Steven Ford
Steven Ford | |
|---|---|
_was_unveiled_at_the_Pentagon_-_20070116.jpg) Ford at the unveiling of a model of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) at the Pentagon in January 2007 | |
| Born | Steven Meigs Ford May 19, 1956 |
| Education | T. C. Williams High School |
| Alma mater | Utah State University California State Polytechnic University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1980–2007 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Susan Ford Bales (Sister) |
Steven Meigs Ford (born May 19, 1956) is an American actor, and the youngest son of former U.S. President Gerald Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford. He is perhaps best known for playing Andy Richards in the soap opera The Young and the Restless.
Early life
[edit]
Ford is the third child and youngest son of former President Gerald Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford. Ford graduated from T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 13, 1974, at which his father, then Vice President, gave the commencement address.[1] Ford attended Utah State University, studying range management;[2][3] while his older brother John Gardner (Jack) Ford studied forestry. Ford also attended California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he studied equine studies.[4]
Career
[edit]Ford was cast in the film Grease (1978) as Tom Chisum, but dropped out before filming began and was replaced by Lorenzo Lamas, citing stage fright.[5] Ford joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 1981, creating the role of Private Investigator Andy Richards.[6] He was a regular member of the cast from 1981 to 1987 and briefly from 2002 to 2003.[6] Ford has since appeared in minor roles in a number of films and television series, including Escape From New York,[7] Babylon 5: In the Beginning, Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, Starship Troopers, When Harry Met Sally...,[6] Heat, Contact, Transformers. From 1992 to 1993, he hosted the short-lived series Secret Service.
Personal life
[edit]Ford serves on the board of trustees for the Gerald R. Ford Foundation in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He describes himself as a "moderate Republican" and a "fiscal conservative". He also acknowledged that he suffered from alcoholism in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Although he still takes on occasional acting assignments, he spends most of his time raising money for charitable organizations and giving speeches and motivational talks to student groups on alcoholism.[8]
He has never been married. In 1991, he announced his engagement to Laura Carlos. Later, he said that the marriage plans did not go forward as he was working on his sobriety.
On February 14, 1980,[9] he filed a lawsuit in California to determine if he was the legal father of a boy named Lawrence, born on December 16, 1979,[9] to Joy Malken.[10] He also filed for custody and/or visitation rights.[9] There was "a complete and amicable settlement" very shortly afterward, details being kept private.[11][12]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Cattle Annie and Little Britches | Deputy Marshal | |
| 1981 | Escape from New York | Secret Service #2 | |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love | Soap Cameos | |
| 1986 | The Eleventh Commandment | Tom Leary | |
| 1989 | When Harry Met Sally... | Joe | |
| 1990 | Twenty Dollar Star | Jim | |
| 1995 | Heat | Officer Bruce | |
| 1996 | Eraser | Knoland | |
| 1997 | Midnight Blue | Detective Dobkin | |
| 1997 | Contact | Major Russell | |
| 1997 | Starship Troopers | Lt. Willy | |
| 1997 | Against the Law | Lt. Bill Carpenter | |
| 1998 | Armageddon | Nuke Tech | |
| 1999 | The Rage: Carrie 2 | Coach Walsh | |
| 2001 | Black Hawk Down | Cribbs | |
| 2007 | Transformers | Four Star General |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Happy Days | Frankie | Episode: "The Sixth Sense" |
| 1981 | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | Rodeo Cowboy | Episode: "Keep on Buckin'" |
| 1982–2003 | The Young and the Restless | Andy Richards | 212 episodes |
| 1984 | The Cowboy and the Ballerina | Wes Butler | Television film |
| 1988 | Murder, She Wrote | Drake Eaton | Episode: "Harbinger of Death" |
| 1988 | Shooter | Capt. Walker | Television film |
| 1990 | Columbo | Toby Ritt | Episode: "Agenda for Murder" |
| 1994 | Team Suomi | Willi | Television film |
| 1995 | Sirens | Dr. Paul Ravenson | Episode: "The Obsession" |
| 1995 | Flipper | F. Scott Blondel | Episode: "F. Scott" |
| 1996 | JAG | 'Daddy' Dan Austin | Episode: "Hemlock" |
| 1996 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Frank Parker | Episode: "The Suburban Episode" |
| 1996 | Dark Skies | Phillips | Episode: "Ancient Future" |
| 1997 | The Beneficiary | Bill Girard | Television film |
| 1997 | The Sentinel | Norman Oliver | Episode: "Secret" |
| 1997 | Baywatch | Steve Cause | Episode: "Trial by Fire" |
| 1997 | Walker, Texas Ranger | D.A. Mark Clark | Episode: "Texas vs. Cahill" |
| 1997 | Two Came Back | Lt. Belwick | Television film |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: In the Beginning | Prometheus First Officer | |
| 1998 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Prosecutor Meadows | Episode: "Legend II: Vengeance" |
| 1998 | Suddenly Susan | Skip | Episode: "A Tale of Two Pants: Part 2" |
| 1998, 2000 | Pensacola: Wings of Gold | Lt. Col. Donald Stuart / Lt. Col. Martin Niles | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | 18 Wheels of Justice | Senator Quentin Young | Episode: "Past Imperfect" |
Further reading
[edit]- Wead, Doug, All the President's Children, Atria Books, New York, 2003, ISBN 0-7434-4631-3
References
[edit]- ^ "June 13, 1974 - Speech, T.C. Williams High School Commencement, Alexandria, VA" (PDF). Ford Library Museum. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ Davidson, Lee (December 28, 2006). "President cherished his ties to Utah". Deseret News. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ Fahys, Judy (December 28, 2006). "President Ford: Tremonton family stays close". The Salt Lake Tribune.
- ^ "Steven Ford on Leadership - Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies". Grand Valley State University. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ Gliatto, Tom; O'Neill, Anne-Marie (April 13, 1998). "Grease Is the Word: Twenty Years Later, the Stars Are Still True to Their School". People. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Any Questions?". Soap Opera Weekly. February 13, 2007. p. 13.
- ^ Ford plays "Secret Service [agent] #2" guarding the President on Air Force One.
- ^ Yoon, Robert (May 2006). "GRIND EXTRA -- A Ford, Not a Lincoln". Situation Room blog. CNN. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Steve Ford Asks Child's Custody". The Modesto Bee. February 23, 1980.
- ^ "Steven Ford Files Paternity Suit in California". The New York Times. February 22, 1980. p. B8.
- ^ "Ford Suit Settled". The New York Times. February 29, 1980. p. B6, column 3.
- ^ "People: Jul. 20, 1981". Time. July 20, 1981. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
External links
[edit]
- Steven Ford at IMDb
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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- 1956 births
- American male soap opera actors
- American male television actors
- California Polytechnic State University alumni
- Children of presidents of the United States
- Children of vice presidents of the United States
- Family of Gerald Ford
- Living people
- Male actors from Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Utah State University alumni
- 20th-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Michigan Republicans
- People from East Grand Rapids, Michigan
- T. C. Williams High School alumni