Harrison Ford withdraws from Oscars after shingles diagnosis

Harrison Ford will no longer be presenting at the Academy Awards on Sunday after being diagnosed with shingles, according to multiple reports. 

The 82-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Indiana Jones and Star Wars, is reportedly resting and doing well following his diagnosis on Friday, Entertainment Weekly reported.

Shingles is a painful rash that occurs when the virus responsible for chickenpox reactivates in the body. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in three Americans will develop shingles in their lifetime, with potential complications including long-term nerve pain or vision loss. 

While vaccination is the best preventive measure, it remains unclear whether Ford had been vaccinated against the disease.

Due to the diagnosis, Ford will no longer be presenting an award at the Oscars, where he was expected to appear as a special guest. The actor has a long history with the Academy Awards, having been nominated for Best Actor in 1986 for Witness and making multiple appearances at the ceremony over the years.

Just last weekend, Ford went viral at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards after being spotted casually eating a cracker during co-star Jessica Williams’ on-camera speech. His reaction, initially unaware that he was being filmed, amused the audience, with Williams later jokingly acknowledging the moment.

This isn’t Ford’s first time making headlines at an awards show. At the 2023 Academy Awards, he reunited onstage with his Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom co-star Ke Huy Quan, who had just won Best Supporting Actor for Everything Everywhere All at Once. 

The emotional reunion was a standout moment of the ceremony, with Ford presenting the Best Picture award shortly afterward.

The Academy Awards will air live at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday on ABC.