Introduced by Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold, Harrison Ford got emotional accepting the Career Achievement Award at last night’s Critics Choice Awards, where he also paid tribute to his wife Calista Flockhart.
“The largest stars in the known universe are called variable hypergiants … Of course Harrison Ford is a star. However, I submit tonight that he is a variable hypergiant,” Mangold said. “A star so big he contains multitudes. A star so unique he attracts other stars. He has warmed each of our lives.”
Mangold then listed off more than a dozen of the actor’s biggest movies — from “American Graffiti” and “Apocalypse Now,” to “Witness” and “The Fugitive,” as well as “Working Girl” and “Blade Runner.”
“The fact that I spit out that incredible, enviable list of films and performances without even mentioning ‘Star Wars,’” the director quipped. “Harrison’s body of work is breathtaking. It is utterly timeless. It is authentic, deeply felt, masculine but vulnerable, often moving and frequently hilarious. His work has been wildly popular and critically revered, and it represents the voice of a singular artist.”
After a reel of Ford’s greatest hits played for the crowd, the superstar actor looked a bit verklempt as he kissed his wife Calista Flockhart and began his walk to the stage, scooting through the room of A-listers applauding his work.
“First of all, I’m really happy to be here and just see what our business is turning into,” Ford said once he reached the microphone. “And all of the talented people who are getting opportunities that probably would not have existed in the early part of my career. I’m very happy about that.”
Here’s his acceptance speech in full…
Image: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
