Jamie Foxx is best known for his Oscar-winning performance as Ray Charles in the 2005 film Ray. He's a multi-hyphenate who excels in singing, acting, and dancing. However, in recent years, his health has taken center stage, specifically in 2023 when he experienced a serious medical complication. Despite facing a life-threatening situation, Foxx has demonstrated incredible resilience and a renewed focus on his well-being. This article explores Jamie Foxx's health journey, his recovery, and the lifestyle choices that contribute to his overall health and fitness.
The Medical Emergency and Recovery
In April 2023, Jamie Foxx’s daughter, Corinne Foxx, announced that her father had suffered a medical complication while filming. He was quickly taken to the hospital for treatment which shocked his fans worldwide because it was sudden and unexpected. His family thanked everyone for prayers and asked for privacy during the tough time. Initial information was scarce, leading to confusion and rumors. Corinne posted to Instagram at the time: "We wanted to share that my father Jamie Foxx experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily due to quick action and great care he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time."
During his comedy special What Had Happened Was…, Jamie revealed that he suffered a "brain bleed that led to a stroke" and spent 20 days, unconscious, in the hospital. Finally, on May 4, 2023, he woke up only to discover he couldn't walk. "All I can tell you is that I appreciate every prayer, because I needed every prayer."
Jamie Foxx stayed in the hospital for several weeks, and his family kept giving updates. Later, he was transferred to a rehabilitation center where he worked on recovery. Friends and celebrities also supported him publicly. After some months, Jamie himself spoke to fans through a video, sharing that he had been through a difficult journey but was getting stronger. The road to recovery involved a stay at a rehabilitation facility in Chicago, and he has thankfully now fully recovered.
In an Instagram post shared in July 2023, Jamie said: "I know a lot of people were waiting or wanting to hear updates, but to be honest with you, I just didn't want you to see me like that." Of course, since then, he's shared more of his experience through his comedy special, which he filmed in Atlanta. "I'm here," Jamie said in a trailer for What Had Happened Was…. "That's the special. The special is that I'm here."
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After Jamie's special premiered, Corinne wrote to Instagram: "I couldn't be more proud of you. You created light from darkness. You turned tragedy into comedy. I will never forget those months of uncertainty and recovery. Jamie Foxx is a complete inspiration."
The Impact of the News and the Spread of Information
The news of Jamie Foxx health spread quickly across media channels and social platforms. Fans from all over the world shared prayers and good wishes for him. Social media became the main source of both real updates and false stories. While some posts were supportive, others spread unverified information. Because there was limited official information, many rumors started online about Jamie Foxx health. Some fake reports even claimed that his condition was worse than reality. However, later statements from his daughter and himself confirmed that he was recovering well.
Jamie Foxx had several film and TV projects scheduled at the time of his health emergency. Some projects had to be delayed or adjusted because of his condition. For example, the filming of “Back in Action” was temporarily affected. But after recovery, Jamie returned to work, proving his strong spirit and dedication to his career.
Jamie Foxx's Diet and Fitness Regimen
With recent action roles and an upcoming Marvel debut in Spider-Man: No Way Home, people probably wonder how the 53-year-old Foxx stays in shape for all the action, drama and comedy roles he takes on. Jamie Foxx likes snacks just like the rest of us, but he keeps things real when it comes to managing his food choices. Foxx doesn’t adhere to any fad diets or fasts. “I’m not laying any blame, but some of these Hollywood diets where you eat a basket of air and drink a cup of wind? Don’t do that shit,” he says. “You need food.”
Before and after his health issue, Jamie Foxx was known for staying active and fit. He follows a disciplined lifestyle with regular exercise, healthy diet, and strong work ethic. After recovery, Jamie focused even more on wellness, taking time for self-care and balancing work with health.
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Here’s a breakdown of his typical diet:
- Breakfast: Breakfast is Foxx’s biggest meal of the day. He starts his day with egg whites, one piece of toast, turkey sausage, and a fresh glass of OJ.
- Lunch: Lunch is all about protein, including salmon, bacon, rice, and Brussels sprouts. Then for lunch, he goes all in on the protein. His meals tend to include brussels sprouts, bacon, salmon, and rice.
- Dinner: Dinner often consists of steak and vegetables.
- Snacks: In between, Foxx is a healthy snacker, choosing fruits and blackberries. In his daily life, Foxx says he snacks a lot. He loves blackberries and other fruits.
- Guilty Pleasures: His guilty pleasures? Salt and vinegar chips and pizza-white cheese with sausage is a favorite. Still, he knows all those extra calories come with a cost. “If I snack a lot, that means I’ve got to go run a lot or workout a lot,” Foxx says. When he's not sticking to his rigid, protein-heavy regimen and snacking on blackberries, Foxx does a cheat day where he goes “all out.” He loves the “Sophia Pizza,” a white cheese pizza with sausage on it. “I could eat that thing like…man,” he says. He also goes for crab legs.
For his workouts, Foxx says at his age, he doesn’t need a trainer. He says for anyone 50 and over who has years of experience in fitness, you have all the information you need to eat right and exercise right. And he has some advice for other men his age who regularly workout and want to stay fit. A personal trainer isn’t this celeb’s thing; he works out and manages his own fitness regimen all on his own. He makes his workout the priority of each morning, complete with 20 pull-ups. Instead of utilizing a personal trainer’s regimen, Foxx has his own benchmarks. He works out first thing in the morning, and shoots for 20 pull-ups per day. “And if you can get 25 dips, 50 push ups, 100 sit-ups, if you can get 20 to 30 back extensions, you’re done,” he says. His solid advice? “If you can get 25 dips, 50 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, if you can get 20 to 30 back extensions, you’re done,” Foxx says, adding, “When you look better, you feel better.
Jamie Foxx also tells Men’s Journal, “There’s this place called Sports Academy, right around the corner from my house,” adding, “It’s the greatest place in the world to train. It has nine basketball courts, NBA players train there, the rookie Trae Young was there when I was. It has everything you need for training and working out. They have volleyball, they have baseball, and they have some great trainers. It’s a spot where he’s had healthy fun with his entire family, adding, “That’s literally how we decompress. They have a computer room for the kids, so when we get there I’ll say, ‘Y’all we gotta work out first.’ And they work out for two minutes and then they sneak up and they’re playing Fortnite.
Preparing for the Mike Tyson Biopic
Jamie Foxx has revealed the strict exercise and diet plan he has to stick to as he prepares to play Mike Tyson in the upcoming biopic. The actor, 52, has been training to play the world heavyweight champion and has kept up his grueling regime even in lockdown.
Foxx shared what his workouts involved on an Instagram Live with American producer Mark Birnbaum.
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Talking about the biopic he said: “What I’m doing right now is changing the body. Now what I do every other day, I do sixty pull ups, we do sixty dips, we do 100 push ups - changing the body.”
There's still a way to go though, as Foxx admitted while his top half is now in shape he still has work to do on his bottom half to reach the Tyson physique.
“I ain’t got no legs! I ain’t got no calves, so we’re going to have to get some prosthetics for that - we’re going to be shooting the top half,” he said.
If you're wondering what Foxx is aiming for, he'll start at 216lbs - that's 15st 4lbs - when filming finally kicks off and he'll continue to bulk as filming continues.
Foxx also shared pictures of his new shape.
“We will balloon to 225 to 230lbs, to look like 250lbs on screen," he said. "We’re on our way!”
Family and Inspiration
He has two daughters, Corinne, 31, and Anelise, 16. "I think we have that typical father-daughter relationship where you can poke fun at each other,” Corinne told PEOPLE in 2024. Corinne followed in her dad's footsteps and is an actor. She's appeared in 47 Meters Down: Uncaged, Safety, and Dollface. "She said, 'I am going on tour with you.' I am blessed, we are all blessed."
Philanthropic Efforts
Taking care of himself is not the only thing Jamie Foxx is focused on. The actor established the Jamie Foxx Foundation, which supports the health, welfare, and education of kids all over the world. Foxx also started The DeOndra Dixon Fund, along with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.
Lessons Learned and a Message of Hope
The journey of Jamie Foxx health teaches many lessons. It shows that health problems can happen to anyone, no matter how successful or famous. His story reminds us to take care of our health, reduce stress, and value family support during hard times.
For final words of wisdom, Foxx has an important message: Moderation, exercise and healthy habits. “When you look better, you feel better.