Glenn Ford's Son Peter Shared the Screen With His Father Before Leaving Show Business
Peter Ford is the only child of actor Glenn Ford and MGM musical star Eleanor Powell. He acted in several films, including eight projects with his father, and also played music with a band. He later stepped away from entertainment and worked in the property business.
Peter Ford was born in Los Angeles in February 1945, the sole child of Glenn Ford and Eleanor Powell. Powell was an MGM musical performer and tap dancer, so Peter grew up within two entertainment careers. His first speaking part came in 1959’s The Gazebo, opposite his father and Debbie Reynolds.
He later acted in Dear Heart, Advance to the Rear, The Rounders, and Pocketful of Miracles, among eight films with Glenn. He also performed with The Creations in San Francisco and Las Vegas, reportedly signed to Capitol Records and guided by Nat King Cole. After an English degree in 1968, he entered property work.
This retrospective may resonate with classic-film fans and families curious about Hollywood dynasties. It could reinforce nostalgia for mid-century studio-era entertainment, while Peter Ford’s later shift into property work may remind readers that celebrity lineage does not dictate a lifelong public career. Its impact may remain modest, mainly shaping fan memory and archival interest rather than broader social debate.