Actor Joe Manganiello is opening up about a private, yearslong health crisis that deeply impacted his life, career, and marriage. In his upcoming memoir, Bloodlines, set for release on October 13 from Simon & Schuster imprint Avid Reader Press, the 49-year-old star details a grueling seven-year battle with an undiagnosed autoimmune condition.
According to reports from PEOPLE and official book synopses, Manganiello experienced a severe cascade of autoimmune-related illnesses that attacked his skin, thyroid, eyes, lungs, and digestive system. The ordeal began shortly after his 2015 wedding to actress Sofía Vergara, plunging the actor into chronic pain, an existential crisis, and multiple near-death experiences.
Manganiello described the trial as the most brutally difficult time of his life, noting that it involved losing 60 pounds, undergoing multiple colonoscopies, and enduring severe physical symptoms such as fevers, blistering rashes, headaches, fatigue, and rectal bleeding. In 2016, his condition required emergency intestinal surgery, during which part of his intestine was removed and he was temporarily dependent on an ostomy bag.
"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 said in a statement shared exclusively with PEOPLE. He added that the ordeal was "one I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy."
An Unorthodox Path to Healing
With doctors offering few answers or clear explanations for his declining health during the height of his career, Manganiello turned away from traditional medicine toward a globe-spanning, unconventional quest. The memoir details his exploration into shamans, pagan rituals, ancient myths, long-lost family records, and spirituality.
This search ultimately led him deep into his own ancestry, uncovering connections to a survivor of the Armenian genocide, ancestors shaped by violence and displacement, and the hidden patterns shared by others living with chronic illness.
"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," Manganiello stated.
Impact on Relationships and Future
The multi-year health battle coincided with a tumultuous period in the actor’s personal life. Manganiello and Sofía Vergara married in November 2015, just as his health crisis began to unfold. The couple ultimately separated and divorced in 2023, with Vergara later citing differing views on having children as a primary factor in their split-a point Manganiello has publicly disputed.
Today, Manganiello has moved forward personally and professionally. He announced his engagement to Caitlin O’Connor in October and is preparing to share his profound story of survival and ancestral rediscovery with readers when Bloodlines hits shelves this fall.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joe Manganiello’s Memoir and Health
When is Joe Manganiello’s memoir ‘Bloodlines’ scheduled for release?
Bloodlines is scheduled for release on October 13 through Simon & Schuster imprint Avid Reader Press.
What health condition did Joe Manganiello battle?
Manganiello battled a seven-year-long cascade of undiagnosed autoimmune-related illnesses that severely affected his skin, thyroid, eyes, lungs, and digestive system, ultimately requiring emergency intestinal surgery and an organ amputation.
How did the health crisis affect his career and marriage?
The health ordeal occurred at the peak of his career and during the early years of his marriage to Sofía Vergara, whom he married in 2015. The couple later divorced in 2023.
What unconventional methods did Manganiello use during his healing journey?
Faced with a lack of answers from traditional medicine, Manganiello explored shamans, pagan rituals, ancient myths, family archives, and spirituality, which ultimately led him to research his Armenian heritage and family history.
