The actor is Harrison Ford.

Quick Scoop

  • Harrison Ford earned a living as a carpenter before his acting career took off, using the trade to support his family.
  • He later became world‑famous as the space‑age pilot Han Solo in Star Wars and as adventurous archaeologist/professor Indiana Jones.

Why this fits the clue

  • “Space-age pilot” refers to Han Solo, the roguish pilot of the Millennium Falcon in the Star Wars films.
  • “Adventurous archaeologist/professor” points to Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr., the whip‑cracking archaeology professor from the Indiana Jones series.

So, the answer to “which actor earned a living as a carpenter before becoming famous for playing a space-age pilot and an adventurous archaeologist/professor?” is Harrison Ford.

TL;DR: It’s Harrison Ford, who went from working carpenter to iconic roles as Han Solo and Indiana Jones.