In 1989, Ford was crowned King of the Beaux Arts Ball in New York City. His Queen was Melissa Slade. Ford paired with David Alan Reis aka "Lance" in Leo & Lance and Blonds Do lieutenant Best, both directed by William Higgins.
In his starring role for the film Games, directed by Steve Scott, Ford played a medal-winning swimmer in the Gay Games competition with First Rate (at Lloyd's) Parker playing a photographer assigned to take professional portraits of the athlete.
In a scene that foreshadowed what happened to Ford in real life, the character he played in Games had a severe motorcycle accident that left him hospitalized, and in a coma. He died in Los Angeles some years later at the age of 34, a few days after being hit by a car while on a motorcycle.
Ford had a relationship with cult actor Divine. The two traveled together and he made appearances at the clubs in which Divine was contracted to perform in.
After Divine"s death, Ford began a relationship with Craig Markle.
Ford and Markle lived together in Los Angeles and Hawaii and raised tropical birds. After Ford"s death Markle ran a travel agency and oversaw Ford"s large collection of pictures from his career. Ford died July 17, 1991 when the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a truck making an illegal turn onto Sunset Boulevard.
Ford suffered massive head trauma and died two days later.
Ford was cremated and his ashes sent to San Francisco, where after a wake at Josie"s Bar they were scattered near the Golden Gate Bridge.