Billy Porter Nearly Died From Severe Urinary Infection & Coma | Health Update
Billy Porter, the Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor, has revealed a harrowing health battle that nearly cost him his life. The disclosure, made during an appearance on “Today,” details a severe urinary infection that escalated into a life-threatening situation even as preparing for his return to the Broadway stage.
Porter, 56, was preparing to reprise his role as the Emcee in the Broadway revival of “Cabaret” after a successful run in London’s West End. He described his experience in the U.K. As the initial catalyst for the ordeal, stating, “The medicine in the U.K. Is trash.” He explained that despite four rounds of antibiotics over a period of 10 to 12 weeks, the infection persisted, evolving into a kidney infection with kidney stones.
Returning to New York believing the issue had been resolved, Porter soon found the pain returning as rehearsals for the Broadway production began. “I go into rehearsals for ‘Cabaret’ on Broadway… and everything seems fine, and a month in, the kidney stone pain comes back,” he recounted to podcast host TS Madison earlier this month.
The situation rapidly deteriorated on a Tuesday in September when Porter checked himself into the hospital due to the debilitating pain. What followed was a cascade of medical emergencies. According to Porter, doctors discovered the kidney stone was lodged in his urethra. An attempt to insert a stent and administer antibiotics triggered a severe reaction.
“They went in to do a routine check. They saw that the kidney stone was trapped in my urethra, and they went in to put a stent in, redirect the urine, blast me with real antibiotics — not U.K. Antibiotics — and blow up the kidney stones. When they got in there, there was so much pus and bile and infection behind the stone, it bubbled up and I went uroseptic in minutes,” Porter explained.
Urosepsis, a life-threatening complication of a urinary tract infection, led to Porter falling into a coma for three days. “I was dead for three days,” he stated, visibly emotional while discussing the experience.
During the coma, Porter faced another critical medical challenge: compartment syndrome in one of his legs. This condition, caused by excessive pressure building up around the muscles, threatened to cut off blood and oxygen flow, potentially leading to necrosis. Doctors were forced to perform emergency surgery, leaving his leg open from the knee to the hip for two days to relieve the pressure and save the limb. “They had to cut me open on either side of my leg while I was in a coma, from my knee to my hip, and leave it open for two days so they could save my leg,” he told Madison.
Porter was sustained by an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine, a life-support system that pumps blood outside the body to oxygenate it and remove carbon dioxide, effectively taking over the function of the heart and lungs. The Mayo Clinic describes ECMO as a critical intervention for patients with severe respiratory or cardiac failure.
Despite the trauma, Porter expressed a renewed sense of purpose. “My work here on this earth is not done, and that gives me hope,” he told “Today.” He is now on the road to recovery, and his new children’s book, “Songbird in the Light,” was released this week. The book tells the story of a young boy learning to embrace his talent and self-worth in the face of bullying.
Porter’s story highlights the potential severity of seemingly common infections and the importance of timely and effective medical care. His openness about his health scare serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the resilience of the human spirit. The actor’s experience also raises questions about healthcare standards and access to appropriate antibiotics, particularly when traveling internationally.
While Porter’s future plans remain uncertain, his commitment to his craft and his message of self-acceptance continue to resonate with audiences worldwide. His journey from the brink of death to a renewed sense of purpose is a testament to his strength and determination.