Joe Manganiello says he spent years hiding a serious health battle from nearly everyone around him.
The True Blood and Magic Mike actor shared an emotional Instagram video after announcing his upcoming memoir, Bloodlines, which will cover what he described as a “deadly mystery illness.”
People reported that Manganiello said he suffered in silence for “the better part of the past decade,” with only a small circle of family and friends knowing what he had been facing.
The actor said the illness brought years of chronic pain, unsuccessful treatments, major medical procedures and long periods where he was heavily medicated while searching for answers.
Manganiello Said the Illness Left Him Unable to Stand or Walk
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Manganiello said he saw “the best doctors in the world” but still did not get a clear explanation for what started the illness. Entertainment Weekly reported that he said some attempts to treat him with high-powered biologic drugs made his symptoms worse and brought “brutal side effects.”
He said he later underwent “very serious operations and procedures” that “mutilated parts” of his body. At points, he said, he became so weak that he could not stand up or walk.
“I spent months and months heavily medicated while dealing with excruciating bouts of chronic pain,” Manganiello said in the video, according to People.
Bloodlines Will Cover the Seven-Year Medical Ordeal
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The official Simon & Schuster synopsis says Bloodlines follows a seven-year battle with autoimmune-related illnesses that affected Manganiello’s skin, thyroid, eyes, lungs and digestive system.
The synopsis says the ordeal included chronic pain, multiple medical crises, an existential crisis and a life-saving organ amputation while doctors had “few answers and no clear explanation.”
Manganiello said the book also follows his search beyond conventional medicine. People reported that he explored family history, ancestry, spirituality and other paths while trying to understand what had happened to him.
The Memoir Cover Shows a Different Side of the Actor
InStyle reported that Manganiello looks almost unrecognizable on the Bloodlines cover. The black-and-white portrait shows a close-up of his face with a salt-and-pepper beard and a much rougher look than his usual red-carpet image.
The publisher describes the illness as a previously undisclosed health ordeal marked by near-death experiences and medical crises.
Manganiello said writing the book gave him perspective on the years he spent in pain.
He Said the Experience Changed Him
In a statement to People, Manganiello called the ordeal “the most brutally difficult time” of his life and said he would not wish it on anyone.
He also described it as a transformative experience, saying the writing process helped him see his suffering as “a cocoon” from which he emerged changed.
Manganiello said he hopes the memoir reaches people dealing with their own health struggles. Bloodlines is scheduled to be released on October 13 in print, Kindle and audiobook formats.