Joe Manganiello’s secret seven-year health battle that nearly killed him
Joe Manganiello has described a seven-year illness that nearly killed him, saying doctors removed his entire large intestine after it became life-threateningly infected. He shared the account while discussing his memoir, explaining that the emergency surgery and prolonged recovery overlapped with a strain on his marriage and his career.
Manganiello said he spent two months in hospital after collapsing on a film set, and lost 60 pounds in two weeks after the operation. His then-wife, Sofia Vergara, was asked to choose treatment while he was unconscious and authorised the surgery, which he said bought him time but did not identify the cause of his illness. He later received an offer to play Deathstroke in Ben Affleck’s cancelled Batman film, and says his memoir focuses on his suffering.
- Manganiello says emergency surgery saved his life.
- Doctors removed his entire large intestine.
- He discusses the illness in his new memoir.
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Joe Manganiello is an American actor known for roles in films and television, including the series True Blood. He has said a serious illness affected him for seven years and led to emergency surgery to remove his large intestine, part of the digestive system.
At the time, Manganiello was married to actor Sofia Vergara, who he says had to make a treatment decision while he was unconscious. His account also describes a long hospital stay and recovery, alongside pressures on his marriage and acting career.