Celebrity2 min(s) read
Published 15:22 24 Jun 2026 GMT
Joe Manganiello has opened up about spending nearly a decade battling a mysterious illness that left him in chronic pain and ultimately led to a life-saving amputation.
The 49-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Magic Mike and Spider-Man, will be releasing his forthcoming memoir, Bloodlines, later this year.
In a post shared on Instagram, the star described the book as an "untold story of survival, documenting my near-decade long struggle with a mysterious illness".
"My search for answers took me from death’s door, around the globe, and back through time, in the hopes of understanding why i suffered, and to find the strength to continue on," he added.
According to The Sun, Manganiello's illness involved a "cascade of autoimmune-related illnesses" that affected multiple parts of his body, including his skin, thyroid, eyes, lungs, and digestive system.
The conditions caused chronic pain and eventually resulted in what he described as a life-saving organ removal.
The True Blood actor said doctors were initially unable to explain his symptoms, leading him to explore alternative methods in search of answers, including "shamans, pagan rituals, ancient myths, long-lost family records and the rebirth of his own spirituality," per The Sun.
"It was the most brutally difficult time of my life, one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, but also my greatest adventure," he said in an interview with PEOPLE.
"I hope that what I went through on this journey can give readers hope that answers and healing may lie for them on the other side of whatever they are fighting through."
He added: "The process of writing this book gave me the gift of perspective that helped me to see that my suffering was a cocoon from which I would emerge forever changed."
Manganiello confirmed that Bloodlines is now available for pre-order and will be released on October 13.
The memoir will come out nearly three years after Manganiello and actress Sofía Vergara announced the end of their marriage.
The couple confirmed their divorce in 2023 after seven years together, citing irreconcilable differences.
Manganiello is now dating actress Caitlin O'Connor, while Vergara is currently in a relationship with American businessman Douglas Chabbott.
The 53-year-old actress, best known for her portrayal of Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in Modern Family, confirmed the romance news on her Instagram last December.
The post featured a casual selfie of the couple taken in New York, and the caption read: "I love you @dougchabbott."
.webp_ke6C2y?tr=cr-169.8.1505.1344,f-webp,q-70,w-100)