Harrison Ford added to his trophy case on Sunday when he won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards.
The 81-year-old Blade Runner actor was given a standing ovation following a sizzle reel of his illustrious career and an impassioned introduction from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold. “Come on,” Ford said as the attendees continued to applaud. “I only have three minutes.”
His familiar dry wit didn’t silence the room but drew laughs. “First of all,” he began when the crowd finally quieted, “I’m really happy to be here tonight to see what our business is turning into, and all the talented people who are getting opportunities that probably wouldn’t have existed in the early part of my career.”
Honoree Harrison Ford, recipient of the Career Achievement Award, poses in the press room at The 29th Critics’ Choice Awards
Harrison Ford at the Critics Choice Awards. GILBERT FLORES/VARIETY VIA GETTY
As he choked up, Ford humbly acknowledged he was there due to a “combination of luck and the work of wonderful writers, directors, and filmmakers.”
He also teared up as went on to thank his wife. “I want to thank my lovely wife, Calista Flockhart, who supports me when I need a lot of support,” the former Han Solo said, hands thrust into the pockets of his tux. “And I need a lot of support.”
While Ford’s speech was marked by gratitude and humility, Mangold’s introduction put hyperbolic weight on the actor’s stature. “A hypergiant [star] is. so big that five billion of our suns can be contained within it, and they’re so weighty that they pull other heavenly bodies toward them,” the director said. “Of course, Harrison Ford is a star, but I submit tonight that he is a variable hypergiant.”
Mangold went on, “A star so big, he contains multitudes. A star so unique he attracts other stars, a star so bright he has warmed each of our lives in this room, in our audience, and, likely, on this planet.”
Mangold called out some of the highlights in Ford’s 55 feature film appearances. Though, listing all the classics might have taken longer than the time Mangold was allotted. He mentioned American Graffiti, Apocalypse Now, The Conversation, Blade Runner, Witness, The Mosquito Coast, Working Girl, Air Force One, The Fugitive, Presumed Innocence, and Patriot Games.
That list, of course, left off Ford’s two most iconic roles, Han Solo and Indiana Jones. It also left off Apple TV+’s Shrinking, which has earned Ford a Critics Choice Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
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