Celebrities Who Were Hospitalized In 2023

Jeremy Renner may play a superhero in the MCU, but in real life, he's just a man ... a man who literally put his life on the line to save his nephew, so maybe he's a superhero in real life. On January 1, 2023, Renner was outside with his nephew when his Pistenbully snow groomer slid sideways on its track. According to CNN, Renner had just used the 14,000-pound vehicle to pull his nephew's truck out of the snow when it began to slide. He exited the vehicle without engaging the parking brake, possibly due to a mechanical problem.

Renner saw that the Pistenbully was moving toward his nephew and attempted to get back into the cab to regain control. To do so, he stepped onto the vehicle's track and was pulled beneath it, crushing the 52-year-old actor. The right side of Renner's chest collapsed, and his upper torso was crushed, resulting in difficulty breathing. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was in critical condition after breaking more than 30 bones.

Renner was relatively quick in revealing his tragic mishap. He shared a pic from his hospital bed on Instagram, followed by updates, in which he wrote, "These 30-plus broken bones will mend, grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens." The actor spent just shy of two weeks in the hospital receiving treatment. In April, Renner returned to the public eye, appearing with a cane at the "Rennervations" premiere in Reno, Nevada.

Michael Flatley made a name for himself in the 1990s as the "Lord of Dance," thanks to his award-winning Irish dance shows, "Riverdance," "Lord of the Dance," and others. He's performed all over the world in front of tens of millions of adoring fans — but at a cost. In 2016, Flatley had to retire from performing due to knee, foot, groin, hamstring, and spinal pain. His final performance of "Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games" came that year in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Ceasar's Palace on St. Patrick's Day.

Unfortunately for Flatley, his physical injuries wouldn't be the only medical problem he had to deal with during his retirement. On January 11, 2023, Flatley's Twitter feed revealed that he had undergone surgery to treat "an aggressive form of cancer." It's unclear what type of cancer afflicted Flatley, though the dancing superstar revealed on January 18 that he was healing. He took to Instagram to share a picture of himself with a pumped fist, along with the caption, "Thank you to everyone around the world for your love and prayers. I am overwhelmed by your kindness. I have been released from hospital and am on the mend." 

This was the second known cancer treatment Flatley has undergone in recent years. In 2003, he was treated for malignant melanoma and was hospitalized for several days at the time. Fortunately, he came out of that event with a cancer-free bill of health, and Flatley is hopeful he'll do the same once more.

You may recall hearing that Jay Leno was severely burned and hospitalized in late-2022. Unfortunately for the comedian, that wouldn't be the last time he spent time in the hospital. On January 17, 2023, Leno was in a motorcycle crash that sent him right back to the hospital — an accident he revealed while discussing his recovery. During an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he was asked how he was doing after that accident, and Leno said, "That was the first accident." He then explained how he'd gotten into another accident the week prior, saying, "Just last week, I got knocked off my motorcycle. So I've got a broken collarbone. I've got two broken ribs. I've got two cracked kneecaps. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm working this weekend, so I'm okay." Speaking to The New York Times, he added, "Luckily, I'm only 72. If I'd been an older man, this could have been really serious." 

Despite the numerous injuries, Leno could laugh about the accident, and he was indeed back at work, having announced a return to the Las Vegas Strip for March 2023. As he explained to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the nature of Leno's motorcycle accident was harrowing. It occurred when he cut through a parking lot, only to hit a wire some guy had strung across the location, without any warning signs. "So, you know, I didn't see it until it was too late," he said. "It just clotheslined me and, boom — knocked me off the bike."

Senator John Fetterman had a challenging campaign for his seat, having had a debilitating stroke only four days before the 2022 Democratic primary election in Pennsylvania. He won the primary, beating his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz in the general election. Fetterman was sworn in, but his health remained problematic. On February 10, 2023, the Senator was checked into a hospital after feeling lightheaded during a Senate retreat in Washington, D.C.

Fortunately, Fetterman showed no signs of an additional stroke but spent another night at the hospital. While he appeared physically well, the implantation of a pacemaker and defibrillator following his stroke took a psychological toll. The following day, on February 12, Fetterman checked himself into the hospital for mental health treatment due to depression. He told "CBS Sunday Morning" that he stopped eating and felt indifferent about life, which made it difficult for him to get out of bed in the morning.

He checked into the hospital to combat these issues, where he remained for 44 days. One of Senator Fetterman's aides spoke out about his treatment, noting he was a celebrity patient. "It shouldn't be something that only a senator may get," they told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "It shouldn't be something that is a luxury, it should become the norm, and that's something he's going to fight for." Fetterman returned to the Senate on April 17 and issued the statement, "I want everyone to know that depression is treatable, and treatment works," per CNN.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

March 5, 2023, was a nearly fatal day for Nelson Thomas, resulting in a lengthy hospital stay. The star of MTV's "The Challenge" was in an accident that almost cost him his life. While the details of the accident aren't clear, what is known is that Thomas' car was smashed and engulfed in flames when K.J. Osborn drove by in an Uber. The Vikings wide receiver got out of the vehicle and rushed in to help, and he managed to get Thomas out of the car and move him about 15 yards away.

Osborn detailed the event during an interview with "Good Morning Football," sharing, "We didn't know if this car was going to blow up, so that's when I picked him up. He's bleeding, his blood is on me." Nelson's injuries were so extensive that an image he'd posted to Instagram of them was given a graphic image warning by the platform. He also posted a video Osborn shot of the incident, which shows the harrowing rescue and a car that is truly engulfed in flames.

In his March 14 Instagram post, Nelson thanked everyone involved in saving his life that night, including Osborn, writing, "I am forever grateful to [them] for pulling me out of a burning vehicle, [and] risking their own lives to save mine." A GoFundMe organized by a friend quickly racked up tens of thousands of dollars to help with Thomas' extensive medical bills.

Amanda Bynes has had a difficult life, having grown up in the public eye while dealing with legal problems and ongoing substance misuse issues. The former child star was in a conservatorship beginning in 2013, and she was finally given control of her own life in 2022. Unfortunately, an event on March 19, 2023 suggested that Bynes may have required more help. At around 6:40 am, Bynes was walking around a Sizzler parking lot in Los Angeles without any clothes on.

Per TMZ, she waved down a car and told the driver she was emerging from a psychotic episode, leading to a call to the LAPD for a medical check. While it was determined she was physically fine, her psychological state required attention. Bynes was placed on a 5150 hold, a California state designation for a mental health hold lasting 72 hours or more. The 5150 hold was extended on March 26, giving Bynes' care team more time to help and treat her condition.

On April 11, TMZ revealed Bynes was released from the mental health facility, having received more than three weeks of inpatient care. She continued to receive outpatient treatment and returned to her home after she was released. Despite her mental health concern, Bynes retained the freedom she earned when her conservatorship ended in 2022. As of this writing, she appears to be doing well since being released from the hospital.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

It's not uncommon for professional athletes to find their way to the hospital — injuries are a way of life in many sports. For that reason, there aren't too many athletes noted here, but Eloy Jiménez's path to medical assistance had nothing to do with how he plays baseball. On May 6, 2023, the White Sox designated hitter was admitted to the hospital after experiencing intesfying abdominal pain, and it didn't take long for the doctors to diagnose him with acute appendicitis, requiring emergency surgery.

Pedro Grifol, the White Sox manager, told ESPN, "It's taken care of now. He will be out for a little bit. We heard [the diagnosis] in the middle of the game. Those things are scary. He'll be back as soon as possible." Because Jiménez required an emergency appendectomy, he had to stay off the diamond for about six weeks. As a result, he was given a rehab assignment to play for the White Sox's minor league team, the Birmingham Barons, for three to four days before returning to the team's roster (per SI FanNation Fastball).

Jiménez's absence was problematic for the team, as it wasn't able to establish a consistent lineup due to the power hitter's absence. Outside of the emergency appendectomy, Jiménez had enjoyed a good season, managing a batting average of .268, which isn't bad. That said, it's slightly lower than his career average, but it makes sense, given his absence. Fortunately, Jiménez recovered from his surgery and resumed his role as an outfielder and designated hitter.

Jimmy Buffett was all set for the Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band concert scheduled for May 20, 2023, but a visit to the doctor for an unspecified issue resulted in immediate hospitalization just two days before the show. As a result, the concert was canceled, and all tickets were refunded. The "Margaritaville" performer addressed his fans on Facebook, explaining, "I had a sudden change of plans this week that affected us all ... I had to stop in Boston for a check-up but wound up back in the hospital to address some issues that needed immediate attention. Growing old is not for sissies."

Buffett didn't go into much detail regarding the specific medical issue that resulted in his hospitalization, but he did offer an update via Facebook four days later. The singer-songwriter said he'd get released from the hospital the following day, explaining, "Then [I] will go for a fishing trip with old friends, along with paddling and sailing once I get myself back in good shape." Buffett further explained that he'd announce a new date for the canceled Charlotte, North Carolina show.

Prior to his hospitalization, Buffett had performed 11 live shows in the early half of 2023. The rest of his schedule was scrubbed clean in the immediate aftermath of his recovery. While Buffett only shared one update on Facebook (as of this writing), all indications seem to suggest he's on the mend and will refill his concert calendar soon — perhaps after he hooks a whopper while fishing with his friends.

Zach Roloff found himself in an emergency situation in early February thanks to needing surgery on shunt tubing (which is typically used to drain excess brain fluid to other parts of the body). The "Little People, Big World" star posted a picture with his three children on Instagram, letting his fans know he was back home and recovering. "I had a shunt revision surgery after getting really sick," he explained. "The shunt [has] always been something I've had but became very real this past week for our family." 

Meanwhile, Zach's dad, Matt Roloff went in to see his doctor for what he thought was a routine procedure when things didn't go as planned. Matt was in the hospital on May 19, 2023, for an upper endoscopy, a relatively routine outpatient procedure. Four days later, he posted a photo of himself on Instagram in a hospital bed, explaining, "Turns out I [had] some unexpected twists and turns leading down to the stomach." He didn't go into detail, but he required additional care and had to remain hospitalized.

In the post, Matt mentioned that he didn't need a computer chip and monitor installed, but more work needed to be done. Both Zach and Matt spent some time off work, healing from their respective medical scares. As of this writing, they are on the mend. Sadly, while Zach's family was there for him, The U.S. Sun claimed that Zach and his twin brother, Jeremy Roloff, had snubbed him during his recovery — at least, in public.

Michael Grimm, the winner of "America's Got Talent" Season 5, was hospitalized in late May 2023 with a serious and unknown illness. About a week later, his wife, Lucie Zolcerva-Grimm, posted a video on his Instagram to share information about his condition with Grimm's fans. "It's been an emotional ride. You may have noticed that he was struggling with his health a lot, lacking energy and not being able to fulfill shows," she said, explaining that her husband also begun experiencing difficulty lifting his head, "physical tremors," and "started talking gibberish" — ultimately requiring a ventilator as soon as he was admitted in the ICU.

Once Grimm could breathe without the ventilator, he was kept sedated in the ICU. The concern Zolcerva-Grimm expressed was that removing him from sedation could result in a stroke, and doctors were working hard to keep that from happening. While Grimm was thankfully on the mend, his wife told fans that it would take considerable time for him to recover; though it's still unclear what precisely was ailing the singer-songwriter, as of this writing.

"He currently has no voice. He's got to go under vocal cord repair from [the] time being on the ventilator and get all his organs back up and all his muscles working again," Zolcerva-Grimm said of her husband's recovery. "Mentally, he needs to come back from this and return to a state of health." Seeing as he relies on his mellifluous voice, that's understandably a concern — though it's worth noting that Grimm is hardly the first famous singer to undergo such a procedure.

"Selling Sunset's" Amanza Smith had a tumultuous medical emergency that sent her to the hospital in May 2023. On June 11, 2023, Smith updated her fans on Instagram, explaining that a blood infection sent her to the hospital, as it was causing debilitating back pain. Smith explained, "Over a month ago, and all of this started, I thought that I had a bulging disk or a slipped disc or something wrong with my lower back ... I laid in pain in my house for several days ... I didn't know what it was, but after over a month of excruciating pain, I finally started to get some answers."

Smith was given numerous scans, and when she stopped by for one more, she was admitted after her blood showed signs of something wrong. It turned out that Smith had an infection called osteomyelitis that spread into her spine, causing a great deal of pain, inflammation, and swelling, hence her purported "slipped disc." Fortunately, her doctors were on top of it as soon as the problem was identified, and Smith was given a round of antibiotics to eliminate the infection.

In her Instagram post, Smith explained she was still in pain. She also explained that the antibiotics she received intravenously every four hours for ten days had helped take down the infection and put her back on the road to recovery. That said, she went under the knife to try and eliminate pockets of infection the antibiotics missed.

Ty Pennington unwittingly joined the list of celebrities hospitalized in 2023 following a terrifying dash to the ICU on July 11. The TV host had been all smiles at the "Barbie" premiere just days before — then disaster struck. Pennington posted photos of himself strapped to machinery in the ICU, looking decidedly worse for wear on July 14.

"​​From the red carpet to the ICU... this last week has been interesting!" He captioned the pics. Pennington explained that he'd flown straight from the premiere to Colorado to start filming when he suddenly found himself unable to breathe—a horrifying experience as any asthmatic knows only too well. "Tuesday morning, I woke up at 4 am and could barely breathe," he explained. "Turns out, that sore throat I've had for the last month was actually an abscess that had grown so large it was closing off my airway. Next thing I know, I was intubated and flown to the ICU in Denver."

Pennington's health scare was a super fightening wake-up call. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a peritonsillar abscess causes "severe pain, swollen tonsils, and swollen lymph nodes." Left untreated, it can spread through the body, eventually infecting the chest or lungs. Thankfully, Pennington was released from the ICU within 48 hours following successful surgery. "A great reminder to listen to your body when it's telling you something," he sagely warned his followers along with the hashtag #JustHappyToBeHere and ermm.... #SpeedosForLife.

The eldest son of LeBron James, Bronny James, has followed in his legendary basketball player father's footsteps by playing the sport that made him famous. After he graduated from high school, Bronny committed to the University of Southern California to join their basketball team in May 2023. Unfortunately, the young college student was hospitalized on the morning of July 24 after "suffering a cardiac arrest" during practice at USC's basketball facility, as reported by TMZ Sports.

Thankfully, a representative for the James family released a statement that Bronny was taken out of the intensive care unit a day later. "He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU. We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update media when there is more information," the spokesperson told the publication. "LeBron and Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes."

According to Sports Illustrated, the USC men's basketball team's first game of the 2023-2024 season was set for November 6, so hopefully Bronny has a speedy recovery before starting his collegiate basketball career.

On October 8, Tamra Judge posted a selfie from a hospital bed to her Instagram Stories. "Intestinal obstruction ... Praying I won't need surgery," she wrote over the photo which also showed a tube up her nostril, via People. The "Real Housewives of Orange County" star added that this meant she would be out of commission to tape her "Two Ts in a Pod" podcast.

A few days later, Judge provided an update to fans in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter on October 11. Apparently, the issues started arising around a month earlier when she was filming "The Traitors" in Scotland, and the issues persisted once the Bravolebrity was home. Judge said the intestinal obstruction was not a new condition. "Basically, I've had many abdominal surgeries for my intestinal problems I've had throughout the years," she said in the video update. The reality star was able to avoid surgery, as doctors were able to alleviate the obstruction by using a tube. At the time of the video, Judge believed she would be released from the hospital soon.

Unfortunately, Judge had multiple health scares over the years. While appearing on "The Dr. Oz Show" in 2012, the "RHOC" star revealed that she had previously undergone treatment for cervical cancer. "I'm talking to my doctor about ... doing a hysterectomy," Judge said at the time, via Us Weekly. "I go to the doctor and I have lumps in my breasts and I had cervical cancer that had to be removed," she added.