Does Harrison Ford have Parkinson's disease? Here is what we know
Does Harrison Ford have Parkinson's disease? Harrison Ford does not have Parkinson's disease in real life. He portrays Dr. Paul Rhodes, a character with Parkinson's, on the Apple TV+ series Shrinking. Ford is regarded as a cinematic cultural icon, having starred in many notable films over seven decades.
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Key takeaways
- Harrison Ford is an American actor who was born on 13 July 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
- He is regarded as one of the highest-grossing actors in the world.
- Harrison Ford does not have Parkinson's disease in real life. He, however, admitted to recovering from multiple injuries.
- His mother, Dorothy, was a former radio actress and advertising executive, and his father, John William "Christopher" Ford, was a former actor.
- Ford has been married three times and has four biological children and one adopted child.
Harrison Ford's profile summary
| Full name | Harrison Ford |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 13 July 1942 |
| Age | 82 (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Current residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in inches | 6'1" |
| Height in centimeters | 185 |
| Weight in pounds | 218 |
| Weight in kilograms | 98 |
| Hair colour | White |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Father | Christopher Ford |
| Mother | Dorothy Ford |
| Siblings | 1 |
| Relationship status | Married |
| Spouse | Calista Flockhart |
| Children | 5 |
| Profession | Actor |
| X(Twitter) | @HarrisonFordLA |
Does Harrison Ford have Parkinson's disease?
Although Harrison Ford portrays a character with Parkinson's disease on screen, he has not been diagnosed with the condition in real life. In the Apple TV+ series Shrinking, Ford plays Dr. Paul Rhodes, a senior therapist and colleague of Jimmy's at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center, who is living with Parkinson's.
The comedy-drama follows Jason Segel's character, a grieving therapist who starts to take a more hands-on approach with his patients. Speaking at PaleyLive's An Evening with Shrinking on 12th December 2024, the 82-year-old actor told People that he has "no intention" of making his character's diagnosis into a joke and takes the role and its depiction of Parkinson's very seriously.
Can I say deadly f---ing seriously?
Ford acknowledged that he feels a deep responsibility in guiding viewers through Paul’s journey with Parkinson’s, a diagnosis. He explained:
There's no intention to make it into a joke. But there are people that absorb these kinds of experiences with grace and courage and a little bit of wisdom. And that is not to say that some people do not.
It's just to say that this is a person particularly equipped to communicate what it is that it's like, and that is something that I feel that is worth sharing with our audience.
In October, Harrison Ford spoke candidly in an interview with Vanity Fair about his experience working on the hit comedy series. He shared why he continues to pursue acting at 82.
Oh man, I get out of it essential human contact. I get to imagine with people that have great skill and experience…. It’s fun to work with these people.
He added:
I always enjoyed humor. I loved jokes. I loved the construction of jokes. My father was a joke teller. 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. I think I think with the same actor's head about a joke as I do about a serious or emotional scene.
Source: Original
Harrison Ford's health condition
In February 2025, the American actor was diagnosed with shingles, which led him to withdraw from presenting at the 2025 Oscars. The condition, caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (the same virus responsible for chickenpox), results in a painful skin rash. Ford took time to rest and recover at home following the diagnosis.
By April 2025, he made his first public appearance since the announcement. The Star Wars icon was seen arriving at LAX after piloting his private jet. He appeared to be in good spirits and decent health, dressed in a crisp blue shirt, denim jeans, and sunglasses as he stepped off the aircraft.
Has Harrison Ford had a stroke?
No, there is no credible information or public reports indicating that Harrison Ford has had a stroke. He, however, admitted to recovering from multiple injuries. During an interview with People, he shared how he stays active in his day-to-day life. He said:
I don't do physical training. It's just all rehab, physical therapy. I'm really just like an old man. I'm recovering from various injuries, so I continue to keep myself moving. I love tennis and riding road bikes over distance. I can't play tennis anymore because of my [injured] shoulders, but I'm working on getting back to being able to play. And I can't ride my bike yet.I was disadvantaged physically. I’m trying to get back.
Source: Getty Images
FAQs
- What is Harrison Ford's real name? The actor's real name is simply Harrison Ford. He was born on 13 July 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
- Does Harrison Ford have Parkinson's disease in real life? No, Harrison Ford does not have Parkinson's disease in real life.
- What is the cause of Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is caused by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, often linked to genetic and environmental factors.
- What disease does Harrison Ford have? Harrison Ford does not have any publicly known chronic illnesses. In 2025, he was diagnosed with shingles, a viral infection causing a painful rash.
- How many biological children does Harrison Ford have? Harrison Ford has four biological children—two from his first marriage and two from his second, along with one adopted son.
- What are the scars on Harrison Ford's face? Harrison Ford has a prominent scar on his chin, which he got in a car accident in 1964. He crashed into a telephone pole while trying to fasten his seatbelt.
- What movies has Harrison Ford been in? The actor has been in various films and TV shows such as 1923, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Shrinking, and Captain America: Brave New World.
- Does Harrison Ford have MS? Harrison Ford does not have multiple sclerosis (MS). His first wife, Mary Marquardt, was diagnosed with MS in the late 1980s.
Final word
Does Harrison Ford have Parkinson's disease? In reality, the American actor does not have Parkinson's disease. While many have expressed concern about his health, he is doing well and has recovered from many injuries. In 2025, the actor was diagnosed with shingles.
Tuko.co.ke recently published an article on Eric Roberts' diseases. He is a veteran actor with hundreds of projects under his belt, including unforgettable roles in Raggedy Man, The Dark Knight, and The Expendables.
Eric has suffered several illnesses. Although he hasn't always shared in-depth details about some of these issues, several widely reported issues concern his health. Read on to learn more about his health condition.
Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
