Entertainment · Celebrity · 4 hrs ago
Joe Manganiello describes seven-year illness and its toll on his marriage
Joe Manganiello says he hid a seven-year health battle from most people while he was married to actor Sofía Vergara.
He describes an autoimmune disease that caused severe pain and other symptoms and led to repeated medical treatment.
In 2016, doctors removed his entire large intestine to save his life, leaving him temporarily with an ostomy bag.
Manganiello says Vergara chose the life-saving surgery while he was unconscious and unable to make the decision himself.
He writes that his illness put a heavy strain on their marriage, which ended with their separation in 2023 and divorce finalized in 2024.
His memoir, Bloodlines, was released on October 13 and recounts the illness and its impact on the relationship.
Joe Manganiello says an autoimmune illness caused severe symptoms and lasted seven years.
He says doctors removed his entire large intestine in 2016 to save his life.
Manganiello credits his then-wife, Sofía Vergara, with choosing the life-saving surgery while he was unconscious.
He says the illness strained their marriage, which ended in separation in 2023.
In his memoir, Manganiello describes the illness and its effects on their relationship.
- Who
- Actor Joe Manganiello and his then-wife, Sofía Vergara.
- What
- Manganiello described a seven-year illness, emergency surgery and the strain it placed on their marriage.
- When
- His illness lasted seven years; doctors removed his large intestine in 2016. The couple announced their separation in 2023.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Manganiello says the illness and the possibility that he might die affected their relationship.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Manganiello says he became ill not long after he and Vergara got engaged.
Doctors removed Manganiello's large intestine in emergency surgery.
Matt Reeves took over the Batman film, scuttling previous casting decisions, according to E! News.
Manganiello and Vergara announced their separation.
Manganiello's memoir Bloodlines was released.
- Illness duration
- Seven years
- Surgery
- Entire large intestine removed in 2016
- Weight loss
- 60 pounds
- Marriage
- Married in 2015; separated in 2023
- Memoir
- Bloodlines, released Oct. 13, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
They chose the right one, and it bought me time
It was seven years long. People didn't know about it. I was living in secret with this. Only the closest people around me knew.
It’s about the suffering I went through.
We did try to have a family for the first year and a half