Ford graduated from T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 13, 1974, at which his father, then Vice President, gave the commencement address.

[6] Ford has since appeared in minor roles in a number of films and television series, including Escape from New York,[7] Babylon 5: In the Beginning, Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, Starship Troopers, When Harry Met Sally...,[6] Heat, Contact, Transformers.

Although he still takes on occasional acting assignments, he spends most of his time raising money for charitable organizations and giving speeches and motivational talks to student groups on alcoholism.

January 9, 2025, Steven Ford made reference to his "wife" at the funeral of President Carter, though she has not been named publicly.

On February 14, 1980,[9] he filed a lawsuit in California to determine if he was the legal father of a boy named Lawrence, born on December 16, 1979,[9] to Joy Malken.