Jamie Foxx, 56, Addresses His Medical Condition That Left Him Hospitalized for Weeks

Overcoming adversity with humor and gratitude, Jamie Foxx shared insights about his health ordeal at an esteemed luncheon. The actor faced a severe and mysterious health scare last year, which sparked widespread concern and support.

In a display of resilience and humor at this year's African American Film Critics Association Special Achievement Awards luncheon, Jamie Foxx, 56, addressed his recent health scare, which had left him hospitalized for weeks. He took the opportunity to shed light on the revelations of his harrowing experience, using humor to discuss the details.

Standing alongside fellow icons Courtney B. Vance, Jurnee Smollett, and Nia Long, Jamie expressed, "Cherish life, man. I have some people in my life that really made sure I was here, because it was dire," hinting at the gravity of his situation nearly a year after the ailment almost cost him his life. In addition to mentioning his health scare, video footage also revealed Jamie's plans to use comedy to recount his experience.

"Everybody wants to know what happened, and I'm gonna tell you what happened but I gotta do it in my way. Imma do it in a funny way. We're gonna be on stage [...] If you wanna have a good time and laugh and have a great time, come see me when we go take this thing out [...] There'll be some things in there that will, you know, pull at your heartstrings." Jamie announced, detailing his intent to return to stand-up comedy.

The "Ray" star's mysterious medical emergency occurred last April on the set of "Back in Action" alongside Cameron Diaz, leading to a whirlwind of speculation and concern among fans and the media.

His recovery process—which included physical rehabilitation in a Chicago facility specializing in stroke recovery—was hinted at through jokes he made during his awards speech which lightened the mood while still acknowledging the severity of his condition. "I was drinking some water, ‘Wow, you taste this water? It’s so wet! This is the wettest water—was it like this before I passed away?’" Jamie quipped.

During his speech, Jamie also touched on the public controversy regarding his health, which included rumors of him being cloned. "They just come up with anything […] even when they saw me out, ‘That ain’t no […] Jamie, that’s a clone.’ I dove out of a car to save this black woman’s purse and I’m taking a picture, ‘That ain’t no […] Jamie, that’s a clone.’ " remarked the actor.

Before the AAFCA Awards luncheon, Jamie was honored at the Critics Choice Awards, where he received the Vanguard Award for his lifetime body of work. In the same way that he spoke about his medical condition at the AAFCAs, Jamie also addressed his health scare at the Critics Choice Awards last year.

While getting choked up, he divulged, "I couldn’t actually walk. And, uh, I’m not a clone [...] I cherish every single minute now; it's different, you know, [...] It’s tough when you almost—when it’s almost over; when you see the tunnel. I saw the tunnel—I didn’t see the light."

When Jamie Foxx was hospitalized last April, updates from his family painted a picture of concern but also of gradual recovery. Sources close to him told a news outlet that despite the severity of the situation, the actor was getting better and even managed to joke with family members during this tough time.

His loving daughter, Corinne Foxx, shared an update concerning her dad via her since-expired Instagram Story. She previously disclosed, "Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild. My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday!"

She also expressed heartfelt gratitude for the widescale public support and confirmed her father was on the mend thanks to "great care." Jamie himself also thanked his well-wishers via a post he shared on Instagram, which read, “Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed 🙏🏿❤️🦊”.

Jamie's journey from a mysterious medical emergency to a remarkable recovery that sees him embrace life with a renewed sense of gratitude and humor has been a testament to his strength and resilience.

Read an article about Jamie's first public sighting after he was hospitalized last year and how fans reacted to seeing the video online.

The 55-year-old was seen onboard a boat interacting with fans. In footage shared online, the actor was spotted cruising on a mega boat on July 9, 2023, on the Chicago River.

The actor looked jubilant and excited to see fans. A nearby vessel cruised past the boat he was in, and the people passing by shouted joyfully to the actor. Foxx waved back to them.

Foxx was on board the mega boat with other people, presumed to be his family members. As per reports, the actor's family has been by his side as he battled his medical condition. The family members also visited him in Chicago, where he was allegedly recovering.

What Was Fan's Reaction to Foxx's Sighting?

Fans who saw the video of Foxx's first public sighting since his hospitalization wondered if the person on the footage was really the actor.

Speculations surrounding the actor's health have left fans unsure about Foxx's well-being and his ability to step outside looking healthy. One fan said, "Respectfully, I don't think that's Jamie…and if it is, he is not the same." Another asked, "Is that really him?" even as a third mused, "That doesn't look like him."

An individual doubted if Foxx's medical condition could allow him to be on the open sea, "That is not Jamie Foxx! If he is healthy enough to ride a boat, he can do an interview. Not him." Another fan concurred, "Stop playing in people's faces, we know he's no longer with us. That's a clone 🙄."

What Happened to Foxx's Health?

Foxx's family said the actor had a medical complication while filming an upcoming Netflix action movie "Back in Action" and was hospitalized.

According to a source, the actor's costar, Cameron Diaz was shocked about what happened when they were shooting. The source said, "One day they were working together, and the next, he was just gone," in reference to Diaz and Foxx.

The actor's daughter, Corinne Foxx, said her father suffered a medical complication on April 11, 2023. She added that her father had been taken to the hospital, was under great care, and already recuperating.

A source close to the family said the medical complication was serious that Foxx had to be hospitalized. As per the insider, the medical complication was so grave that the actor's family, who were out of town, came to visit him in the hospital.

As much as Foxx was soon able to communicate, doctors chose to keep him in the hospital for a few days to perform tests because they hadn't gotten to the bottom of what had happened to him.

By mid-May 2023, sources revealed that Foxx was hospitalized in a top physical rehabilitation facility in Chicago that specialized in brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, and cancer recovery.