Harrison Ford has opened up about struggling with severe depression during his college years, revealing he became isolated and rarely left his room.
Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast, the “Star Wars” star recalled how he would spend days alone while studying at Ripon College.
“I would get up out of my single bed, go to a phone, order a pizza, go back and lie down in bed until the pizza came,” Ford said. “I would eat the pizza, throw the wrappers in the corner, go back to sleep.” The 83-year-old admitted the condition went beyond normal sadness: “I was more than depressed… I was socially ill, psychologically not well.”
Ford explained that he struggled to connect with others and “never found a community” at the time. However, things began to change when he enrolled in a drama class, initially just to improve his grades.
He soon discovered a sense of belonging among fellow students: “The people that I had considered to be fellow geeks and misfits were… some of the most interesting people I knew.” That experience marked a turning point in his life and career. “I think I simply found my place amongst storytellers… it really changed my world, changed my life.”
Despite studying philosophy, Ford was expelled just days before graduation after admitting to plagiarism in his final thesis. “I was accused of and admitted that there was plagiarism,” he said.
He later went on to become one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, starring in major franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones, crediting a mix of opportunity, persistence, and luck for his success.