Hollywood actor Joe Manganiello recently disclosed a deeply personal health battle, revealing he wore an ostomy bag beneath his formidable Deathstroke armour during filming for the end scene of 'Justice League.' The 49-year-old star shared details of a severe, life-threatening autoimmune condition that necessitated the removal of his entire large intestine, a struggle he kept private for years before discussing it on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.'
Manganiello's ordeal began in 2016 with an emergency surgery. Doctors performed the procedure after his large intestine failed due to an undiagnosed autoimmune condition. He recounted collapsing and being rushed to a hospital where scans initially revealed nothing. Ultimately, surgeons intervened at the eleventh hour, discovering his entire large intestine had turned to pus and was on the verge of exploding. "It was caught at the last moment," the actor stated.
Waking up from surgery, Manganiello learned his intestine was gone, replaced by an ostomy bag that could potentially be permanent. The recovery proved arduous; he lost 60 pounds in just two weeks and required assistance to lift his legs, needing to relearn basic movements like walking and standing.
Amidst this challenging recovery, he received an offer to portray the main villain in Ben Affleck's Batman project, which included the 'Justice League' appearance. Seeing it as a sign, Manganiello accepted, hoping his health would improve sufficiently. He then filmed that pivotal 'Justice League' scene, likely becoming "the only villain ever with an ostomy bag on under the armor."
The illness spanned seven years, a period Manganiello described as a "crazy roller coaster." He credits the support system around him for helping him through days when simply doing nothing was the only option. His decision to open up stems from a desire to destigmatize such illnesses and ostomy bags, allowing others who feel embarrassed or pressured to appear strong to talk about their struggles openly. "I didn't want to be looked at as the sick guy," he explained, hoping his candour encourages broader conversation and understanding.
Image: Wikipedia — Joe Manganiello
📰 Source: Mangalorean News