Harrison Ford drops out as presenter at 2025 Oscars after shingles diagnosis

Harrison Ford, the 82-year-old Hollywood icon, has withdrawn from his role as a presenter at the 2025 Academy Awards after being diagnosed with shingles on Friday, February 28, reports 'Variety'.

Despite this health setback, Ford is reportedly resting and doing well.

Shingles is a painful viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. It manifests as a rash and can occur anywhere on the body.

The Mayo Clinic describes shingles as a non-life threatening incurable viral infection that causes “a painful rash” which looks like “a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso".

The news comes across as a heartbreak for the fans of the 'Indiana Jones' star.

Entertainment Weekly was the first to report Ford’s exit.

Prior to his diagnosis, Ford attended the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, where he shared a lighthearted moment with his "Shrinking" co-star Jessica Williams during her speech.

As per 'Variety', the Oscars ceremony, set for 2 March. Presenters still slated to walk the stage at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater on Sunday night for the 97th Academy Awards include Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Amy Poehler, June Squibb, Bowen Yang, Emma Stone, Cillian Murphy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Robert Downey Jr., Dave Bautista, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Margaret Qualley, Alba Rohrwacher, Zoe Saldana and Rachel Zegler. Miles Teller and Miley Cyrus are the latest to join the ranks as presenters, as confirmed by the Academy on Friday.

Conan O’Brien serves as host for this year’s Academy Awards, which kick off 4 March at 4 p. PT and 7 pm ET. Movie fans can watch the show live on ABC or stream it on Hulu, an additional viewing option added for the first time this year.

Ford's last public appearance was at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, where he appeared in good spirits.

The Academy Awards are executive produced by showrunner Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan and Rob Pain. Producers include Sarah Levine Hall, Taryn Hurd, Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney. Hamish Hamilton will serve as director.

With IANS inputs