Harrison Ford Earns First Emmy Nod at 83 for Role in ‘Shrinking’

Ford is vying for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the Apple TV+ comedy.

Harrison Ford attends the premiere of "The Call of the Wild" in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 13, 2020. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

For the first time in his career, Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford has earned a Emmy nomination just days after turning 83 years old.

The 77th annual Emmy Nominations were announced on July 15, with the actor receiving a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in the Apple TV+ comedy “Shrinking.”

Ford’s birthday is July 13.

In the series, Ford portrays Dr. Paul Rhodes, who is dealing with a recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease while also serving as a mentor to the main character of Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel), who is struggling with the loss of his wife.

“Shrinking” premiered in 2023 and previously earned Ford the Best Supporting Actor and Outstanding Performance nominations at the Critics’ Choice, Astra Television, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild awards.

For the coming Emmys, Ford joins a list of other star-studded nominees, including Ike Barinholtz, Colman Domingo, Jeff Hiller, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Michael Urie, and Bowen Yang.

Ford follows actor Alan Arkin, as the second-oldest nominee ever in the category. Arkin earned the nod in 2020 at the age of 86 for his role on the Netflix sitcom “The Kominsky Method.”

Ford, known for blockbuster hits such as the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” franchises, has rarely appeared in recurring television roles and, despite his age, says he found comfort in the comedic role and human interaction.

“I get out of it essential human contact,” he told Vanity Fair last year on why he continues to act on the series. “I get to imagine with people that have great skill and experience. ... It’s fun to work with these people.”

“I always enjoyed humor. I loved jokes. I loved the construction of jokes, my father was a joke teller,” he continued.

“The wordsmithing and the ideas that lay behind a joke have always interested me. When I was thinking about becoming an actor, I was ambitious for both kinds of work—serious drama and comedy. I found myself doing both and not really distinguishing much between them.”

Over his nearly 60-year career, Ford has received a total of 63 award nominations, most notably for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Oscars for the 1985 film “Witness,” and has won 49 awards.

Established in 1946, the Television Academy comprises over 24,000 voting members within 31 groups that represent various industry categories.

A three-round voting process ensues, which in part requires members to watch the nominated content, verify that they have viewed the production, and cast their final votes by Aug. 27.

The Emmys will broadcast live on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and will be hosted by Nate Bargatze.