What Happened to Jamie Foxx? The Details of the Actor’s Life-Threatening Stroke — and Why He Doesn't Remember 20 Days of Recovery

Mar. 15, 2025

Jamie Foxx in 2023.Photo:WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Jamie Foxxhas finally opened up about the medical emergency that almost took his life.

In April 2023, Foxx suffered a brain bleed that led to a stroke while shooting his upcoming filmBack in ActionwithCameron Diazin Atlanta. At the time of the actor’s medical emergency, his older daughterCorinne Foxxreleased a statement but kept many of the details under wraps.

“Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers,” thestatementread in part.

Foxx was in the hospital and rehab for months following the stroke that left him unable to walk. Over a year and a half later, he discussed his road to recovery in detail during his Netflix comedy specialJamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…, which premiered on Dec. 10.

“The only thing I could hold on to was my sense of humor,” Foxx said to the audience. “I couldn’t necessarily walk that good. I couldn’t talk that good. But I didn’t let go of my funny. I said, ‘If I can stay funny, I can stay alive.’ "

So, what happened to Jamie Foxx? Here’s everything to know about the actor’s medical emergency and how he’s doing today.

He suffered a stroke in April 2023

Jamie Foxx in 2022.Alexander Tamargo/Getty

Alexander Tamargo/Getty

On April 11, 2023, Foxx suffered a brain bleed that caused a stroke. The first doctor the “Blame It” singer visited that day gave him a cortisone shot for a bad headache and sent him home, according to Foxx, who recalled his scary health crisis during his Netflix specialJamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was….

“When you dream about what you want to be in life, you don’t dream tragedy. But when something does go wrong, you need a sister,” Foxx said to the audience.

He doesn’t remember 20 days of the medical incident

Jamie Foxx in 2022.Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Foxx lost all memory of his medical incident, claiming in his Netflix special, “I don’t remember 20 days.”

According to the star, things were “touch and go” for roughly 15 days. “They thought they were going to lose me because my vitals were out of control. That’s when a miracle happened and that miracle was working through my youngest daughter,” Foxx continued, sharing that his younger daughter, Anelise,snuck into his hospital room with her guitar.

“When she was playing my vitals went down. It was God in that guitar,” he added.

Foxx woke up in early May only to discover that he was in a wheelchair unable to walk. Shortly after, he gave fans a health update onInstagram, which read: “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed.”

He recovered in Chicago

Jamie Foxx in 2024.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

TheStealthactor was flown to Chicago in May 2023, where he spent weeks learning how to walk again at a rehabilitation facility. During his comedy special, Foxx described himself as “irreverent” in the early days of working with his physical therapist Holly, and psychiatrist Dragana, but he eventually turned a corner.

In July 2023, a source told PEOPLE that Foxxthrew a partyat the rehab center to “celebrate being better.”

By August of that same year, the “You Changed Me” singer finallystarted to feel like himself again. “It’s been an unexpected dark journey … but I can see the light,” he wrote onInstagram.

He returned to work in January 2024

Jamie Foxx and Corinne Foxx in 2019.Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Foxx returned to work less than a year after his stroke. Heresumed filmingBack in Actionwith Diaz in January 2024, and a month later, heteased his return to stand-up comedy.

“I got some jokes, and a story to tell,” Foxx wrote onInstagram.

In March 2024, the actor also announced his return toBeat Shazam, which he hosts alongside his daughter Corinne.Nick CannonandKelly Osbournestepped in as hosts for season 6 amid Foxx’s health scare.

TheAnniestar didn’t just get to return to work in 2024 either: He also had the honor of walking Corinne down the aisle at herwedding to Joe Hootenin October.

“It was incredibly special, considering his health scare last year,” Corinne toldVogue. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the housewhen we came down the aisle.”

He opened up about his health emergency in a Netflix special

Jamie Foxx filming his Netflix special in 2024.Parrish Lewis/Netflix © 2024

Parrish Lewis/Netflix © 2024

Foxx tearfully shared the long-awaited story about his health emergency in his Netflix comedy specialJamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…. He told the audience that he was “angry” with God and didn’t understand why something so traumatic had happened to him.

“Finally, it came to me. It’s about blessings. God blessed me with his talent. He blessed me with all this money and this fame. And when I forgot about God, he blessed me with a stroke,” Foxx said.

After filming the show in October 2024, Foxx spoke toCBS Mornings’Gayle Kingbackstage and admitted that creating his special was emotionally taxing. “It was an excruciating time, to be able to open those wounds every single day for three months,” he said.

The actor posted onInstagramahead of the special’s premiere on Dec. 10 to thank everyone who prayed for him and explain why he waited to share the details of his mysterious medical ordeal.

source: people.com