band during their concert tour, which exposed him to the hedonistic side of the entertainment industry.

Recalling this experience, Ford once commented, "I was working on a movie about The Doors' tour. We traveled for about a week and a half. It was a concert tour. When it was over, I was one step away from joining a Jesuit monastery. I thought it was cool, I thought it was fashionable, but I couldn't keep up with these guys. It was too much."

Harrison Ford's scar on his chin

Actors often have unique physical characteristics, and Harrison Ford is no exception. His most distinctive feature is a noticeable scar on his chin, which he got in a rather mundane way. Before gaining fame in big movies, the future star worked in a pharmacy in Laguna Beach, California.

One day, while looking for a seat belt in his car, he accidentally crashed into a telephone pole. The resulting scar, according to Ford, was the result of what he described as "inept" surgery.

A hero in a helicopter

While Harrison Ford's aviation crashes have garnered considerable attention over the years, he has also been involved in numerous heroic events. In 2000, Harrison became a true hero when he rescued hiker Sarah George, who had fallen ill on a mountain in Wyoming. Ford piloted a Bell 407 helicopter and brought her to safety. Later, Sarah humorously remarked, "I can't believe I threw up in Harrison Ford's helicopter."

Ford's collision with the Titanic

In 1997, the film industry was all about James Cameron's creation of the epic Titanic, which chronicled the death of the infamous luxury ship. There were rumors that the film's release date might be postponed to avoid conflicting with the premiere of Ford's presidential thriller Air Force One, scheduled for July 25.

Ford, who had a history with Paramount, the co-financier of Titanic (owned by Viacom), announced the July 2 date before any other film and wanted the weekend to be all about him. The star's manager, Patricia McQueeney, admitted that Ford was "definitely annoyed" at the prospect of competing with Titanic.

However, as fate wished, Titanic was not ready for a July release and was eventually released in December, while Air Force One dominated the box office, becoming one of Ford's biggest hits.