Joe Manganiello Details Near-Fatal Health Battle and Nearly Playing Deathstroke

Joe Manganiello has publicly shared details of a secret, seven-year health crisis that he says nearly ended his life. The actor disclosed this information during an appearance on "CBS Mornings" to promote his new memoir, "Bloodlines."

Manganiello explained that in 2016, around the same time he was offered the role of Deathstroke in Ben Affleck's planned "Batman" movie, he was critically ill. He had been experiencing mystery symptoms for about a year before being hospitalized for two months. During his stay, doctors had to remove his entire large intestine to save him.

"They had split me open. My entire large intestine had turned to pus and it was about to explode," Manganiello recounted to Gayle King. The surgery resulted in him needing an ostomy bag. He experienced significant physical deterioration, losing 60 pounds in two weeks, losing his ability to walk, and suffering from vision and voice problems, in addition to requiring multiple catheters.

He also revealed that his then-wife, Sofia Vergara, made the critical decision regarding his surgery. As his next of kin while he was unconscious, she was presented with options by doctors and chose the one that ultimately saved his life, though it did not immediately resolve the underlying cause of his illness.

Manganiello wrote in his memoir that the demanding nature of his recovery and the lingering effects of his illness placed a strain on his marriage to Vergara. The couple, who married in 2015, announced their separation in 2023, with their divorce finalized in 2024. He stated that the prolonged illness affected both of them.

In response to a question about comments made by Vergara's son and Vergara herself, suggesting he might be a "narcissistic man," Manganiello urged critics to read his memoir. He asserted that the book focuses on the suffering he endured, not on accusations of narcissism.

"Bloodlines: A Memoir" was released on October 13.