ˈæftɚɹ ˈɜːnɪŋ æz ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪt ʌv ˈɑːɹts fɹʌm lˈɔŋ bˈiːtʃ sˈɪɾi kˈɑːlɪdʒ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈaɪv, fˈoːɹd tɹænsfˈɜːd tə ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv sˈʌðɚn kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə, wˌɛɹ hiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd wɪð ɐ bˈætʃəlɚɹ ʌv fˈaɪn ˈɑːɹts ɪn ˈæktɪŋ.
After earning as Associate of Arts from Long Beach City College in 1985, Ford transferred to the University of Southern California, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting.