Before Harrison Ford became one of the biggest names in Hollywood history, the actor received a career prediction that turned out to be completely inaccurate.

In a recent podcast appearance, the actor recalled that when he first took on a small role in the 1966 film Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round, Columbia Pictures executive Jerry Tokofsky predicted he would never succeed in Hollywood. This prediction did not age well.

Harrison Ford details reaction after being told he’ll never ‘make it’ in Hollywood

During a discussion on the Wednesday, May 13 episode of the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast hosted by Ted Danson, Harrison Ford reflected on the career prediction made by Columbia Pictures executive Jerry Tokofsky.

This reflection came after Ford performed a minor role in the 1966 film Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round, where he delivered a telegram while dressed as a bellboy. Tokofsky was not impressed with this performance. “Boy,” Harrison Ford recalled Tokofsky saying, “You’re never going to make it in this business.”

The executive compared Ford to Tony Curtis, stating that movie stars were instantly recognizable on screen. Ford further recounted Tokofsky’s words: “I’m going to tell you a story…The first time Tony Curtis ever walked on a stage, he delivered a bag of groceries. You took one look at that guy, and you said, ‘That’s a movie star.’”

However, this did not intimidate Ford. “And I leaned across the desk and said, ‘I thought you were supposed to think it was a grocery delivery boy,’” he recalled.

The interaction escalated from there. Tokofsky eventually asked Ford to “get the f**k out of here.” The tension between them lasted nearly a year.

Since then, Harrison Ford has become one of Hollywood’s greatest actors, known for some of the most memorable roles ever, including Indiana Jones and Han Solo.