Dax Shepard Absent from SAG Awards for Colonoscopy

Dax Shepard hinted that his absence from the 2026 SAG Awards was due to a scheduled colonoscopy, as a way to support his wife, Kristen Bell, who hosted the event that night.

In a post shared on his Instagram Stories early Sunday morning, just before the starry affair, Shepard revealed that he had undergone surgery. He shared a screenshot of a text message conversation with the hashtag “#colonoscopyprep.”

The text from someone named Edward mentioned, “Clear liquid today…until 8 a.m. Monday. Then only water (including coffee/tea with no additives/calories) until 10 a.m. on Monday. Then there’s nothing to say. We’ll be arriving at 11:15. Would you like a copy?”

Shepard, 51, jokingly responded that he was “eating steak with lots of seeds and nuts.” Even though he couldn’t be there, he showed his love for Bell, 45, with a heartfelt Instagram shout-out on Sunday morning.

In the post, he warned viewers, “Do not watch if you are allergic to effortless charm, delicious wit, velvety vocals, world-class impersonation, tight buns, timeless beauty, or Disney-level loveliness.” He lightheartedly cautioned that it might be “too much” for those with heart conditions, encouraging everyone else to “buckle up!”

Bell kicked off the night at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles with a witty monologue, poking fun at stage names in Hollywood. Before she took the stage, she told Netflix, “For me, hosting is not fun. It’s not for me. If I’m going to burn anyone, it’s going to be me.”

She dazzled in a sheer, beaded purple dress by Georges Hobeika, making a bold statement as she opened with a humorous song related to her stage name.

This isn’t Bell’s first time hosting an awards show; she previously hosted in 2018 and last year. When announcing her return for this year’s event, she mentioned, “I have enjoyed hosting the show each time, so it was an easy decision to come back for a third time.” She expressed excitement about getting to sing, something many actors are known for.

Shepard and Bell have been married since 2013 and share two daughters, Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 11. While Bell was there solely as the host this year, Shepard was nominated last year for a role in a Netflix romantic comedy. Representatives for the couple did not comment when approached for remarks.