In the grand story of Hollywood, some people become famous for their work on the big screen, while others are known for the quiet, strong roles they played behind the scenes. Mary Marquardt belongs to the second group. Long before actor Harrison Ford became the iconic Han Solo or the adventurous Indiana Jones, he was a young man with a dream. Standing by his side during all the difficult early years was his college sweetheart and first wife, Mary Marquardt. This is her story, a look at the woman who was with the star before he was a legend.
Quick Bio of Mary Marquardt
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Mary Marquardt |
| Known For | Being the first wife of actor Harrison Ford |
| Profession | Former Chef |
| Birth Year | c. 1945 |
| Approx. Age | ~80 (as of 2025) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Ripon College, Wisconsin |
| Spouse | Harrison Ford |
| Married | 1964 |
| Divorced | 1979 |
| Children | 2 |
| Sons | Benjamin Ford & Willard Ford |
| Grandchildren | Guiliana, Ethan, Waylon, Eliel |
Who is Mary Marquardt?
Mary Marquardt is an American former chef. She is known to the public almost only because of her relationship with Harrison Ford. She was his first wife, and their marriage lasted 15 years, from 1964 to 1979. This time includes Ford’s life before he was famous, his years as a struggling actor, and his sudden rise to global stardom.
After her marriage ended, Mary Marquardt made a very clear choice: she chose a life of complete privacy. Unlike many Hollywood ex-spouses, she never wrote a tell-all book, gave shocking interviews, or tried to stay in the spotlight. Instead, she focused on her own life and on raising the two children she shares with Ford.
The Early Romance
The love story of Harrison Ford and Mary Marquardt did not begin in Hollywood. It started in the quiet halls of Ripon College in Wisconsin during the early 1960s. He was studying English and philosophy, and she was a fellow student. They were, in many ways, a typical college couple who fell in love.
Their connection was deep, and after they finished their studies, they decided to get married. The wedding of Harrison Ford and Mary Marquardt took place on June 18, 1964. Soon after their wedding, the young couple made a brave, life-changing decision. They packed their things and moved to Los Angeles to chase Harrison’s dream of becoming an actor.
Supporting a Struggling Actor
The first years in Los Angeles were anything but glamorous. Harrison Ford struggled to find work as an actor. He managed to get a few very small, often uncredited, roles in movies and TV shows, but he found the studio system frustrating and difficult. To support his growing family, he famously taught himself carpentry. He became a professional carpenter, building furniture and doing work for other celebrities.
During these lean years, Mary Marquardt was the rock of the family. She worked as a professional chef, providing a steady and reliable income. Her work helped pay the bills and put food on the table while her husband took carpentry jobs and went to auditions. She was the one who supported the family and believed in his dream when acting seemed like an impossible career.
Mary Marquardt, the Mother
While living this humble life, their family began to grow. Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford welcomed two sons. Their children remain the most important and lasting part of their 15-year relationship.
Their first son, Benjamin “Ben” Ford, was born in 1966. Following in his mother’s footsteps, Ben is now a very successful and famous chef and restaurateur. He owns the popular Ford’s Filling Station in Los Angeles and has written his own cookbook. Their second son, Willard Ford, was born in 1969. Willard is a successful entrepreneur. He has owned several businesses, including the Ludwig Clothing Company and the Strong Sports Gym.
Fame, Star Wars, and the Beginning of the End
For a decade, the Fords lived as a normal, working-class family. Then, everything changed. In 1973, Harrison Ford got his first important role in the film American Graffiti, directed by George Lucas. This movie was a big hit and got Ford noticed. A few years later, George Lucas was casting his next big project, a science-fiction space movie.
In 1977, Star Wars: A New Hope was released and became the biggest movie of all time. Harrison Ford was no longer a carpenter; he was Han Solo, a global superstar. The life he and Mary Marquardt had built together was gone forever. Their marriage was suddenly under a new and intense pressure: the pressure of worldwide fame.
The Heartbreak of an Affair
The sudden fame, long film shoots in other countries, and the new pressures of being a Hollywood icon put a massive strain on their marriage. For decades, there were rumors about what truly caused the end of their relationship. The truth finally became public 40 years later.
In 2016, Carrie Fisher, the actress who played Princess Leia, released her final memoir, The Princess Diarist. In the book, she revealed that she and Harrison Ford had an intense, three-month affair in 1976. This affair took place while they were filming the first Star Wars movie. At the time, Ford was 33, a married man, and the father of two young boys. Fisher was only 19. This news confirmed that the marriage of Harrison Ford and Mary Marquardt was broken by this affair.
A Marriage Ends (1979)
The affair, combined with the pressures of his new superstar status, was too much for the marriage to survive. The couple separated, and their divorce was finalized in 1979. This officially ended the 15-year marriage of Harrison Ford and Mary Marquardt. The woman who had been with him through all the years of struggle was no longer by his side as he became one of the biggest stars in the world.
Mary Marquardt Now: A Life of Dignified Privacy
This is the part of the story where Mary Marquardt becomes truly remarkable. After a public and painful divorce from a major celebrity, she had a choice. She could have sold her story to magazines for a lot of money. She could have written a book about their marriage, the affair, and his rise to fame. She did none of those things.
Instead, Mary Marquardt chose a life of complete and total privacy. She focused on raising her two sons, Ben and Willard, away from the Hollywood spotlight. She has never given an interview about her marriage. She has never spoken in public about Harrison Ford or Carrie Fisher. Her dignified silence for over 40 years is a powerful statement. The life of Mary Marquardt now is one she built for herself, on her own terms.
Is Mary Marquardt Still Alive?
Yes. Because she is so private, many people wonder, “is Mary Marquardt still alive?” We can confirm that as of 2025, Mary Marquardt is alive and well. She continues to live her quiet life away from the media, enjoying her time as a mother and a grandmother.
The “Obituary Mary Marquardt” Confusion
If you search online, you will often find searches for “ford first wife obituary Mary Marquardt” or “harrison ford obituary mary marquardt.” This has led many people to believe that she has passed away.
This is a common and understandable mistake. This confusion comes from Harrison Ford’s second wife, Melissa Mathison. Ford married Mathison in 1983. She was a very successful and respected screenwriter, most famous for writing the script for the beloved movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Sadly, Melissa Mathison passed away from cancer in 2015. News headlines at the time called her “Harrison Ford’s ex-wife,” which caused the mix-up.
What is Mary Marquardt Net Worth?
Another common question is about the “Mary Marquardt net worth.” Just like the rest of her life, her finances are not public information. The details of her 1979 divorce settlement are private.
It is important to remember that their divorce happened in 1979. At that time, Harrison Ford had become famous from Star Wars, but he had not yet made his great fortune from the Indiana Jones movies or the Star Wars sequels. The massive wealth he has today was built in the years after his divorce from Mary Marquardt.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is Mary Marquardt still alive?
Yes, as of 2025, Mary Marquardt is alive. There is often confusion, but the obituary many people find is for Harrison Ford’s second wife, Melissa Mathison, who passed away in 2015. - What does Mary Marquardt do?
Mary Marquardt is a former chef. She worked as a chef to support her family while Harrison Ford was a struggling actor and carpenter. - Who are Mary Marquardt’s children?
She has two sons with Harrison Ford: Benjamin Ford (born 1966), who is a professional chef, and Willard Ford (born 1969), who is an entrepreneur. - When was Mary Marquardt married to Harrison Ford?
They were married for 15 years, from their wedding in 1964 until their divorce in 1979. - Why did Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford get divorced?
Their marriage ended after Harrison Ford became famous from Star Wars. In 2016, actress Carrie Fisher confirmed she and Ford had an affair in 1976, which was during his marriage to Mary Marquardt.
A Life Before the Legend
Harrison Ford went on to marry two more times. He married Melissa Mathison and had two more children, Malcolm and Georgia. After their divorce, he married actress Calista Flockhart, with whom he raised an adopted son, Liam.
But through all of his fame, his other marriages, and his legendary career, the story of Mary Marquardt remains the quiet, powerful first chapter. Her story is a very human one. It is about love, support, and sacrifice. She was the woman who supported the man before he became the myth. She was the chef who paid the bills for the carpenter who would one day pilot the Millennium Falcon.
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