Jamie Foxx recalls nurse telling him he had a 5 percent chance to live after near-fatal brain bleed

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Jamie Foxx revealed harrowing details about the medical emergency that nearly claimed his life during an interview at the 2025 Golden Globes on January 5.

The actor and comedian who was labeled a "5-percenter" during hospitalization disclosed he suffered a brain bleed that caused a stroke while filming 'Back in Action' in Atlanta in April 2023.

Jamie Foxx's nurse told him he's 'not special'

Speaking with Variety, Jamie Foxx reflected on the moment a nurse informed him of his grim prognosis.

“This girl in Atlanta, one of my nurses, shout out to her, I won't say her name, but she says, ‘Jamie, you're a 5-percenter.’ I said, ‘What does that mean?’ [She said] ‘Less than 5 percent of people that have what you have walk out of here. But when I saw that it was you, I rolled my sleeves up,” he recalled.

Foxx expressed deep gratitude for the nurse, who approached his care with a mix of professionalism and compassion.

“She told me, ‘You're not special. I rolled my sleeves up for everyone that comes in here.’ That hit me,” he shared.

“I said, ‘Well, thank you so much,’” said the 57-year-old actor, adding, “She says, ‘Why are you thanking me? You're not special. I rolled my sleeves up for everybody that comes in here.’"

The experience put life into perspective for the 'Django Unchained' actor, who said, “And so when it hits like that and all of the red carpet and the tux and this, come on man. And she said, ‘All of that will get you to that. But right now, you're a patient and I got to get you right.’”

Jamie Foxx’s Netflix special sheds light on his ordeal

Jamie Foxx’s recovery journey remained private until the release of his Netflix special, where he candidly discussed his ordeal.

In his 2024 Netflix stand-up special, 'What Had Happened Was…', Foxx shared a detailed account of the incident.

He recalled experiencing a severe headache on April 11, 2023, before collapsing.

“I asked my boy for an aspirin, but before I could take it, I blacked out. I don’t remember 20 days after that,” the actor shared, according to People.

His daughter, Corinne Foxx, first announced the news of his “medical complication” on social media, expressing gratitude for the quick medical response and support from fans.

The special, which received a Golden Globe nomination, marked his return to the spotlight.