Mary Marquardt is an American former chef and illustrator best known as the first wife of actor Harrison Ford. She met Ford in college, married him years before he became a household name, and raised their two sons during the early, uncertain years of his acting career. This article covers what is reliably known about Mary Marquardt’s life, career, marriage, and family as of 2026.
Quick Facts About Mary Marquardt
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Marquardt |
| Date of Birth | 1945 |
| Age | Around 81 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Ripon College, Wisconsin |
| Profession | Former chef and illustrator |
| Famous For | First wife of actor Harrison Ford |
| Relationship Status | Divorced |
| Spouse | Harrison Ford (m. June 18, 1964; divorced 1979) |
| Children | Benjamin “Ben” Ford, Willard Ford |
Who Is Mary Marquardt?
Mary Marquardt is an American former professional chef and illustrator who was married to actor Harrison Ford from 1964 until 1979. The two met as college students, married before Ford found success in Hollywood, and had two sons together. While Ford went on to become one of the most recognizable actors in film history, Marquardt built her own career in cooking and illustration and has generally kept her life away from public attention.
How Old Is Mary Marquardt?
Mary Marquardt was born in 1945, which would put her around 81 years old as of 2026. Her exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed.
Mary Marquardt’s Early Life and Education
Mary Marquardt attended Ripon College, a small liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, where she studied art and developed an interest in illustration. It was at Ripon College that she met a fellow student named Harrison Ford, who had begun exploring acting through campus theater productions.
Mary Marquardt’s Career as a Chef and Illustrator
Mary Marquardt built a career as a professional chef and illustrator, working in the culinary field for many years, including during the period after her marriage to Harrison Ford ended. In the years following their divorce, she remained connected to the restaurant world through her son Ben Ford, a chef who went on to open Ford’s Filling Station, a gastropub with locations in Culver City and at Los Angeles International Airport.
Marquardt continued working as a chef until 2001, when she stepped back from professional cooking due to health issues connected to multiple sclerosis, a condition covered in more detail below.
Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford’s Relationship
How They Met
Mary Marquardt met Harrison Ford while they were both students at Ripon College in Wisconsin in the early 1960s. Their relationship developed on campus, where Ford was beginning to take an interest in acting through student theater.
Marriage
Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford married on June 18, 1964. In the years that followed, Ford struggled to find steady acting work and took carpentry jobs to help support the family, while Marquardt worked and encouraged him to keep pursuing performing opportunities. The couple eventually moved to Los Angeles in search of better prospects, and Ford signed an early contract with Columbia Pictures’ new talent program before slowly building his acting career through the late 1960s and 1970s.
Family Life
Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford had two sons together. Benjamin “Ben” Ford was born on September 22, 1966, and went on to become a professional chef, opening Ford’s Filling Station and publishing his own cookbook. Willard Ford was born on May 14, 1969, and built a career in business, founding Ludwig Clothing Company and previously running Strong Sports Gym and the Kim Sing Theatre.
Divorce
Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford divorced in 1979 after 15 years of marriage. Their split came during the period when Ford’s career was rapidly taking off following his breakout role as Han Solo in “Star Wars” (1977). Ford’s growing fame in the late 1970s, including a widely reported relationship with co-star Carrie Fisher during the filming of the original “Star Wars,” is often cited as a factor in the marriage’s end. Ford later met screenwriter Melissa Mathison while filming “Apocalypse Now,” and the two married in 1984, several years after his divorce from Marquardt.
Mary Marquardt’s Health: Living With Multiple Sclerosis
Mary Marquardt has lived with multiple sclerosis, a neurological condition, for several decades. Reports on the timing of her diagnosis vary, with some placing it in the late 1980s and others suggesting the early 2000s, but she has spoken through her family about managing the condition privately for many years before it became more widely known.
Her son Ben Ford has been open about his mother’s experience with MS, crediting her resilience as an influence on his own life and career. In 2017, he launched a public campaign called #ReimagineMySelf to raise awareness about living with multiple sclerosis, drawing directly on his mother’s experience with the condition. Marquardt stepped back from professional cooking in 2001 as the condition progressed.
Mary Marquardt’s Relationship With Harrison Ford Today
Despite their divorce more than four decades ago, reports indicate that Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford have remained on friendly terms over the years. Ford has been described as supportive of Marquardt, including during her health challenges, and the two are said to maintain a respectful relationship rooted in their shared history and their two sons.
Where Is Mary Marquardt Now?
As of 2026, Mary Marquardt continues to live privately in the United States. She is no longer active in professional cooking due to her health, but she remains close with her sons, Ben and Willard, and has largely stayed out of the public eye, aside from occasional mentions connected to her son Ben’s culinary career and MS advocacy work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mary Marquardt?
Mary Marquardt is an American former chef and illustrator best known as the first wife of actor Harrison Ford. They were married from 1964 to 1979 and had two sons together.
How old is Mary Marquardt?
Mary Marquardt was born in 1945, making her approximately 81 years old as of 2026. Her exact birth date has not been publicly confirmed.
When did Mary Marquardt marry Harrison Ford?
Mary Marquardt married Harrison Ford on June 18, 1964. They divorced in 1979 after 15 years of marriage.
Where did Mary Marquardt meet Harrison Ford?
Mary Marquardt met Harrison Ford while both were students at Ripon College in Wisconsin in the early 1960s.
Does Mary Marquardt have children?
Yes. Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford have two sons: Benjamin “Ben” Ford, born in 1966, and Willard Ford, born in 1969.
What does Mary Marquardt do for a living?
Mary Marquardt worked as a professional chef and illustrator for many years before stepping back from cooking in 2001 due to health issues related to multiple sclerosis.
Does Mary Marquardt have multiple sclerosis?
Yes. Mary Marquardt has lived with multiple sclerosis for several decades. Her son Ben Ford has spoken publicly about her experience and launched an MS awareness campaign inspired by her.
Is Mary Marquardt still in touch with Harrison Ford?
Reports indicate that Mary Marquardt and Harrison Ford have remained on friendly terms since their 1979 divorce, with Ford described as supportive of her over the years.
Where is Mary Marquardt now?
As of 2026, Mary Marquardt lives privately in the United States, staying close to her sons while remaining largely out of the public spotlight.
Conclusion
Mary Marquardt’s life extends well beyond her early marriage to Harrison Ford. As a chef, illustrator, and mother who supported her family through the uncertain years before her husband became a movie star, and later as a woman who has faced multiple sclerosis with the support of her sons, Marquardt’s story reflects resilience alongside her place in Hollywood history. Her continued privacy, paired with her son Ben’s public advocacy connected to her health, is part of why people continue to search for her story today.
