At 83 years of age Harrison Ford finally lands an Emmy nomination for 'Shrinking'

Harrison Ford is 83 years young and has just landed his first-ever Emmy nomination for Shrinking, an Apple TV+ series. The career milestone was reached just a few days after Ford's birthday, as he celebrated his 83rd year. It is a significant milestone for an actor primarily known for starring in blockbuster roles in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.

Ford was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for playing Dr. Paul Rhoades in the show's second season, Shrinking. This is Ford's first Television Academy nomination after spending decades in the industry, and an earlier Oscar nomination for Witness.

In this new role, Ford becomes the second oldest nominee in his category, following Alan Arkin. For Ford, who has only recently shifted into series television, this recognition highlights a new chapter in his professional life, showing that even after 50 years in the business, career firsts remain possible.

Harrison Ford's Emmy nomination history

Though Harrison Ford is a veteran of movies, this is his first nomination for an Emmy Award. Before this, Ford's most prominent past awards were an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for 1985's thriller Witness. For several years, Ford had only been linked to blockbuster movies and did not have a leading recurring role on a television show until recently.

His work in Shrinking not only exposed him to new viewers but also drew him nearer to television critics. Although Ford was anticipated to be nominated for the inaugural season of Shrinking, he failed to secure a nomination at the time despite mass media rumors and favorable critiques. The initial season received nominations for his co-stars Jason Segel and Jessica Williams instead.

Ford's portrayal in Shrinking and series's impact

Harrison Ford plays Dr. Paul Rhoades, a mentor and experienced psychotherapist, in Shrinking. His personality is that of a no-nonsense, occasionally surly employee and tour guide to usher Jimmy, played by Jason Segel. Dr. Rhoades is also depicted as suffering from Parkinson's disease, a plot point derived from real-life experience by several of the show's creators.

This was a unique role for Harrison Ford, who had not played a recurring role in a television series before this, and a chance for him to delve into character dynamics other than what he was accustomed to in his usual movie roles.

His work in Shrinking has already received critical acclaim and recognition from other awards like the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, although those did not come with victories. The show itself has received positive reviews and strong engagement from viewers, contributing to Ford's nomination this Emmy season.

Reactions and context in the Emmy race

Harrison Ford’s Emmy nomination was met with widespread attention, as it occurred after some earlier disappointments among fans and critics over previous Emmy “snubs.” Last year's awards season saw fans take to social media in anger when Ford was not nominated for his contribution to the first season of Shrinking, although other cast members received recognition for the same season.

This year, his nomination puts him among fellow nominees such as Bowen Yang and Michael Urie for Supporting Actor in a Comedy. As reported by Variety, Ford is the second-oldest performer to be nominated in this category, with only Alan Arkin having been nominated at an older age.

Harrison Ford's recent shift to television through Shrinking and his concurrent work on such series as 1923 has rendered this Emmy nomination a key career milestone.

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