“Jamie Foxx Unveils Haunting Pre-Hospitalization Exchange: ‘Unbelievable’ Insights”

Jamie Foxx is reminiscing about a chilling discussion he had concerning his affairs before his 2023 near-fatal health scare.

“Isn’t it wild? Prior to it occurring, I was conversing with my associates who manage my matters [and they inquired], ‘Jamie, would you like to review some documents just in case something occurs?’ ” Foxx shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, March 12, at the Los Angeles premiere of the two-part Apple TV+ documentary Number One on the Call Sheet, which he co-created.

As the 57-year-old actor recalls, he queried his team, “‘What’s going to happen to me?’ ” — and shortly thereafter, he experienced a brain hemorrhage that resulted in a stroke while filming his movie Back in Action.

“Boom! Gone,” Foxx states, alluding to the period immediately following his medical ordeal when he slipped into a coma and didn’t regain consciousness until weeks later.

The Academy Award recipient continues by saying the event was far different from what he had always envisioned his demise to be, comparing it to a specific moment in a 1998 action-crime movie.

“I used to view the film Colors, during which they had a gunfight … I thought I was going to exit like Rocket [Don Cheadle], in a shootout at the mall or something,” Foxx explains. “I didn’t anticipate exiting by simply requesting an aspirin.”

Foxx was in Atlanta producing Back in Action alongside Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close when he encountered the health crisis in April 2023. He later disclosed that there are 20 days following the incident that he cannot recall.

“When it transpired, the amount of affection that was shared, the number of individuals who reached out, truly meant a lot,” Foxx states, adding regarding the aftermath, “When I was communicating with [God], he conveyed, ‘Hey man, I’m giving you a second chance — what are you going to do with it?’ “

His response? “I said, ‘I’m going to bring more smiles to faces and do everything I can to make it happen.’ ”

In that spirit, Foxx transformed his experience into a standup comedy special entitled What Had Happened Was … , which debuted on Netflix in December 2024.

“People ask, ‘Where are the jokes?’ I replied, ‘Y’all know me; I’m funny, man, I’ve got to tell the authentic story,’ ” Foxx tells PEOPLE. “There was some resistance regarding the God aspect. I said, ‘Man, what are y’all discussing? I have to share the truth.’ ”

Regarding future plans, “I have some new jokes coming up, so I’m getting out there,” he says. “I’ll likely be in Houston doing my thing.”

Number One on the Call Sheet is set to premiere on Apple TV+ March 28.