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
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. Ford attended Utah State University, studying range management; 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.
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. Ford joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 1981, creating the role of Private Investigator Andy Richards. He was a regular member of the cast from 1981 to 1987 and briefly from 2002 to 2003. Ford has since appeared in minor roles in a number of films and television series, including Escape from New York,Ford plays "Secret Service [agent] #2" guarding the President on Air Force One. Babylon 5: In the Beginning, Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, Starship Troopers, When Harry Met Sally..., Heat, Contact, and 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.
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, he filed a lawsuit in California to determine if he was the legal father of a boy named Lawrence, born on December 16, 1979, to Joy Malken. He also filed for custody and/or visitation rights. There was "a complete and amicable settlement" very shortly afterward, details being kept private.
On January 9, 2025, Ford read a eulogy written by his father on the occasion of the 2025 state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, and made reference to his wife at the funeral of President Carter, though she has not been named publicly.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1980Cattle Annie and Little BritchesDeputy Marshal1981Escape from New YorkSecret Service #21982Young Doctors in LoveSoap Cameos1986The Eleventh CommandmentTom Leary1989When Harry Met Sally...Joe1990Twenty Dollar StarJim1995HeatOfficer Bruce1996EraserKnoland1997Midnight BlueDetective Dobkin1997ContactMajor Russell1997Starship TroopersLt. Willy1997Against the LawLt. Bill Carpenter1998ArmageddonNuke Tech1999The Rage: Carrie 2Coach Walsh2002Black Hawk DownCribbs2007TransformersFour Star General
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1981Happy DaysFrankieEpisode: "The Sixth Sense"1981The Misadventures of Sheriff LoboRodeo CowboyEpisode: "Keep on Buckin'"1982–2003The Young and the RestlessAndy Richards212 episodes1984The Cowboy and the BallerinaWes ButlerTelevision film1988Murder, She WroteDrake EatonEpisode: "Harbinger of Death"1988ShooterCapt. WalkerTelevision film1990ColumboToby RittEpisode: "Agenda for Murder"1994Team SuomiWilliTelevision film1995SirensDr. Paul RavensonEpisode: "The Obsession"1995FlipperF. Scott BlondelEpisode: "F. Scott"1996JAG'Daddy' Dan AustinEpisode: "Hemlock"1996Mr. & Mrs. SmithFrank ParkerEpisode: "The Suburban Episode"1996Dark SkiesPhillipsEpisode: "Ancient Future"1997The BeneficiaryBill GirardTelevision film1997The SentinelNorman OliverEpisode: "Secret"1997BaywatchSteve CauseEpisode: "Trial by Fire"1997Walker, Texas RangerD.A. Mark ClarkEpisode: "Texas vs. Cahill"1997Two Came BackLt. BelwickTelevision film1998Babylon 5: In the BeginningPrometheus First Officer1998Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanProsecutor MeadowsEpisode: "Legend II: Vengeance"1998Suddenly SusanSkipEpisode: "A Tale of Two Pants: Part 2"1998, 2000Pensacola: Wings of GoldLt. Col. Donald Stuart / Lt. Col. Martin Niles2 episodes200118 Wheels of JusticeSenator Quentin YoungEpisode: "Past Imperfect"
References
Bibliography Wead, Doug, All the President's Children, Atria Books, New York, 2003,
External links