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Steven Ford

For other people named Stephen Ford, see Stephen Ford (disambiguation).

Steven Ford
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

(1956-05-19) May 19, 1956 (age 68)
East Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
EducationT. C. Williams High School
Alma materUtah State University
California State Polytechnic University
OccupationActor
Years active1980–2007
Parents
RelativesSusan 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

Steven Ford with his mother, Betty Ford, in 1976

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.[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

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

Film

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

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

  • Wead, Doug, All the President's Children, Atria Books, New York, 2003, ISBN 0-7434-4631-3

References

  1. ^ "June 13, 1974 - Speech, T.C. Williams High School Commencement, Alexandria, VA" (PDF). Ford Library Museum. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  2. ^ Davidson, Lee (December 28, 2006). "President cherished his ties to Utah". Deseret News. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  3. ^ Fahys, Judy (December 28, 2006). "President Ford: Tremonton family stays close". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  4. ^ "Steven Ford on Leadership - Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies". Grand Valley State University. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c "Any Questions?". Soap Opera Weekly. February 13, 2007. p. 13.
  7. ^ Ford plays "Secret Service [agent] #2" guarding the President on Air Force One.
  8. ^ Yoon, Robert (May 2006). "GRIND EXTRA -- A Ford, Not a Lincoln". Situation Room blog. CNN. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "Steve Ford Asks Child's Custody". The Modesto Bee. February 23, 1980.
  10. ^ "Steven Ford Files Paternity Suit in California". The New York Times. February 22, 1980. p. B8.
  11. ^ "Ford Suit Settled". The New York Times. February 29, 1980. p. B6, column 3.
  12. ^ "People: Jul. 20, 1981". Time. July 20, 1981. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
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