Harrison Ford leaves Calista Flockhart at home to attend 42 premiere

Harrison Ford leaves Calista Flockhart at home to mingle with fans at the premiere of 42 in Kansas City

His wife shone in blue sequins at Tuesday's Hollywood premiere, but Calista Flockhart stayed at home for the premiere of 42 in the less glamorous Kansas City. 

Her husband Harrison Ford stars in the film about civil rights pioneer Jackie Robinson which chronicles the breaking of baseball's colour barrier.

Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues before being signed by Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey to become the first black player in Major League Baseball, 70-year-old Ford portrays Rickey in the film.

Living legend: Hollywood star Harrison Ford looked dapper Thursday at the premiere of the Jackie Robinson biopic 42 in Kansas City, Missouri

In a recent video, the Star Wars star said he grew up hearing about Robinson from his liberal parents.

If not for Robinson and Rickey, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States would have been long delayed, Ford said.

Harrison was on the Late Show With David Letterman on Wednesday night and spoke glowingly of Jackie Robinson and his family.

Autographs galore: The 70-year-old actor signed autographs before the screening of 42

He mentioned a real-life event depicted in the movie in which Robinson was being particularly abused by baseball fans in Cincinnati.

Harrison recalled how Kentucky-born Dodgers captain Pee Wee Reese put his arm around Robinson in a sign of support that galvanized Robinson's effort to end racial segregation.

Actress Alyssa Milano attended the Los Angeles premiere of the movie on Tuesday and posted on Twitter about the Jackie and Pee Wee scene.

Alyssa, 40, wrote on her Twitter page: ‘The moment Pee Wee puts his arm around Jackie... I was crying so hard that I couldn't catch my breath. #42.’

Her father, Thomas M. Milano, was the music editor on the film.

Funny guys: Harrison appeared on the Late Show With David Letterman on Wednesday night and told a hilarious joke

Jackie Robinson grew up in Southern California and attended UCLA, where he was a four-sport star in baseball, football, basketball and track.

He served in the military before playing for the Monarchs in the Negro Leagues.

Robinson, who wore number 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers, broke baseball's color barrier that had existed since 1880 on April 15, 1947.

Remembering Jackie: Kansas City Mayor Sly James talked with Jackie Robinson's son, David, and Harrison at the screening

Robinson's number 42 has been retired by Major League Baseball.

The league celebrates Jackie Robinson Day each year on April 15 with every player on every team wearing a number 42 jersey.

The Dodgers announced on Twitter on Thursday that Ford will be throwing out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium during Monday night's Jackie Robinson celebration.

Playing Jackie: Actor Chadwick Boseman took on the role of Jackie Robinson in the biopic 42

Ford was joined at the Los Angeles premiere of the biopic by longtime love Calista Flockhart.

The 48-year-old came festively dressed in blue for one of the city’s baseball teams, the Dodgers.

Calista donned an eye-catching metallic frock to the Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures screening at TCL Chinese Theatre.

Spouse support: Harrison Ford and wife Calista Flockhart at the 42 Los Angeles Premiere on Tuesday