Harrison Ford pulls out of Oscars after shingles diagnosis

Film star Harrison Ford has pulled out presenting an award at the Oscars after being diagnosed with shingles.

The Indiana Jones actor, 82, was due to get up on stage at the 97th Academy Awards but was forced to cancel, his representative has confirmed.

Entertainment Weekly, who was first to confirm the news, says the actor is “doing okay and is resting after the diagnosis, which he received yesterday.”

READ MORE: Elon Musk appears to confirm arrival of his 14th child

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: Harrison Ford attends the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Savion Washington/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
Harrison Ford was due to present on stage at the 97th Academy Awards tomorrow. (The Hollywood Reporter via Getty)

According to the Mayo Clinic, shingles is “a viral infection that causes a painful rash”.

It often appears as a stripe of blisters on the torso.

It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Chickenpox usually stays in people’s bodies after having the virus, and can lay dormant for years before turning into shingles.

Shingles usually affects people over 50 with a weakened immune system.

For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.

Amy Adams

Surprising actors and actresses who have never won Oscars

Ford was announced as one of the presenters who will present the coveted statues to Oscar winners last week.

He was to present alongside Dave Bautista, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Margaret Qualley, Alba Rohrwacher, Rachel Zegler, and 2025 Best Supporting Actress nominee Zoe Saldaña.

Though Ford has not won an Oscar himself, he was nominated for Best Actor for his role in 1986’s Witness.

READ MORE: Iconic Aussie tradition that makes health experts nervous: ‘Would you lick somebody’s foot?’

Harrison Ford
Ford’s sudden diagnosis forced him to pull out less than a day out from the ceremony. (Getty Images for Critics Choice)

However, he is more known for his role as Indiana Jones, with the star making five films in the franchise.

Though the last film, 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, did not perform as hoped, he recently stated he has no regrets about making it.

He told WSJ Magazine in an interview that simply, “S**t happens.”

READ MORE: Expert reveals the ‘most important’ thing about sleep and it’s not getting your eight hours

Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney/Lucasfilm)
Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney/Lucasfilm) (Disney/Lucasfilm)

“I was really the one who felt there was another story to tell,” he added.

“When (Indy) had suffered the consequences of the life that he had to live, I wanted one more chance to pick him up and shake the dust off his ass and stick him out there, bereft of some of his vigour, to see what happened.

“I’m still happy I made that movie.”

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.

Hello, I’m Khan Saab, the author behind many of the articles on usacouples.com. I graduated with a degree in Computer Science from the University of Punjab in Pakistan. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and through this platform, I get to share my thoughts and ideas on topics that matter to me and, hopefully, to you as well. I’m excited to connect with readers like you and share insights that can make a difference in your life. Thanks for being part of this journey with me,

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.