Steven Ford Explained

Steven Ford
Birth Name:Steven Meigs Ford
Birth Place:East Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Birth Date:19 May 1956
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1980–2007
Education:T. C. Williams High School
Alma Mater:Utah State University
California State Polytechnic University
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.

Early life

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

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. Ford has since appeared in minor roles in a number of films and television series, including Escape From New York,[7] , Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, Starship Troopers, When Harry Met Sally..., Heat, Contact, Transformers. From 1992 to 1993, he hosted the short-lived series Secret Service.

Personal life

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, to Joy Malken.[10] He also filed for custody and/or visitation rights. There was "a complete and amicable settlement" very shortly afterward, details being kept private.[11] [12]

Filmography

Film

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1980Cattle Annie and Little BritchesDeputy Marshal
1981Escape from New YorkSecret Service #2
1982Young Doctors in LoveSoap Cameos
1986The Eleventh CommandmentTom Leary
1989When Harry Met Sally...Joe
1990Twenty Dollar StarJim
1995HeatOfficer Bruce
1996EraserKnoland
1997Midnight BlueDetective Dobkin
1997ContactMajor Russell
1997Starship TroopersLt. Willy
1997Against the LawLt. Bill Carpenter
1998ArmageddonNuke Tech
1999Coach Walsh
2001Black Hawk DownCribbs
2007TransformersFour Star General

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981Happy DaysFrankieEpisode: "The Sixth Sense"
1981The Misadventures of Sheriff LoboRodeo CowboyEpisode: "Keep on Buckin'"
1982–2003The Young and the RestlessAndy Richards212 episodes
1984The Cowboy and the BallerinaWes ButlerTelevision film
1988Murder, She WroteDrake EatonEpisode: "Harbinger of Death"
1988ShooterCapt. WalkerTelevision film
1990ColumboToby RittEpisode: "Agenda for Murder"
1994Team SuomiWilliTelevision film
1995SirensDr. Paul RavensonEpisode: "The Obsession"
1995FlipperF. Scott BlondelEpisode: "F. Scott"
1996JAG'Daddy' Dan AustinEpisode: "Hemlock"
1996Mr. & Mrs. SmithFrank ParkerEpisode: "The Suburban Episode"
1996Dark SkiesPhillipsEpisode: "Ancient Future"
1997The BeneficiaryBill GirardTelevision film
1997The SentinelNorman OliverEpisode: "Secret"
1997BaywatchSteve CauseEpisode: "Trial by Fire"
1997Walker, Texas RangerD.A. Mark ClarkEpisode: "Texas vs. Cahill"
1997Two Came BackLt. BelwickTelevision film
1998Prometheus First Officer
1998Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanProsecutor MeadowsEpisode: "Legend II: Vengeance"
1998Suddenly SusanSkipEpisode: "A Tale of Two Pants: Part 2"
1998, 2000Lt. Col. Donald Stuart / Lt. Col. Martin Niles2 episodes
200118 Wheels of JusticeSenator Quentin YoungEpisode: "Past Imperfect"

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: June 13, 1974 - Speech, T.C. Williams High School Commencement, Alexandria, VA . Ford Library Museum . 19 July 2023.
  2. News: Lee . Davidson . President cherished his ties to Utah . . July 19, 2023 . December 28, 2006.
  3. News: Judy . Fahys . President Ford: Tremonton family stays close . . December 28, 2006.
  4. Web site: Steven Ford on Leadership - Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies . 2022-08-02 . Grand Valley State University.
  5. Gliatto . Tom . O'Neill . Anne-Marie . Grease Is the Word: Twenty Years Later, the Stars Are Still True to Their School . . April 13, 1998 . September 13, 2011.
  6. Any Questions? . February 13, 2007 . Soap Opera Weekly . 13.
  7. Ford plays "Secret Service [agent] #2" guarding the President on Air Force One.
  8. Web site: Robert . Yoon . GRIND EXTRA -- A Ford, Not a Lincoln . Situation Room blog . 2022-08-02 . CNN . May 2006.
  9. News: Steve Ford Asks Child's Custody . . February 23, 1980.
  10. News: Steven Ford Files Paternity Suit in California . . February 22, 1980 . B8.
  11. News: Ford Suit Settled . . February 29, 1980 . B6, column 3.
  12. People: Jul. 20, 1981 . . July 20, 1981 . May 24, 2010.