Jamie Foxx Reflects on Health Scare in New Stand-Up Special. Getty Image
Jamie Foxx recently opened up about the serious health scare he experienced last year during his new stand-up comedy special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was...
The Oscar-winning actor was hospitalized while filming his movie Back in Action, with his daughter Corinne Foxx initially revealing that he had suffered a "medical complication" but was recovering thanks to prompt medical attention.
Earlier this year, Foxx shared with fans that it all began on April 11 with a "bad headache." After seeking help from a friend to relieve the pain, he suddenly lost consciousness and was unresponsive for 20 days, unable to remember any of it.
In his stand-up special, Foxx revealed that doctors later told his sister he had suffered a brain bleed that led to a stroke. "I was fighting for my life, but I'm here in front of you!" Foxx told the audience with gratitude.
When Foxx woke up on May 4, he was in a wheelchair, unable to walk. He credited the therapists who encouraged him to push through his recovery, recalling a moment when one therapist used an analogy from The Karate Kid to motivate him. "She said, 'We gonna wax on, wax off,'" he recalled.
Throughout his recovery, Foxx leaned on his faith and the support of his family, with his youngest daughter Anelise joining him onstage during the special. His guiding principle during this challenging time? "If I could stay funny, I could stay alive."
Foxx filmed his first stand-up comedy special in nearly 20 years last October, performing a series of shows in Atlanta. Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was... has been nominated for a 2025 Golden Globe for best performance in stand-up comedy on television. The special is now available for streaming on Netflix.
