Actor Joe Manganiello has disclosed a seven-year medical battle that he described as nearly fatal, revealing the ordeal during a sit-down with Gayle King on "CBS Mornings." The interview accompanies the release of his memoir, "Bloodlines: A Memoir," which details his struggle with mystery symptoms that ultimately required the removal of his entire large intestine.
Manganiello stated that he received a call in 2016 to play the villain Deathstroke in Ben Affleck's canceled "Batman" film. He explained that this job offer arrived roughly one month after he collapsed on a film set and was hospitalized for two months. "I got the call about a month out of the hospital after I collapsed on another set," Manganiello told King. He noted that at the time of the offer, he was "dying" and recovering from a surgery where doctors removed his large intestine because it had filled with pus and was at risk of rupturing.
The procedure left Manganiello with an ostomy bag and caused him to lose 60 pounds in two weeks. He reported that his physical condition deteriorated further, resulting in cross-eyed vision, loss of voice, and the need for five catheters. Despite these complications, Manganiello said he was in the process of regaining weight when he met with Affleck for the role.
Manganiello credited his then-wife, Sofia Vergara, with making the critical decision to proceed with the life-saving surgery. He explained that while he was unconscious, doctors contacted Vergara as his next of kin to discuss options. "She chose the right one, and it bought me time," Manganiello said. He added that while this intervention did not immediately solve the underlying issue, as doctors still did not know the cause of his illness, it provided the necessary time for him to survive.
The prolonged medical crisis placed a strain on Manganiello's marriage to Vergara. The couple married in 2015, announced their separation in 2023, and finalized their divorce in 2024. Manganiello wrote in his memoir that the pain of his illness was like a flood that affected both parties in different ways. He emphasized that for seven years, he lived with this condition in secret, known only to his closest circle.
The conversation also touched on recent social media activity by Vergara's son, Manolo Gonzalez Vergara. King noted that Gonzalez Vergara had shared a post describing a "narcissistic" man, which Vergara liked. When asked to respond to what Manganiello perceived as an implication of narcissism, he expressed shock and urged people to read his book first. "It's not about that. It's about the suffering I went through," Manganiello replied.
"Bloodlines: A Memoir" was released on Oct. 13.