Harrison Ford

Ford in 2011, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Birth: July 13, 1942

Ethnicity:
*father – three quarters Irish, one quarter German
*mother – Ashkenazi Jewish

Harrison Ford is an American actor and producer. One of the most legendary and high-grossing film stars of all time, his roles include American Graffiti, The Conversation, Han Solo in the Star Wars universe; Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark and its four follow-ups; Blade Runner, and its sequel; Witness, The Mosquito Coast, Working Girl, Presumed Innocent, Regarding Henry, as Jack Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger; The Fugitive, Sabrina (1995); The Devil’s Own, Air Force One, Six Days, Seven Nights; Random Hearts, What Lies Beneath, K-19: The Widowmaker, Hollywood Homicide, Morning Glory, Cowboys & Aliens, 42, and The Age of Adaline. He has also starred on television’s Shrinking and 1923. An environmental activist, he has been Vice Chair of Conservation International, since 1991. A licensed pilot, he has often assisted emergency services in rescue missions near his home.

Harrison is the son of Dora/Dorothy (Nidelman), a radio actress, and Christopher Ford (born John William Ford), an actor and advertising executive. His brother is actor Terence Ford.

Harrison’s father was born in Manhattan, of three quarters Irish and one quarter German ancestry. Harrison’s mother, also born in New York, was Jewish, the daughter of Jewish emigrants from Minsk, Belarus; at that time, Minsk was part of the Russian Empire. Harrison was raised around both Catholicism, his father’s religion, and Judaism, his mother’s. Harrison’s father’s first wife, Celia Mast, was also Jewish. On Inside the Actors Studio, 2000, Harrison humorously stated, “As a man I’ve always felt Irish, as an actor I’ve always felt Jewish.”

Harrison is married to actress Calista Flockhart. He has five children: two with his first wife Mary Marquardt; two with his second wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison; and one with Calista.

Harrison was selected People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 1998. He is the first man of Jewish heritage to have been given this title by the magazine (Adam Levine, in 2013, is the second, David Beckham, in 2015, is the third, and Paul Rudd, in 2021, is the fourth).

Harrison’s paternal grandfather was John Fitzgerald/Edward/H. Ford (the son of Thomas F. Ford and Mary Tuohey/Touhey). John was born in New York, to Irish parents. Thomas was the son of John Ford and Mary Calkins Coggan, who was from County Mayo.

Harrison’s paternal grandmother was Florence Veronica Niehaus/Von Niehaus (the daughter of Charles Niehaus and Della Conway). Florence was born in New York. Charles was of German ancestry. Della was born in New York, to Irish parents, Roger Conway and Bridget Rooney.

Harrison’s maternal grandfather was Harry Nidelman/Needleman (the son of Abram Nidelman and Dora Lifshutz). Harry was born in Minsk, to a Jewish family.

Harrison’s maternal grandmother was Nachama “Annie/Anna” Lifshitz/Lipshitz/Lifschutz (the daughter of Chaim/Khiam/Khaim/Hyman Ha Levi “Jacob” Lifshitz and Fruma Genin). Nachama was born in Minsk, to a Jewish family. She met Harrison’s grandfather, born in the same city, in the United States. Chaim was the son of Eliezer Aron Lippman, who was born in Ukmergė, Vilnius, Lithuania, and of a woman whose surname was Halevi.

Sources: Jenkins, Gary, March 1999. Harrison Ford: Imperfect Hero.

Genealogy of Harrison Ford – http://www.geni.com

Birth record of Harrison’s father – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Harrison’s father, to his first wife, Celia Mast – https://www.familysearch.org

Harrison’s paternal grandmother, Florence Veronica Niehaus/Von Niehaus, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Death record of Harrison’s paternal great-grandmother, Della (Conway) Niehaus – https://familysearch.org

Harrison’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org