Harrison Ford: harrison ford to receive Life Achievement at Actor Awards
harrison ford was honored with a Life Achievement Award at the 32nd annual Actor Awards, where Woody Harrelson presented the prize during the March 1 ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. The event included a long slate of presenters, a preshow earlier in the evening, and notable film nomination totals.
Harrelson’s difficult opening
Woody Harrelson had what was described as a “tough” time delivering his speech to honor his friend and the night’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Harrison Ford. Harrelson opened with a quip about how most of the actors in the room would be “losers” by the end of the night; when most of the audience didn’t laugh he conceded, “That didn’t go quite as… Anyway…, ” and made a similar comment from the teleprompter.
Jokes and crowd silence
Harrelson warned, “You know, this will probably go the same road, ” and then told the crowd, “People sometimes complain about actors getting awards. Isn’t the life we’ve been awarded enough? But in truth, 80 percent of you will get lessons in humility this evening, ” a line delivered to silence. He added, “OK, that’s what I expected. ”
Stories about Ford
Addressing Ford directly, Harrelson said, “You have more talent in your little finger than I have in my little finger. ” He continued, “Of all the actors in the world… you’re one of them. Everyone in this industry… knows you. ” Harrelson also told the room that Ford had personally asked him to present—despite the two never having appeared in a movie together—and recounted Ford saying he had asked others first: “To be totally forthcoming, I asked Helen Mirren, she turned me down. And then I asked Kamala Harris, she couldn’t do it. ” Harrelson recalled replying, “Am I in the top 10?” and Ford’s answer, “I can count you on one hand, ” which Harrelson said he took to mean three fingers. “I’m happy to take the bronze—just happy to make the podium, ” he said.
Harrelson’s aside and tribute
At times Harrelson blamed the crowd—“You guys are tough, man. I f---ing write these jokes for you”—and punctuated his set with celebrity asides, telling the audience, “Oh, hi. I just saw Kate!” He later softened into tribute, saying, “Harrison is a true renaissance man—iconic actor, distinguished pilot, and a master carpenter who built his own home, ” before confessing, “I don’t know how to work the coffee machine, and it’s a French press. ” He closed by saying his dual purpose was “to honor my friend, the esteemed living legend, Harrison Ford, and two, to discourage any other friends of mine from asking me do this again. ”
Ford’s response onstage
When Harrelson presented the award he used the formal introduction: “Now, it is with incredible pleasure that I present to you the recipient of the 2026 SAG-AFTRA life achievement award—the timeless American treasure, the man himself, my dear buddy Harrison Ford. ” Ford joked after he ascended the stage, “Thank you, Woody, for that restricted introduction. ” He later drew laughs with another line: “I am quite humbled. I’m in a room of actors, many of whom are here because they’ve been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I’m here to receive a prize for being alive. ”
Red carpet comments and marriage rule
Earlier on the Shrine Auditorium red carpet, harrison ford spoke about his 15-year marriage to Calista Flockhart and revealed one rule he follows: “I don't tell my wife what to do. ” He said this in an interview with Justin Sylvester at the Actor Awards on March 1 and added that while he might have some pull over casting for his show Shrinking, he “would never dream of telling Calista—that would be up to her. ” The 83-year-old and Flockhart, who share son Liam, 25, walked the carpet in coordinating black ensembles.
Nominations and presenters
Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Allison Janney, Sarah Paulson and Christoph Waltz were listed among presenters for the ceremony. Del Toro—who is featured on the cover of a recent Hollywood publication—and Waltz were both nominees this year: Del Toro for best performance by a male actor in a supporting role for One Battle After Another, which also earned a nomination for best performance by a cast in a motion picture, and Waltz for best performance by a cast in a motion picture for Frankenstein.
Additional presenters named for the evening included Andy Garcia, Angela Kinsey, Chase Infiniti, Claire Danes, Connor Storrie, Damian Lewis, Damson Idris, Delroy Lindo, Ellie Kemper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jacob Elordi, Janelle James, Jenna Fischer, Jenna Ortega, Jessie Buckley, Lisa Kudrow, Megan Stalter, Mia Goth, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Mindy Kaling, Odessa A’zion, Paul W. Downs, Samuel L. Jackson, Sean Astin, Sterling K. Brown, Teyana Taylor, Timothée Chalamet, Tyler Okonma, Viola Davis, Wunmi Mosaku and Yerin Ha.
