The Day Harrison Ford Stole the Show With Comedy — And Jason Segel Was There to See It

For decades, Harrison Ford has been the embodiment of cinematic gravitas. As Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, his legacy has been built on rugged heroism, dry wit, and a stoic charm that defined generations of moviegoers. But according to his Shrinking co-star Jason Segel, audiences have only just glimpsed a hidden facet of Ford’s talent: his unfiltered, scene-stealing comedic chops.

In a recent interview with Variety, Segel recalled filming an episode of the Apple TV+ dramedy in which Ford’s character, Paul—a senior therapist navigating life with Parkinson’s disease—shows up to a party high on cannabis edibles. What unfolded on set, Segel says, was nothing short of revelatory.

“I don’t think anybody knew that Harrison could do that,” Segel said. “There was a moment during that episode when he got a giant laugh from the crew, and he walked by me and he whispered in my ear, ‘I knew I was f**king funny.’”

For Segel, the moment was more than just a great behind-the-scenes story—it was a rare window into the way even the most established performers long to share the unseen corners of themselves. “It affirmed this idea that I had, that we all have these parts of ourselves that we believe are unknown to others, and we want them to be known,” Segel reflected.

Segel described Ford’s comedic performance as a kind of revelation, not just to viewers, but perhaps to Ford himself. “I feel like, as a performer, comedy is this little corner of the room that Harrison hadn’t gotten to show yet,” Segel concluded.

Premiering in 2023, Shrinking pairs Segel’s character Jimmy—a therapist mourning his wife’s death—with Ford’s Paul in a deeply human, often hilarious exploration of grief, mentorship, and personal reinvention. While Ford’s understated humor has long punctuated his action roles, Shrinking offers the space for full comedic expression, allowing him to lean into timing, physicality, and a warmth that feels both fresh and authentic.

For an actor who has spent decades as Hollywood’s ultimate straight man, this small-screen detour into unabashed comedy may be one of Ford’s most surprising—and most endearing—turns yet. And as Segel can attest, the man himself knew it all along.

If you’d like, I can also write a companion piece exploring Harrison Ford’s hidden humor throughout his career—from subtle deadpan lines in Indiana Jones to moments in Working Girl—to show how Shrinking builds on a comedic thread that’s been there for years.