“Mix up people’s minds about what I did for a living”: Harrison Ford’s Carpentry Job at Francis Ford Coppola’s House Landed Him His Most Iconic ‘Star Wars’ Role

Harrison Ford, who is popularly regarded as a cinematic cultural icon because of his role as a leading man in several movie projects of several genres, Ford’s movies have grossed more than $9.3 billion worldwide. The actor starred as Han Solo in the 1977 epic space opera Star Wars, which helped him gain worldwide recognition.

Ford reprised his character in the following four sequels over the next four decades and is very much appreciated for portraying the character. The actor also portrayed the titular character in the Indian Jones franchise. Harrison Ford shared how he landed the role of Han Solo, and it’s not what the fans would have expected.

Harrison Ford reveals his carpentry skills helped him land the role of Han Solo in Star Wars

Harrison Ford became a household name after he starred as Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise alongside Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. The creator of the franchise was impressed by Ford’s work on 1973’s American Graffiti and had hired him to read lines for the actors who were auditioning for the part. But Lucas was rather impressed by Ford’s performance during the line reads and chose him as Han Solo. However, in an interview, Ford detailed how the two of them met,

When he was casting Star Wars, I was installing an elaborate portico entrance to Francis Ford Coppola’s offices, and I only worked at night. So that I didn’t have to mix up people’s minds about what I did for a living. I was finishing up early one Monday morning; I didn’t quite get out there in time, and George Lucas came in [along with Richard Dreyfuss] and asked if I would read with other actors.

Ford admits that he had no idea that he might be considered for the part in the film, and then weeks later, they asked him if he wanted to play Han Solo. According to his interview with Esquire, the actor was working as a carpenter to meet the needs of his family at the time. In his interview via Far Out Magazine, Ford said,

Through carpentry, I fed my family and began to pick and choose from among the roles offered. I could afford to hold out until something better came along. But I never gave up my ambition to be an actor. I was frustrated, but I never felt defeated by my frustration.

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In the 1960s, Ford caught the eye of casting director Fred Roos, who helped him get American Graffiti, and shared that he had done a lot of carpentry for him, adding that he needed money, he had kids, and he wasn’t as big of a movie star as he is today.

Harrison Ford never liked Star Wars’ ‘Han Solo’ as a character

Han Solo died in 2015’s Episode VII: The Force Awakens, but Ford wanted George Lucas to kill his character right after the first Star Wars movie. In one of his interviews via CBR, Ford said,

I thought Han Solo should die. I thought he ought to sacrifice himself for the other two characters, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. I said, ‘He’s got no mama; he’s got no papa; he’s got no future. He has no story responsibilities at this point, so let’s allow him to commit self-sacrifice

However, Lucas didn’t want the same thing, as he believed that Han Solo was a very significant part of the plot. Han Solo lived on until  2015’s The Force Awakens. It is right to say that starring as Han Solo in Star Wars changed the trajectory of the actor’s career, and his co-star Mark Hamill shared with the Far Out Magazine,

I was wide-eyed and inexperienced when Harrison arrived, and I’m telling you—from day one—just like Luke did, I looked up to him as someone who had a firmer grasp of all the elements that I did.

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Han Solo’s death remains one of the most dramatic moments in the Star Wars franchise, and Harrison Ford remains the fan-favorite actor who portrayed the character on screen.

Star Wars can be streamed on Disney+.