If I Could Stay Funny, I Could Stay Alive’: Jamie Foxx Recalls Impersonating Denzel Washington And Doing Other Wild Things In The Hospital After His Stroke

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Jamie Foxx is making a comeback, both in his personal life and career, with his movie “Back In Action” set to premiere on Netflix’s 2025 schedule. He recently shared details about his experience of being hospitalized due to a stroke nearly two years back. Now, we can enjoy his antics alongside Cameron Diaz in their new film, but the entertainer also cracked jokes during an interview about how humor and crazy stunts like mimicking Denzel Washington helped him cope during his hospital stay.

Discussing his Netflix comedy special, “What Had Happened Was,” and his health scare, Foxx also touched upon the role humor played in his personal healing process. Interestingly, his daughters may not have known about his standup career as a child, but he admitted that he’s always been humorous within the family setting too. This revelation was made during an interview on “The Graham Norton Show.

To provide context for his amusing hospital encounters, Foxx detailed his response upon waking up following his stroke:

When the incident occurred, I couldn’t recall that it had even happened. Unfortunately, I suffered a brain hemorrhage which led to a stroke – something totally unexpected for me. When I regained consciousness, I was completely clueless about what had transpired because 20 days of my life were gone. As I asked, ‘What am I doing in this wheelchair?’, my friend replied, ‘You had a stroke.’ I responded, ‘Dude, I’m Jamie Foxx. Jamie Foxx doesn’t have strokes.’ But he explained that I couldn’t walk and I should stay in the chair. I thought, ‘Am I being pranked by Ashton Kutcher?’ Eventually, when it all sank in, I realized the gravity of the situation and said to myself, ‘Wow, this is beyond anything.’ So here we are now, facing this reality head-on. Man, I really need to recover.

The Oscar-winning individual was backed by his daughters, relatives, and companions, but what truly set him apart was his wit.

In some of Foxx’s top films and stand-up performances, we’ve witnessed his hilarious side. Remarkably, the hospital nurses were privy to his humor. The actor shared that he would entertain by mimicking Denzel Washington in the hospital as a means of healing, stating:

The only method of returning seemed to involve being humorous. I’d often joke during my stand-up sets, saying ‘If I can stay funny, I can stay alive.’ So, whenever they checked on me, I’d bombard them with jokes, leading them to question my wellbeing. When they asked, ‘Where are you, sir?’, I would respond as if at a repair shop. When they inquired about my identity, saying ‘Who are you, sir?’, I was never my usual self. Instead, I assumed different personas, such as Denzel Washington for three whole days.

In the clip, I found Jamie Foxx hilariously mimicking Denzel Washington’s style – portraying how he might respond when asked about his health at a hospital setting.

To put it simply, I must say it’s quite impressive. Foxx has managed this charm before, and during a chat with Grey Goose Vodka, he displayed it in the presence of Washington himself, leaving him in stitches with laughter.

During challenging periods, laughter often plays a significant role in healing, as demonstrated repeatedly throughout history. The account shared about Jamie Foxx serves as additional proof of the powerful impact humor can have on improving situations.

I’m delighted that the nurses found amusement in his Denzel Washington impression, and it’d be fantastic if Jamie Foxx could host Saturday Night Live next, allowing him to share that impression and more on live television for our enjoyment. In the interim, we can savor Jamie Foxx, who is now fully recovered, content, and thriving, by streaming his movie “Back in Action” and his stand-up special on Netflix with a subscription.

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2025-01-18 23:37