Harrison Ford reveals his college struggle with clinical depression, describing a period of intense isolation and withdrawal in a candid new interview.
- April 11, 2026
AceShowbiz - Harrison Ford has opened up about his experiences with clinical depression while he was in college. In a recent interview on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, the acclaimed actor discussed the mental health challenges he faced during his time at Ripon College in Wisconsin in the early 1960s.
Ford described a period of significant social withdrawal and isolation that deeply affected his well-being. He recalled having a single dorm room where he rarely left except to attend classes, and even then, he often found himself unable to go inside.
"I had a single room, and I had classes to go to, but I rarely ventured out. I would get up out of my single bed, go to a phone, order a pizza, go back and lie down in bed until the pizza came," he shared. After eating, he would leave the wrappers in a corner and return to bed. On the rare occasions he tried to attend class, he said he sometimes touched the classroom door but then turned around and walked away.
Ford emphasized that his condition was more than just feeling down. "I was more than depressed. I think I was ill. I was socially ill, psychologically not well," he stated, highlighting the severity of his mental health struggles during that time.
This candid revelation sheds light on the actor’s early life challenges, demonstrating how mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of future success or fame.
