Harrison Ford Opens Up About Overcoming Depression in College

The iconic actor shares how a drama class changed his life during a dark time.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 10:08am

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An extreme close-up of a cracked, shattered mirror reflecting a dim, moody light, conceptually representing the fragility of mental health and the journey to overcome personal struggles.A shattered mirror reflects the emotional turmoil Harrison Ford faced as a young adult, before finding community and purpose through the power of storytelling.Ripon Today

In a new interview, legendary actor Harrison Ford bravely discussed his struggles with crippling depression as a young adult while attending college at Ripon College in Wisconsin. Ford revealed how he would isolate himself in his dorm room for days, rarely venturing out, until he decided to take a drama class that ended up transforming his life and helping him overcome his mental health challenges.

Why it matters

Ford's candid account of his personal battles with depression sheds light on the mental health struggles that many young people, even those who go on to great success, can face. His story underscores the power of community and finding one's passion to overcome adversity.

The details

Ford described how he would stay in bed for days, ordering pizza and sleeping, rather than attending his classes. He said he was 'more than depressed' and 'socially ill, psychologically not well.' Needing to raise his GPA, Ford decided to take a drama class, not expecting to act but rather learn about plays. However, he was surprised to find a welcoming community of 'fellow geeks and misfits' who were 'telling stories about life' in a way that 'changed [his] world' and 'changed [his] life.'

  • Ford attended Ripon College in Wisconsin as a young adult.
  • He took a drama class at the college that ended up transforming his life.

The players

Harrison Ford

An iconic American actor known for his roles in the 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' franchises, as well as films like 'Blade Runner' and '1923.'

Ripon College

A private liberal arts college located in Ripon, Wisconsin, where Ford attended as a student.

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What they’re saying

“I would get up out of my single bed, go to a phone, order a pizza, go back and lay down in bed until the pizza came. I would eat the pizza, throw the wrappers in the corner, go back to sleep. I had a single room, and I had classes to go to, but I rarely ventured out. And on the rare occasion I did go to the classroom, I would often touch the door on the outside of the building, and turn around and walk back. I was more than depressed; I think I was ill. I was socially ill, psychologically not well.”

— Harrison Ford, Actor

“They were doing something that I hadn't really understood, and they were telling stories about life and life, and some of them were exceptional in their capacity to understand human behavior. And so I think I simply found my place amongst storytellers. It really changed my world, changed my life.”

— Harrison Ford, Actor

The takeaway

Ford's candid account of his personal struggles with depression and how finding a community of storytellers helped him overcome his mental health challenges serves as an inspiring example of the transformative power of pursuing one's passions, even in the darkest of times.