For years, Joe Manganiello was the picture of Hollywood success. A starring role in the hit series True Blood, a scene-stealing turn in the Magic Mike franchise, a high-profile marriage, and a physique that landed him on countless "sexiest" lists. To the public, he seemed to have it all.

But behind the curtain of red carpets and shirtless scenes, the actor was fighting a private and terrifying war against his own body. In his upcoming memoir, "Bloodlines," Manganiello details a grueling seven-year health ordeal that brought him to the brink of death.

According to a synopsis of the book, Manganiello's health crisis began without warning, with a devastating "cascade of autoimmune-related illnesses" that targeted multiple systems in his body. The conditions attacked his skin, thyroid, eyes, lungs, and digestive system, leaving him in a state of chronic pain and searching for answers that doctors could not provide.

"Joe Manganiello seemed to have it all: a soaring career, a new marriage, and what many considered, the best physique in Hollywood. Then, without warning, his body began to fail him," reads the publisher's description of the memoir .

The actor, now 49, is set to release "Bloodlines" on October 13 through Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The memoir promises a gripping account of a health crisis marked by multiple near-death experiences, chronic pain, and an urgent search for a cure that took him far beyond the realm of traditional medicine.

The synopsis reveals that the autoimmune assault was so severe that doctors were forced to perform a life-saving organ amputation. At the peak of his career and in the midst of his marriage to actress Sofía Vergara, Manganiello was fighting for his survival as medical professionals struggled to find a clear diagnosis or an effective treatment plan .

As conventional medicine failed to provide answers, Manganiello's quest for healing took an unorthodox turn. His search led him to explore his family's ancestry, where he discovered a history of chronic illness, violence, and displacement. He traced his lineage back to a survivor of the Armenian genocide and ancestors shaped by war and migration .

This journey into his "bloodlines" opened up a new path, incorporating shamanic healing, pagan rituals, ancient myths, and a spiritual rebirth. His search for answers was not just about treating symptoms, but about understanding the inherited trauma and hidden patterns that may have contributed to his condition .

Reflecting on the experience, Manganiello described it as "the most brutally difficult time of my life, one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy" . In a statement shared with People, he added that it was also "my greatest adventure," a crucible that changed him fundamentally .

"The process of writing this book gave me the gift of perspective that helped me to see that my suffering was a cocoon from which I would emerge forever changed," he said .

Despite the public perception of a body that was the result of effortless genetics, Manganiello has previously clarified that his impressive physique was hard-won. "I was really skinny growing up and I had to work at it," he once explained .

The actor, known for his roles in Spider-Man and One Piece as well as his TV work on One Tree Hill, now hopes that sharing his vulnerability will inspire others fighting their own silent battles .

"I hope that what I went through on this journey can give readers hope that answers and healing may lie for them on the other side of whatever they are fighting through," Manganiello said .

With the release of "Bloodlines," Joe Manganiello is doing more than selling a book; he is telling a story of resilience that proves the toughest battles are often fought far from the spotlight. The memoir is set to offer an "emotionally expansive" look at illness, inheritance, and the identities we build to endure .