Grandfather of Aubrey Newton Ford (b. 1977), Ryan Welsie Ford (b. 1984), and Eleanor Powell Ford (b. 1988), whose parents are Ford's son, Peter Ford (b. 5 February 1945), and wife Lynda Gundersen.

Parents were Newton and Hannah Ford. His father did not block his movie star aspirations but insisted that he learn a trade first. He listened and became an expert on plumbing, wiring and air-conditioning. He also worked as a roofer and installer of plate-glass windows.

On May 1st, 2006, Glenn had a gala 90th birthday celebration at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. There was a showing of a newly restored print of "Gilda" and his son Peter hosted the event. Over 700 tickets went on sale and were quickly sold out.

Ford was a US Naval Reserve officer who rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.

He was replaced by Robert Mitchum in "African Skies" (1991) after being hospitalized with blood clots in his legs.

His first screen test at 20th Century Fox did not turn out well. He was given a second chance by Columbia a year later, however, and was signed.

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch).

Ford had intended to play Hondo Lane in Hondo (1953), but backed out when John Farrow was chosen to direct. Ford and Farrow had not got along while making Plunder of the Sun (1953). The part was subsequently played by John Wayne.

Despite his excellence and popularity as a star, he was never nominated for an Oscar.

Voted the number one box office attraction. [1958]

He is a direct descendant of President Martin Van Buren

Received a special tribute as part of the Annual Memorial tribute at The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV).

Glenn appeared in 5 movies with classic leading actress, Rita Hayworth: Affair in Trinidad (1952), The Lady in Question (1940), The Loves of Carmen (1948), The Money Trap (1965) and Gilda (1946).

In 1967, Naval Reserve Officer Lt. Cmdr. Ford (then aged 50) volunteered to serve for three months as a liaison officer attached to a Marine unit with the rank of Colonel in Vietnam, and on several occasions endured enemy shelling.

According to a biography of Sam Peckinpah, Ford was considered for Robert Ryan's role in The Wild Bunch (1969).

Awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal by the Country of France for his service in World War II. [1992]

Retired from acting in 1991 following heart and circulatory problems.

He was a close friend of William Holden.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. [1978]

Has family roots in the English town of Horwich, near Bolton, Lancashire.

Served in Vietnam as a reserve military officer.

Romantically linked over the years with Joan Crawford, Brigitte Bardot, Linda Christian, Hope Lange, Debbie Reynolds, Dinah Shore and Rita Hayworth.

Played Jonathan Kent in the 1978 film Superman. In Superman Returns, a photograph of him as Jonathan Kent can be seen in Clark Kent's old home.

Went on a jungle mission with a Special Forces Team during the Vietnam War.

Quit smoking cigarettes in 1958.

Related to Sir John A. Macdonald, first Prime Minister of Canada.

Often during his career Ford insisted on being shot looking to camera left - he had been kicked in the right side of his jaw by a horse and insisted the left side of his face was his only filmable side.

Was half Welsh, his mother was from Pontypridd in south Wales.

Portrayed the title character on NBC Radio's "The Adventures of Christopher London" (1950).

After having been a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary for a year, he joined the Marine Corps during WWII in December of 1942, and subsequently met first wife, tap-dancing extraordinaire Eleanor Powell, at a war-bond cavalcade. They married in 1943.

Like his close friend Ronald Reagan, Ford started as a Democrat but gradually switched to becoming a conservative Republican.

Ford had been scheduled to make his first public appearance in fifteen years at a 90th birthday tribute gala in his honor hosted by the American Cinematheque at Grauman's Eqyptian Theatre in Hollywood on 1 May 2006, but he was unable to attend. He had suffered a series of minor strokes since his retirement, and was consequently very frail.

Actively campaigned for Adlai Stevenson in the 1956 presidential election, and attended the Democratic National Convention that year.

During his salad days, he worked in a Santa Monica bar as a barkeep for $5 a week.

He is credited with being the fastest "gun" in Hollywood westerns, able to draw and fire in 0.4 seconds, he was faster than James Arness (Matt Dillon of "Gunsmoke" (1955)) and John Wayne.

Parents, with Eleanor Powell, of the actor Peter Ford,

He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1939

Glenn appeared in 5 movies with Rita Hayworth.

In addition to his WWII service, he served in the reserves during the Korean War and the Viet Nam War. He retired as a Captain in the US Naval Reserve.

Military service: US Coast Guard; USMC; US Naval Reserve (Captain)