There have been few leading men in Hollywood like Harrison Ford. The actor oozes a trademark blend of amiability and manliness. It's hard to imagine anyone else playing a lovable scoundrel like Han Solo. He's also believable as an archaeologist.

Ford's success hardly came overnight. For a moment there in the 1970s, he teetered on the edge of giving it all up to become a carpenter. For a decade, the actor had been grabbing bit roles here and there on television, particularly in Westerns.

Looking at the performances in hindsight, it's a wonder that people looked him over. He just IS Han Solo in so many of these roles. Fortunately, you can see most of them right here on MeTV, on great shows like Gunsmoke and Ironside.

Let's take a brief look at Harrison Ford's early career, pre-stardom, pre–Star Wars.