Hollywood star Jamie Foxx has opened up about his life-threatening 2023 health scare during the recording of his new Netflix comedy special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was. The special, set to premiere on December 10, offers an emotional and detailed account of the actor’s near-death experience and his journey to recovery.

Foxx, 56, reportedly shared the intimate details during a standup set taped in Atlanta. Demecos Chambers, a longtime fan who attended the taping, described the actor’s revelations in an interview with CNN. According to Chambers, Foxx recounted collapsing on the set of Back in Action and waking up 20 days later after being in a coma.

“He thought he had just passed out for a second,” Chambers explained. “But it was two or three weeks. He was in a stone-cold coma. By the time he woke up, he had grown a beard.” Foxx reportedly described the experience as a brush with death, crediting the quick actions of medical professionals for saving his life. “If he hadn’t been treated within that specific timeframe, he said he would’ve died. He was gone, lights out,” Chambers added.

Foxx also praised his family, particularly his daughters Corinne, 30, and Anelise, 16, for their unwavering support. According to Chambers, the actor shared a poignant moment during his coma when the sound of his daughter playing a family guitar helped stir him back to consciousness. “He really worships his daughters,” Chambers said. “They play a significant role in his story and in his recovery.”

The health scare, which Foxx previously kept private, marks a turning point in his life. Despite his miraculous recovery, he acknowledged that he is still on the mend. “He was able to function on his own and didn’t need any assistance on stage,” Chambers observed. “He’s active and robust, but you can tell he’s more mindful of how he moves. He talks about how great he feels and even did some jumping up and down.”

Foxx’s storytelling during the special blends humor and heart. “Jamie is an amazing storyteller,” Chambers said. “It felt like sitting with your uncles, laughing and feeling every word. It was hilarious but also deeply moving.”

The actor’s health crisis first came to public attention in April 2023, when Corinne Foxx revealed he had suffered a “medical complication” and was recovering in the hospital. The family remained tight-lipped about the details, and Foxx spent over six months recovering in private before reappearing in the public eye.