Actor José Luis Gioia Suffers Ischemic Stroke During Production
The 73-year-old performer was hospitalized in intensive care, placed in a medically induced coma, and subsequently replaced in the streaming series.
Argentine actor José Luis Gioia suffered an ischemic stroke and a severe case of meningoencephaloeritis while filming the second season of the streaming series "Menem," forcing his emergency hospitalization and departure from the production. The 73-year-old performer experienced a sudden deterioration in his health on set, leading to a critical medical emergency that kept him hospitalized for nearly three weeks.
The health crisis began on set when the veteran entertainer became gravely ill. He was initially taken to the Nueva Azul Clinic, but due to the complexity of his condition, he was transferred on October 11 to the Suizo Argentina Clinic and Maternity, where medical staff admitted him directly to the intensive care unit.
According to the medical diagnosis reported by journalist Maru Leone and confirmed through the actor's family, Gioia suffered an ischemic stroke accompanied by meningoencephaloeritis, which involves the simultaneous inflammation of the brain tissue and the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Given the severity of the neurological swelling, physicians placed him in a medically induced coma and connected him to mechanical ventilation.
The actor remained heavily sedated and on life support for approximately one week. On October 17, medical professionals began the gradual process of waking him up. His condition slowly stabilized, allowing doctors to discharge him from the Suizo Argentina Clinic on October 30.
Following his discharge, Gioia was transferred to the Alcla Clinic to begin a rigorous, intensive rehabilitation program. While his family initially kept his health status private due to the critical nature of his condition, reporters confirmed that he is currently recovering under specialized medical supervision.
The unexpected medical emergency also forced significant changes behind the scenes of the Prime Video biographical series about former President Carlos Saúl Menem. Gioia had been cast to portray a member of the former president's inner circle, but because he was unable to complete his scheduled filming days, production executives made the decision to remove his previously recorded footage from the final cut and cast another actor to take over the role.
With a career spanning more than five decades across film, television, and theater, Gioia is widely recognized by audiences for his extensive body of work. His notable credits include a memorable performance in Juan José Campanella’s Academy Award-winning film "The Secret in Their Eyes," as well as numerous comedic and dramatic television appearances.