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Harrison Ford surprised plenty of people when he debuted a new ear piercing all the way back in 1997, and it turns out his decision to embrace that particular look can be traced back to a drunk lunch with the one and only Jimmy Buffett.
The lengthy and illustrious Hollywood career of Harrison Ford was built on a foundation of the macho action heroes that made him famous, and the man known for portraying Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and Jack Ryan never really seemed like a top candidate for an ear piercing.
As a result, there was a fair amount of attention paid to the tiny stud the 55-year-old was sporting in his left earlobe when he rolled up to the premiere of Air Force One in the summer of 1997—a look he didn’t permanently embrace but routinely rocked after taking the plunge.
Ford was one of the many notable names who headed to The Hollywood Bowl last week for the “Keep The Party Going” tribute concert that was held in memory of Jimmy Buffett, the beloved singer who devoted his career to spreading positive vibes before he passed away last summer at the age of 76.
According to People, the actor got the chance to reflect on his friendship with the Mayor of Margaritaville during the show and revealed Buffett was instrumental in his decision to get his ear pierced, saying:
“Jimmy Buffet was a cool guy.
I remember one day at a long—some might say boozy —lunch with Jimmy and [reporter] Ed Bradley, and it was Bradley’s birthday. I saw both of them had earrings. So right after lunch, I got my ear pierced. That’s just how infectious Jimmy’s coolness is.
“Infectious enough for a 40-year-old man to spontaneously get his f—ing ear pierced. And infectious enough to create an entire culture around his music.”
Ford previously shed light on what unfolded on that fateful day during an interview in 2012 where he revealed he channeled his inner middle school girl by heading to Claire’s with then-wife Melissa Mathison before having the deed done by an employee who received an autographed note that read, ” “To Tavora—You made a hole in me.”
Sounds about right.