Austin Butler, the actor known for his portrayal of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic, has detailed a series of alarming health scares he faced during filming. The 34-year-old star revealed that he suffered temporary blindness and believed he was dying after finishing his role in the film. His ordeal began with what he described as a virus, leading to severe pain that he initially thought might be appendicitis. Butler was hospitalized and spent a week recovering in bed.
The health issues continued when he experienced a severe migraine while flying to the set of ‘The Bikeriders,’ a drama about a Midwestern biker gang. The migraine left him near-blind for several minutes, causing him to feel as if his life was being ‘sucked from his body.’ He later explained that he didn’t seek immediate medical help, instead proceeding to work the full day, citing sleep deprivation as the cause. During his press tour for ‘Dune: Part Two,’ Butler faced another medical issue when he developed a sharp, stabbing pain in his foot, which persisted for eight months.
A doctor in New York finally discovered a shard of glass, the size of a grain of rice, embedded in his foot. Despite these incidents, Butler indicated that easing up on the pressure to constantly perfect his craft has been key to reducing health scares. With the help of his Hollywood mentor, Laura Dern, he learned that pushing himself to the brink wasn’t necessary for delivering an outstanding performance. Butler has since made a conscious effort to prioritize rest and balance, ensuring he gets a full night’s sleep or spends time with friends while still working in Hollywood.
Butler’s health scares were recounted after he previously shared with Fox News Digital in 2024 about his intense training for the film ‘Masters of the Air.’ During the two-week boot camp, the actors took WWII history lessons, trained with pilots, and learned military skills to accurately depict their roles as B-17 bomber pilots. Butler’s experience highlights the toll of demanding film schedules and the importance of self-care in high-pressure environments.