Joe Manganiello has unveiled the details of a serious health battle that threatened his life over seven years ago. During an interview on “CBS Mornings,” Manganiello shared insights about his health and his new memoir, “Bloodlines.” The actor recounted to Gayle King that he was offered the role of Deathstroke in Ben Affleck’s now-canceled “Batman” movie while dealing with a life-threatening condition.
In 2016, after receiving the movie offer, Manganiello faced a critical health challenge. He explained, “I got the call about a month out of the hospital after I collapsed on another set.” Following a year of mysterious symptoms, he was hospitalized for two months. Ultimately, the doctors had to remove his entire large intestine to save his life.
“They had split me open. My entire large intestine had turned to pus, and it was about to explode,” he continued. The invasive surgery left him with an ostomy bag, and he faced severe weight loss and other health complications. “I lost 60 pounds in two weeks. I couldn’t walk. My eye went cross-eyed. I lost my voice. I had five catheters,” Manganiello revealed.
The situation was critical, but Manganiello’s then-wife, Sofia Vergara, played a crucial role in saving his life. As his next of kin, she made the decision for doctors to proceed with the life-saving surgery. “It didn’t solve the problem. The doctors still had no idea what was causing this, how to treat it. But it bought me enough time,” he said.
Despite the life-threatening struggle, Manganiello went on to meet with Ben Affleck regarding the “Batman” movie while recovering.
Manganiello’s memoir highlights the strain that his health issues placed on his marriage to Vergara. The couple, who married in 2015, separated in 2023 and finalized their divorce in 2024. He shared, “That kind of pain was like a flood in my life… It was seven years long. People didn’t know about it. I was living in secret with this. Only the closest people around me knew.”
The interview touched upon a recent post by Vergara’s son, Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, which suggested that Manganiello was narcissistic. When asked about this, Manganiello replied, “I think anybody who said that should read the book first and understand what the book is actually about because it’s not about that. It’s about the suffering I went through.”
“Bloodlines: A Memoir” was released on October 13. For more insights from Manganiello and details about his experiences, his memoir offers a closer look.