Harrison Fordfeels a "little weird to be getting a lifetime achievement award at the halfway point" of his career.
"It's a little early, isn't it?" Ford, 83, said to the room as it erupted in laughter. "I'm still a working actor."
Accepting the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award from his longtime collaboratorWoody Harrelsonat the2026 Actor Awards, Ford said he was "incredibly grateful for this."
"This kind attention. But to be clear, I also am quite humbled," the actor said. "I'm in a room of actors, many of whom are in because they've been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work. While I'm here to receive a prize for being alive."
Ford starred as Deckard in the 1982 cult classic "Blade Runner," based on the 1968 novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick. He's tasked with terminating four replicants who stole an important spaceship in the sci-fi thriller." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Searching for his vanished wife, Dr. Richard Walker (Ford) meets a mysterious and provocative young girl (Emmanuelle Seigner) in an apartment where a man lies murdered in the mystery thriller "Frantic."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ford hasn't always played the good guy. He took a darker turn in the 2000 horror film "What Lies Beneath," which also stars Michelle Pfeiffer." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
On another adventure, Ford helps criminals steal $100 million in the 2006 thriller "Firewall."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ford collaborated with Daniel Craig in a Western-themed movie where the duo play cowboys who take on ... aliens?" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Harrison Ford plays Dr. Paul Rhoades, a psychiatrist with Parkinson's disease, in "Shrinking" on Apple TV." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Relive Harrison Ford's most memorable roles
Harrison Fordgives thanks to George Lucas, Steven Spielberg
The actor, who began his career in the 1960s, said he struggled for about 15 years, going from acting to carpentry before going back to acting and finally landing "a part in a wildly successful film."
"None of this happened on my own," Ford said. "Thank you, George Lucas. Thank you, Steven Spielberg."
'Sinners,' Michael B. Jordan:See winners of SAG Actor Awards 2026
He also thanked casting director Fred Roos and his manager Pat McQueeny for guiding him "through hard times."
"They were both incredibly persistent in their support of me at a time when I really needed it," Ford said. "I would not be here without them. They're no longer with us, but I feel important that I thank them."
Harrison Ford says in acting he found 'a calling, a life in storytelling'
Ford recalled being lost and feeling isolated and alone in his third year of college, until he "found a company of people, who ran plays."
"People I once thought were misfits and geeks turned out to be my people," Ford said. "I found a calling, a life in storytelling … I've had incredible collaborators, every step of the way, and being able to deliver the work we create together to an audience is an honor and a privilege. And because of that privilege, I've come to know myself."
Last stop before Oscars! SAG's Actor Awards are packed with A-list celebrities, and these were the very best photos captured at the March 1 show. Let's start with host Kristen Bell kicking the night off at the 32nd annual Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Angela Kinsey, Jenna Fischer, Mindy Kaling and Ellie Kemper " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
From left: Seth Rogen, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders and Kathryn Hahn accept the award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series for "The Studio." " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Noah Wyle" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Lisa Kudrow" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Seth Rogen pays tribute to Catherine O'Hara. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Seth Rogen " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sterling K. Brown and Janelle James" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Michelle Williams" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Jenna Ortega" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Seth Rogen " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Connor Storrie and Kathryn Hahn" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Connor Storrie and Kathryn Hahn" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Keri Russell" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Kristen Bell" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Gwyneth Paltrow and Timothée Chalamet " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The best celebrity photos from the 2026 SAG Actor Awards
Last stop before Oscars! SAG's Actor Awards are packed with A-list celebrities, and these were the very best photos captured at the March 1 show.Let's start with host Kristen Bell kicking the night off at the 32nd annual Actor Awards, formerly known as the SAG Awards, at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall.
Ford joked that while showbiz was "a tough business to get into," in his case, "it's been a tough business to get out of, thank God, because I love what I do."
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"The fact that I get to live many lives. We get to explore ideas that affirm and elevate our shared experience," Ford continued. "The stories we tell have a unique capacity to create moments of emotional connection. They bring us together."
Addressing the room, Ford said that while "we're all at different stages of our lives and careers in this room, we all share something fundamental. We share the privilege of working in the world of ideas, of empathy, of imagination. Sometimes it makes entertainment. Sometimes we make art. Sometimes we're lucky to make them both at the same time. And if we're really fortunate, we also get to make a living doing it."
Watch:Harrison Ford makes rare appearance with wife Calista Flockhart
The actor, who got visibly emotional at this point, said the job also comes with the "responsibility to support each other," and to "lift others up when we can."
"To keep the door open for the next kid," he said. "The next lost boy who's looking for a place to belong."
Ford concluded his speech saying he was "a lucky guy," who was fortunate to have found his people, have work that challenged him, and "lucky to still be doing it."
"I don't take that for granted," Ford said as the room stood up to give him a standing ovation.
When you're a Hollywood A-lister busy during awards show season, you get your date night in wherever you can get it. And for stars like Harrison Ford and wife Calista Flockhart, or Emma Stone and Dave McCary, the 2026 Actor Awards served as the perfect occasion to step out for a night out together while celebrating film, TV and their fellow peers. Scroll through for some of the best photos of the celeb couples that graced tonight's red carpet. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Emma Stone and Dave McCary" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Noah Wyle and Sara Wells " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ryan Michelle Bathe and Sterling K. Brown " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ali Larter and Hayes MacArthur" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Iris Apatow and Sam Nivola a" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Thomas Kail and Michelle Williams " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Adam Scott and Naomi Scott " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Lauren Miller Rogen and Seth Rogen" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Charlie Hunnam and Morgana McNelis" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Maribel Martinez and Brandon Mendez Homer" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Delroy Lindo and Nashormeh N. R. Lindo " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Christine Harrell and Sean Astin" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Katharine Ross and Sam Elliott " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Linda O'Leary and Kevin O'Leary" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Mustafa Speaks and Michelle Mitchenor " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Mustafa Speaks and Michelle Mitchenor share a kiss. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Matty Matheson and Trish Spencer " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford, more celeb couples at 2026 Actor Awards
When you're a Hollywood A-lister busy during awards show season, you get your date night in wherever you can get it. And for stars like Harrison Ford and wife Calista Flockhart, or Emma Stone and Dave McCary, the2026 Actor Awardsserved as the perfect occasion to step out for a night out together while celebrating film, TV and their fellow peers.Scroll through for some of the best photos of the celeb couples that graced tonight's red carpet.
The annual honor is given to an actor "who fosters the 'finest ideals of the acting profession,"according to a news release. "The recipient of this award is a well-established performer who has contributed to improving the image of the acting profession and has a history of active involvement in humanitarian and public service endeavors."
The organization said, Ford, who is the 61st recipient of the honor, "has captivated global audiences with genre-defining performances and characters that have become woven into the fabric of our culture, while also contributing meaningfully to various humanitarian and environmental causes."
Hollywood's biggest celebrities donned their most striking looks for the Actor Awards on March 1 in Los Angeles. We've got all the night's standout fashions, starting with Kate Hudson." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Host Kristen Bell" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Rue Rose Shumpert (left) and Teyana Taylor" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Teyana Taylor (left) and Rue Rose Shumpert" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ryan Coogler (left) and Zinzi Coogler" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Chloe Zhao" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Eiza Gonzalez" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ted Danson and Kate Danson" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
See all the stunning celebrity looks from SAG Actor Awards red carpet
Hollywood's biggest celebrities donned their most striking looks forthe Actor Awardson March 1 in Los Angeles. We've got allthe night's standout fashions, starting with Kate Hudson.
SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin, in a statement, described Ford as "an actor whose iconic characters have shaped world culture."
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Harrison Ford fights back tears accepting Lifetime Achievement Award