Joe Manganiello has shared the harrowing details of a seven-year medical struggle that nearly cost him his life. In a recent interview, the actor described a 2016 emergency that required the removal of his large intestine.
The 2016 surgery that cost Manganiello his large intestine
The medical emergency began when Manganiello collapsed on a film set, leading to a two-month hospital stay. As reported by CBS Mornings, doctors eventually had to remove his entire large intestine because it had turned to pus and was at risk of exploding. This emergency surgery left him with an ostomy bag and caused him to lose 60 pounds in just two weeks, a rapid decline that underscored the severity of the infection.
The physical aftermath of the surgery was devastating for the actor, leaving him in a state of near-total physical incapacity.. Manganiello noted that he lost his ability to walk, his voice disappeared, and his eye became cross-eyed. He also required the use of five different catheters during his recovery , a stark contrast to the high-action roles he is known for.
A Deathstroke role offered while facing a near-fatal illness
The timing of Manganiello's career milestones coincided with his most vulnerable moments , creating a surreal dichotomy between his professional success and personal tragedy. According to the report, he received the offer to play the villain Deathstroke in a Batman film in 2016, just as he was attempting to regain weight after his hospitalization. This period highlights a common Hollywood phenomenon where actors must maintain a high-profile public persona while privately navigating catastrophic health crises.
Sofia Vergara’s role as the life-saving next of kin
Sofia Vergara played a critical role in Manganiello's survival during his 2016 medical crisis. While Manganiello was unconscious, doctors contacted Vergara as his next of kin to decide on life-saving measures. Although the decision to remove his large intestine bought him enough time to stabilize, the source notes that doctors still did not understand the underlying cause of his illness or how to treat it effectively. This medical uncertainty meant that while the immediate threat was gone, the long-term battle was only beginning.
The seven-year health battle placed immense pressure on the marriage between Manganiello and Vergara, creating a strain that was largely invisible to the public. The couple, who married in 2015, announced their separation in 2023 and finalized their divorce in 2024. Manganiello's memoir, Bloodlines, explores how this hidden suffering and the physical toll of his illness impacted their relationship and their ability to navigate life together.
The unanswered truth behind the "narcissist" label
Significant questions remain regarding the public perception of Manganiello's character following his divorce. During the CBS Mornings interview,Gayle King addressed a social media post from Vergara's son that labeled Manganiello a "narcissistic man." While Manganiello suggests his memoir Bloodlines provides the necessary context to understand his suffering, the specific medical cause of his 2016 collapse remains unverified in the report. Furthermore, the conflicting accounts regarding why the marriage ended—specifically the claim about wanting a baby—leave the true nature of their split a matter of public debate.
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