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Melissa Mathison and Harrison Ford | Harrison Ford | Source: Getty Images
Melissa Mathison and Harrison Ford | Harrison Ford | Source: Getty Images

Harrison Ford, 80, Spotted with Daughter Years after She Lost Mom & Got Epilepsy Diagnosis after Incorrect Treatment

Wian Prinsloo
May 10, 2023
12:00 P.M.
  • Harrison Ford's ex-wife died, but at 80, he is still close to his children.
  • His daughter faced a life-threatening illness, having been diagnosed at 26.
  • The father-daughter duo recently stepped out together, and users commented that she looks "older" than she truly is.
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Harrison Ford is widely known for his iconic roles in films such as the "Star Wars" franchise and "Bladerunner," but the actor is also a devoted family man. Harrison is a father to five kids in total, two of whom he shares with his ex-wife Melissa Mathison, who sadly passed away in 2015 at the age of 65.

The two married for close to two decades, having tied the knot in 1983. They were together for the next 18 years but finally decided to file for divorce in 2001. Without a prenup, the former couple took a long time to come to an agreement, finally settling their affairs in 2004 in what has been one of the most expensive divorces in celebrity history.

Harrison Ford in "Working Girl," 1988 | Source: Getty Images

Harrison Ford in "Working Girl," 1988 | Source: Getty Images

Harrison Ford on August 17 1984, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

Harrison Ford on August 17 1984, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

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After three years of legal battles, the courts ruled in Melissa'a favor, and her ex-husband was obliged to pay between $85 million and $118 million. The sum was largely comprised of royalties from six films Harrison made while the pair were married, films including two "Indiana Jones" movies, "Patriot Games," and "Air Force One."

Harrison has been a crucial figure of support in his daughter's life ever since she was first misdiagnosed after having a seizure as a child.

Although Harrison and Melissa went through a grueling divorce, they both managed to move on with their lives. In 2002, the "Six Days Seven Nights" star met the actress Calista Flockhart at the Golden Globes, and they hit it off. They dated for a while and finally tied the knot in 2010. Harrison also gained an extra son after adopting her boy.

Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison on June 11, 1998 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Harrison Ford and Melissa Mathison on June 11, 1998 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

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Melissa never remarried, opting instead to focus on her career as a screenwriter and spending time with her two children, Malcolm Ford and Georgia Ford. Melissa's passing in 2015 was rough on her two children. Her daughter was 25 at the time, but the kids remained close with their father.

Harrison Ford in Paris, France, circa 1980 | Source: Getty Images

Harrison Ford in Paris, France, circa 1980 | Source: Getty Images

Harrison Ford Appears with Daughter Who Was Misdiagnosed

To this day, Harrison remains a crucial figure in his daughter's life. The two have been seen together in public on numerous occasions, often stepping out to run errands or just spend some quality time with each other. Most recently, Harrison and Georgia were seen two months before the debut of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."

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Besides Georgia, Harrison is also a loving dad to his four other kids.

The 80-year-old actor and his 32-year-old were spotted on May 10 while out to pick up a few suits in West Hollywood. The pair looked stylish, with Georgia flaunting a sleek black coat and a gold necklace, although one Facebook user noticed Georgia looked "older" than her age.

Harrison has been a crucial figure of support in his daughter's life ever since she was first misdiagnosed after having a seizure as a child. Her first seizure happened when she was at a sleepover, and her parents quickly sought medical help. The doctors initially diagnosed her with acute migraines.

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Georgia lived without another seizure for a while, and the family thought the initial diagnosis was accurate. A few years later, though, the youngest of the Ford siblings had another severe attack at a beach house in Malibu. Harrison recalled how thankful he was that a Hollywood director happened to find her mid-seizure.

After the incident in Malibu, the dad once again sought a professional opinion on what could be causing the seizures, but the doctors in Los Angeles couldn't identify the root of the problem. Once again, Georgia went without any severe attacks for a while. Finally, an accurate diagnosis came when she was studying at New York University.

Georgia's last serious seizure happened at NYU, and the family finally found someone who could correctly identify the cause of the issue. Harrison took his daughter to see Dr. Orrin Devinsky, a close personal friend. The medical professional diagnosed the 26-year-old Georgia with epilepsy, and her father later commented:

"When you have a loved one who suffers from this disease, it can be devastating. You know how it affects their lives, their future, their opportunities and you want desperately to find mitigation. You want to find a way that they can live a comfortable and effective life."

 Georgia Ford and Harrison Ford on January 21, 2010 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Georgia Ford and Harrison Ford on January 21, 2010 in New York City | Source: Getty Images

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Although the diagnosis came as a blow, Harrison and Georgia were grateful to finally know what was wrong so they could mitigate the effects of the disease. The actor also noted that his family has a history of epilepsy. Knowing how to deal with the disease has been tremendously helpful, and Harrison has been a pillar of support.

After her diagnosis, Georgia and her dad worked to promote awareness about epilepsy, and the youngest Ford sibling has publicly thanked FACES for their support. Harrison has spoken out about his daughter and how she handles her condition, saying, "She's my hero. I love her,"

Harrison Ford the Family Man

After being accurately diagnosed, Georgia was put on the correct medication, and her dad was glad to announce that her seizures had decreased dramatically. By 2016, Georgia hadn't had a seizure in eight years. Harrison thanked Dr. Orrin and FACES profusely for their continued support.

Besides Georgia, Harrison is also a loving dad to his four other kids. After his ex-wife Melissa's death, Harrison ensured he remained close to Georgia and her brother, Malcolm. The actor also shares two children with his first wife, Mary Marquardt. He shared his experiences as a father, noting:

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"My older children have taught me a lot. My first child was born when I was 25; I reckon I'm a little better at [parenting] now."

Unlike his youngest, Harrison's two oldest kids, Benjamin Ford and Willard Ford, decided not to follow in their father's footsteps. The actor adopted his youngest child, Liam Flockhart Ford, when he married his current wife, Calista. The actor commented on parenting, "It's a wonderful opportunity to be part of a child's growing up."

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