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Billy Porter is opening up about a terrifying health scare that nearly cost him his life. The Emmy-, Grammy-, and Tony-winning actor recently revealed that he developed urosepsis after doctors discovered a kidney stone trapped in his urethra, triggering a severe infection. The ordeal forced him to withdraw from his Broadway role in Cabaret and led to emergency surgery after he developed compartment syndrome in his leg. Here’s what to know about the situation, including the machine that helped save his life.

Billy Porter said he was ‘dead for 3 days’ following a severe sepsis case

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Tony-award winning star Billy Porter recently opened up about a health scare that nearly cost him his life. He spoke on Outlaws with TS Madison regarding the incident that forced him to step away from Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in September 2025.

According to Porter, he went to the hospital to check on a kidney stone “trapped in [his] urethra,” leaving him in terrible pain.

“When they got in there, there was so much puss and bile and infection behind the stone,” he noted. “It bubbled up, and I went eurosceptic in minutes.” This specific type of sepsis travels from the urinary tract to the kidneys when untreated. “I was dead for three days,” Porter continued. He noted that he was “on the ECMO machine” — a form of life support.

To save his leg, doctors had to “cut” Porter “open on either side of [his] leg” from knee to hip. They then left the cut open “for two days” to save the leg. Porter developed compartment syndrome, where pressure builds within muscle compartments, restricting blood flow and damaging nerves and muscles.

Ultimately, Porter knows he’s lucky to be alive. “I am so grateful to be here,” he said. “It is such a gift.”

What is an ECMO machine that helped keep Billy Porter alive?

Billy Porter says an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine helped keep him alive during his health scare. So, what does the mechanism do?

According to the Mayo Clinic, blood is pumped outside the body of a patient and into a heart-lung machine in the event of an ECMO. Blood flows from the right side of the heart into the machine. The machine removes carbon dioxide so oxygen-rich blood can reenter the body. Then, the blood is rewarmed and sent back into the body. The heart and lungs can rest with an ECMO, as it sends blood around the heart and lungs.

ECMO is a part of extracorporeal life support, also known as ECLS, the publication explains. Those with heart-threatening heart and lung conditions can utilize this for recovery. The possible risks include bleeding; blood clots; a clotting disorder; infection; a loss of blood supply in the hands, feet, or legs; and seizures or stroke.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, ECMO was used more than 21,000 times worldwide in 2024, per data from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. Around 600 hospitals worldwide can provide ECMO when necessary.

Fans reacted to the star’s situation and treatment

Billy Porter’s fans rallied behind him following his candid discussion surrounding his health scare.

“Omg he was put on ECMO,” one fan reacted on Reddit. “How scary. Hope he’s recovering well.” Others echoed that the use of ECMO was “scary” to imagine.

“What a horrifying time for his friends/family — I’m glad he was able to get off ECMO, get out of the ICU, and ultimately go home. Hoping he makes a full recovery,” another fan wrote.

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