Harrison Ford attends the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, California | Photo Credit: Reuters

Harrison Ford will be absent from this year’s Academy Awards after being diagnosed with shingles. The 82-year-old actor, who was scheduled to present at the 97th Oscars on Sunday, withdrew from the event on Saturday morning, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Despite the diagnosis, Ford is said to be recovering and resting. Shingles, a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, often results in a painful rash and discomfort.

Ford recently made public appearances at events for Captain America: Brave New World and 1923 season two in Los Angeles. While speaking about 1923, he expressed his appreciation for the series’ classic filmmaking approach. “I love the viscerality of it, I love the physical nature of the storytelling, I love being in natural circumstances,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s really essential, old-time storytelling and I love working with this kind of material.”

Although Ford will no longer be part of Hollywood’s biggest night, the star-studded lineup of presenters remains impressive. Academy Award winners Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer), Emma Stone (Poor Things), Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer), and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) are among those set to take the stage. Additional presenters include Oprah Winfrey, Selena Gomez, Ben Stiller, Willem Dafoe and more.

Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the Oscars will take place at the Dolby Theatre and air live, with streaming available on JioHotstar.

Published – March 02, 2025 10:36 am IST