Home / Arts and Entertainment / Joe Manganiello Recalls Life-Threatening Illness and Hospitalization
Joe Manganiello Recalls Life-Threatening Illness and Hospitalization
15 Oct
Summary
- Actor lost 60 pounds following intestinal surgery.
- Mysterious autoimmune condition remains undiagnosed after seven years.
- His intestine ruptured, leading to a near-fatal sepsis risk.
Actor Joe Manganiello has disclosed a secret, seven-year health struggle, detailing a period of severe illness that began in 2016.
Following emergency surgery to remove part of his large intestine, Manganiello experienced significant weight loss, shedding 60 pounds within two weeks. Images shared showed his hospitalization and the use of an ostomy bag.
His condition, stemming from a mysterious autoimmune issue, has yet to be diagnosed despite numerous colonoscopies and subsequent surgeries to remove the ostomy bag. During his recovery, he also battled various skin conditions.
A pivotal moment occurred when his intestine ruptured on a film set in North Carolina, a near-fatal event that required immediate surgery to prevent deadly sepsis. His then-wife, Sofía Vergara, played a crucial role in the life-saving medical decisions.
Manganiello's experience significantly impacted Vergara, who he stated had begun to prepare for a life without him. The couple, married for seven years, finalized their divorce in 2024.
Manganiello has since found a new partner, Caitlin O'Connor, who celebrated his upcoming memoir, "Bloodlines," making the New York Times "WHAT TO READ" list. The memoir was released on October 13, 2026.
