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Harrison Ford Says a College Drama Class Helped Pull Him Out of Severe Depression

Ford's account highlights the role of community in recovery from depression.

Overview

  • The 83-year-old actor, who spoke on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast Thursday, said he battled severe depression during his years at Ripon College in Wisconsin.
  • He described isolating in his dorm, ordering pizza to his room, and turning away at classroom doors rather than going to class.
  • He enrolled in a course labeled drama to raise a low GPA, then discovered it required acting and found a welcoming group that made him feel he belonged.
  • He said the experience let him find his place among storytellers and called it life-changing for his outlook and future career.
  • He also disclosed he was expelled four days before graduation for plagiarism, a separate episode now resurfacing as outlets widely recap his remarks.