Harrison Ford No Longer Presenting at the 2025 Oscars Due to Shingles Diagnosis

The 82-year-old actor was diagnosed with the viral infection on Friday.

Harrison Ford arrives at the 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. in this Jan. 10, 2016 file photo. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Photo

Award-winning actor Harrison Ford will no longer be presenting at this year’s Oscars ceremony after being diagnosed with shingles, his representative confirmed to The Epoch Times.

Ford, 82, was confirmed to have the viral infection on Friday, Entertainment Weekly first reported.

According to the Mayo Clinic, shingles usually develops on one side of the body or face, causing a painful rash with fluid-filled blisters.

The infection is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox outbreaks. The virus remains dormant in people who have had chickenpox and can reactivate in the body as shingles later in life.

Symptoms of shingles can include pain, burning, tingling, or itching on one side of the body. Some people may also suffer headaches, fevers, fatigue, or sensitivity to light.

Last week, the Academy Awards announced that the “Indiana Jones” star would be among dozens of celebrities scheduled to present at the 97th Oscars.

The three-and-a-half-hour ceremony kicks off on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, airing live on ABC and streaming live on Hulu.

Other presenters include Dave Bautista, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Zoe Saldana, Sterling K. Brown, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn, Ben Stiller, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, and Amy Poehler.

The Oscars will be hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien. This will be the Emmy Award-winning television host’s first time steering the event.

In a joint statement, Bill Kramer and Janet Yang, the Academy’s CEO and president, respectively, said they were “thrilled and honored” to have O'Brien join this year’s ceremony.

“He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise,” they said.

“His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best—honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”

The ceremony will feature performances by singer Queen Latifah, rapper Doja Cat, and Lisa, a member of the K-pop girl group Blackpink.

British singer-songwriter Raye, as well as “Wicked” costars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, will also take the stage this evening to perform.

Oscar statuettes are seen backstage during the 95th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, Calif., on March 12, 2023. Al Seib/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

Erivo is nominated for “Best Actress in a Leading Role” for her performance in the musical “Wicked,” which is based on the Broadway production of the same name. Other nominees include actresses Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, and Fernanda Torres.

Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes, and Sebastian Stan will vie it out for the award for “Best Actor in a Leading Role.”

The Oscars will also honor one of 2024’s most acclaimed films with its prestigious “Best Picture” award during Hollywood’s biggest night of the year.

“Wicked” as well as the biographical musical drama “A Complete Unknown,” the sci-fi film “Dune: Part Two,” and the political thriller “Conclave” are among the ten films nominated in the category.

Additional nominees for “Best Picture” include the films “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “Emilia Pérez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Nickel Boys,” and “The Substance.”