During the 2023 medical emergency, Jamie Foxx shared that he had a close brush with death. On the red carpet of the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, Foxx mentioned to Mark Malkin from Variety that the nurse in Atlanta labeled him a “five-percenter.” This term references the extremely low survival rate of less than 5% for individuals who experience a severe brain bleed and stroke, like Foxx did in that particular year.
Jamie Foxx, 57, kept quiet about the medical incident that landed him in the hospital for over a year. However, he recently shared his experience in his Golden Globe nominated stand-up special, “What Had Happened Was…,” released in December. During the special, Foxx became emotional and even teary-eyed as he recounted the frightening incident. He revealed that his doctors had doubts about his survival during the initial two weeks of treatment.
Foxx expressed his joy in overcoming the scare and downplayed the significance of the hype surrounding the glamorous awards show. In a conversation with Malkin, he stated, “this doesn’t matter.” To emphasize his point, he gave a special mention to the nurse who provided him with reassurance by calling him a five-percenter. Foxx acknowledged her dedication by remarking that she immediately sprung into action upon recognizing him as her patient.
He recalled expressing his gratitude by saying, “Thank you so much.”
He recalled her response, saying, “Instead of accepting my gratitude, she replied, ‘Why are you thanking me? You’re not special.’ She emphasized that she dedicates herself to helping all individuals who walk through the doors. Despite the glitz and glamour associated with the red carpet and tuxedos, she reminded me that at that moment, I was simply a patient, and her priority was to ensure my well-being.”
Foxx attended the Globes with his daughters, Anelise Foxx and Corinne Marie Foxx, whom he commended for their support during a challenging period. “I always say that when you envision your future, you don’t imagine tragedy,” he shared, removing his sunglasses. “You dream of the good things, the most amazing life possible. But when tragedy strikes, you need someone who truly loves you to be there for you.”
Corinne stepped up by first sharing her father’s “medical complication” with the world and later providing an update after several weeks. She expressed that the family had been bracing for the worst, but then shared the news that her dad was out of the hospital and recovering (and even playing Pickleball). She also expressed gratitude towards the fans for their support.
In July, Foxx shared some details about the medical emergency that brought him to the hospital in Atlanta for a month during the filming of the Netflix movie “Back in Action” alongside Cameron Diaz. Foxx revealed that he had no recollection of the specific events surrounding the incident. He recalled, “On April 11th last year, I experienced a severe headache. I asked my friend for an Advil, and the next thing I knew, I was unconscious for 20 days. I have no memory of what happened during that time.”
Foxx shared with Malkin that he often jokes about Corinne “turning into Michael Corleone,” chuckling at the fact that his daughter was not familiar with Al Pacino’s memorable portrayal of the head of a mob family in Francis Ford Coppola’s Godfather trilogy. “I told her, ‘you don’t get it. When Michael saw that his dad was in trouble, he stepped up.’ And she did, man. It was a lot of pressure on her, but she came through.”
