Jamie Foxx Makes First Appearance Since Near-Death Experience

Jamie Foxx marked his first public appearance since being hospitalized for an unknown medical condition back in April, that was apparently serious enough that the actor's friends and family were urging fans to pray for him. And while Foxx didn't elaborate on his mystery condition, he hinted at how close he had come to death and explained that the experience has given him a new lease on life.

The 55-year-old made his remarks during a surprise appearance at the Critics Choice Association's Celebration of Cinema and Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements event on Monday night. Though his honor was not announced in advance, Foxx received the Vanguard Award for his performance in the 2023 Amazon Prime legal drama, The Burial.

As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Foxx made his way to the stage unassisted to receive the award in the wake of his life-threatening ailment, where he discussed the ordeal with humor.

“I couldn’t do that six months ago, I couldn’t actually walk to [the stage]," he told attendees at the Fairmont Plaza Hotel in Century City. "And I’m not a clone, I’m not a clone. I know a lot of people saying that I was cloned out there."

"It feels good to be here. I cherish every single minute now, it’s different," Foxx continued. "I wouldn’t wish what I went though on my worst enemy because it’s tough when it’s almost over, when you see the tunnel. I saw the tunnel, I didn’t see the light. It was hot in that tunnel too, I don’t know where I was going. ‘Shit, am I going to the right place?'"

"I have a new respect for life, I have a new respect for my art," he added, on a serious note. "I watched so many movies and listened to so many songs trying to have the time go by. Don’t give up on your art, man, don’t give up on your art. When you realize that it could be over like that … I got to tell you don’t give up on your art and don’t let them take the art from you either."

TMZ broke the news on April 12 that Foxx had suffered a "medical emergency" in Atlanta on the set of his upcoming action flick Back in Action, starring Glenn Close and Cameron Diaz. While details were slim at the time and remain so, he provided an update on his condition back in August.

"You’re lookin at a man who is thankful … finally startin to feel like myself," Foxx wrote on Instagram. "It’s been an unexpected dark journey … but I can see the light. I’m thankful to everyone that reached out and sent well wishes and prayers ... I have a lot of people to thank … u just don’t know how much it meant. I will be thanking all of you personally … and if you didn’t know … GOD IS GOOD … all day every day."

We may never fully know the extent of the notoriously private actor's ordeal, but it sounds as though he is indeed lucky to be alive.