Actor Jamie Foxx Reveals He Suffered Brain Bleed Leading To Stroke

Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx has opened up about the medical emergency that led to his hospitalization in April of last year.

During a Netflix special titled Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…, recorded in Atlanta—the city where he fell ill—Foxx revealed he had suffered a “brain bleed that led to a stroke.”

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Recalling the incident, the Django Unchained star said it began with a severe headache. He asked for an aspirin but blacked out before taking it. “I don’t remember 20 days,” he admitted.

At the time, his daughter, Corinne Foxx, described the situation as a “medical complication” but withheld further details about his condition.

Foxx explained that after initially seeking medical attention, he was sent home with a cortisone injection. However, his sister, Deidra Dixon, noticed something was wrong and drove him to Piedmont Hospital. There, a doctor discovered the brain bleed and warned it was life-threatening. “If I don’t go in his head right now, we’re going to lose him,” Foxx recalled the doctor saying.

His sister prayed outside the operating room throughout the emergency surgery. Although the doctors were unable to locate the source of the bleed, the procedure saved Foxx’s life.

Reflecting on the experience, Foxx shared, “Your life doesn’t flash before your face. It was oddly peaceful—I saw a tunnel. I didn’t see the light.” He added with humour, “It was hot in that tunnel; am I going to the wrong place?”

The doctor informed Foxx’s family that while he might make a full recovery, the journey would be arduous. “He may be able to make a full recovery, but it’s going to be the worst year of his life,” Foxx recalled.

In an emotional moment, the actor praised his sister and daughter for protecting his privacy during his recovery. “They didn’t want you to see me like this, and I didn’t want you to see me like this,” he told the audience. He revealed that his daughter had been particularly worried that online trolls might create memes about his condition, especially when his head movements were unsteady after the stroke.

Foxx shared that he woke up on May 4, 2023, in a wheelchair, unable to walk and with no memory of why. “Jamie Foxx don’t get strokes,” he said, describing his initial denial of the situation.