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Steven Ford

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

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

Television

Further reading

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.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steven Ford.