Ford was cast in the film Grease (1978) as Tom Chisum, but dropped out before filming began and was replaced by Lorenzo Lamas, citing stage fright. Ford joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 1981, creating the role of Private Investigator Andy Richards. He was a regular member of the cast from 1981 to 1987 and briefly from 2002-2003. Ford has since appeared in minor roles in a number of films and television series, including Escape From New York, Babylon 5: In the Beginning, Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, Starship Troopers, When Harry Met Sally, Heat, Contact, Transformers. From 1992-1993, he hosted the short-lived series Secret Service.