The 'True Blood' and 'Magic Mike' star opens up about a terrifying medical crisis that included a life-saving organ amputation and a global quest for answers.
Joe Manganiello, the actor known for his imposing physique and roles in hits like "True Blood" and "Magic Mike," has announced a deeply personal new memoir that details a secret, seven-year health battle that nearly claimed his life. The 49-year-old star is set to release "Bloodlines" on October 13, a book that chronicles a harrowing journey through a "cascade" of autoimmune-related illnesses that attacked multiple parts of his body while he maintained a successful Hollywood career .
According to the official synopsis obtained by People, Manganiello's health began to deteriorate unexpectedly at a time when his professional life was soaring. "Joe Manganiello seemed to have it all: a soaring career, a new marriage, and what many considered, the best physique in Hollywood," the synopsis reads. "Then, without warning, his body began to fail him" .
The illnesses reportedly ravaged his skin, thyroid, eyes, lungs, and digestive system, plunging him into a prolonged period of chronic pain and medical uncertainty that left doctors with few answers and no clear explanation . The memoir reveals that this battle involved a "life-saving organ amputation," though the actor has not disclosed which organ was removed . Manganiello described the ordeal as "the most brutally difficult time of my life, one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, but also my greatest adventure" .
As traditional medical avenues failed to provide clear diagnoses, the "True Blood" star embarked on a deeply personal and unorthodox quest. The synopsis details a journey that led him beyond medicine to consult with shamans, explore pagan rituals, and study ancient myths . His search also took a genealogical turn, leading him to examine long-forgotten family records and his own bloodline. This exploration connected him to his Armenian roots and to a survivor of the Armenian genocide, as well as other ancestors who lived with chronic illness . The actor, who has been vocal about his ancestry since appearing on PBS's "Finding Your Roots," delves into how these inherited histories of trauma and survival shaped his experience .
The timeline of Manganiello's medical crisis overlaps with nearly all of his marriage to actress Sofía Vergara. The couple married in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2024 . While the synopsis does not specifically mention Vergara, "Bloodlines" is being described as a profound examination of identity, inheritance, masculinity, and the hidden burdens people carry beneath the surface . The memoir is set for release on October 13 and is available for preorder .
