Billy Porter Recalls Being “Dead for Three Days” During Life-Threatening Sepsis Infection [Video]

Billy Porter is reflecting on a terrifying medical emergency that nearly cost him his life and abruptly pulled him away from the Broadway stage.

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The Emmy-winning actor recently shared new details about the severe sepsis infection he suffered in 2025, revealing just how critical his condition became. Porter now says surviving the ordeal has completely changed the way he looks at life.

Billy Porter says he is a “walking miracle” after surviving a life-threatening sepsis infection. The performer previously announced in September 2025 that he had been diagnosed with sepsis while starring in a Broadway revival of “Cabaret.” Because of the seriousness of the illness, doctors ordered him to stop performing and focus on a lengthy recovery.

Sepsis happens when the body has an extreme reaction to infection, which can rapidly lead to organ failure if not treated quickly.

Speaking on TS Madison’s “Outlaws” podcast on March 2, Porter explained that the crisis began after doctors discovered a kidney stone lodged in his urethra during a routine medical visit. What initially seemed like a manageable issue quickly turned dangerous.

“When they got in there, there was so much puss, and bile, and infection behind the stone,” Porter said. “It bubbled up, and I went uroseptic in minutes.”

Urosepsis occurs when a urinary tract infection spreads through the kidneys and into the bloodstream, triggering a life-threatening response throughout the body.

Porter’s condition declined so quickly that doctors placed him on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine, or ECMO, which helps circulate oxygen when the heart and lungs cannot function on their own.

Looking back at the moment, Porter said, “I was dead for three days. I am a miracle. I’m a walking miracle.”

Doctors also had to treat a dangerous complication that developed in his leg while he was unconscious. Porter later learned he developed compartment syndrome, a condition caused by swelling that blocks oxygen from reaching muscle tissue.

“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 explained.

Porter, who has long been open about living with HIV, has used his platform for years to raise awareness around health issues and treatment access. According to the National Institutes of Health, individuals with weakened immune systems can face increased risks of severe infections that may lead to sepsis.

After months of recovery, Porter says he feels deeply grateful to still be here.