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. The 82-year-old actor, known for his iconic roles in Indiana Jones and Star Wars, is reportedly recovering well following the diagnosis.

Shingles is a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, with potential complications including nerve pain and vision loss. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three Americans may develop shingles in their lifetime. While vaccination is the most effective preventive measure, it remains unclear whether Ford had been vaccinated.

Due to his condition, Ford will no longer be attending the Oscars, where he was expected to present an award as a special guest. The veteran actor has a long history with the Academy Awards, having been nominated for Best Actor in 1986 for Witness and making numerous appearances over the years.

Ford recently made headlines at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards when he was caught on camera casually eating a cracker during a speech by co-star Jessica Williams, a moment that quickly went viral. He also had a memorable appearance at the 2023 Academy Awards when he reunited onstage with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom co-star Ke Huy Quan, following Quan’s emotional Best Supporting Actor win for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Despite his absence at this year’s Oscars, Ford’s legacy remains deeply intertwined with Hollywood’s biggest night.