Harrison Ford has dropped out of his presenting role at the Oscars — to be held tomorrow in Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre — following a diagnosis of shingles, his representatives have confirmed to outlets.
The Shrinking star stepped out last weekend at the SAG Awards, where he was part of a lighthearted viral moment with fellow co-star Jessica Williams, whose “I Am An Actor” introduction speech he inadvertently interrupted by trying to sneak some food in the background of the shot.
According to reports, the veteran actor was diagnosed with the illness yesterday, leading him to nix the appearance as of this morning. Shingles, caused by the same virus as chickenpox known as varicella-zoster virus, is an infection that leads to a painful rash. Per the Mayo Clinic, shingles is not life-threatening and is a reactivation of chickenpox, given that the virus stays in the body for the rest of one’s life. While shingles is contagious, those who have been vaccinated against or have gotten chickenpox would be safe from infection. Antivirals and nerve pain medication are among treatments.
A vaccine for shingles, licensed by the FDA in 2006, is recommended for those above 60 and older. (Ford is 82.) While studies show that more than 99% of Americans aged 40 and older have had chickenpox, the shingles vaccine is still recommended regardless of previous chickenpox diagnoses.
Ford, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his starring turn in 1985’s Witness, was tapped as a presenter alongside Dave Bautista, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Margaret Qualley, Alba Rohrwacher, Zoe Saldaña and Rachel Zegler. The 97th Academy Awards, which will be hosted by Conan O’Brien, will be held March 2 beginning at 4 p.m. PT, airing on ABC and Hulu.
Entertainment Weekly first reported the news.
Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.
