Austin Butler recently revealed a terrifying medical emergency that occurred mid-flight as he traveled to film The Bikeriders. The actor described a frightening episode that made him believe he was dying during the flight, highlighting the physical toll his demanding career has taken on his health.
Details of Austin Butler’s Medical Crisis While Flying
The incident happened as Butler’s plane prepared to land on the way to shooting Jeff Nichols’s film The Bikeriders, a story centered on a biker gang. Suddenly, Butler experienced an overwhelming medical episode that caused temporary vision loss. He woke with a severe migraine, and for several minutes, his sight disappeared entirely before gradually returning.
Reflecting on the experience during an interview with Men’s Health, Butler said,
“It felt like the life was being sucked from my body,”
and added,
“I suddenly felt a euphoric sensation and I actually genuinely thought I was dying.”
Despite the alarming nature of this episode, he continued on to work a full day on set immediately after the flight. Butler attributes the emergency primarily to sleep deprivation, which underscores the physical strain he endures to meet his professional commitments.
Ongoing Health Struggles in Butler’s Acting Journey
This mid-flight emergency is among several health challenges Butler has faced during his rapid rise in Hollywood. After his critically acclaimed portrayal of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s 2021 biopic, he was hospitalized for severe appendicitis-like pain, a condition that emerged after years of intense emotional and physical demands from embodying the legendary singer.
More recently, during the press tour for Dune: Part Two in South Korea, Butler suffered persistent foot pain lasting eight months. He walked with his toes curled under to ease the discomfort until a doctor in New York City discovered and extracted a tiny piece of glass from his foot—about the size of a grain of rice—which had caused the lingering pain.
These cumulative health setbacks led Butler to reevaluate how he approaches acting and self-care. Reflecting on his past methods, Butler acknowledged how immersing himself entirely in roles often left him feeling depleted and physically broken. He shared,
“For a long time, I felt that it had to be a tortured process and I would come out the other side broken,”
emphasizing the personal cost of his previous dedication style.
How Mentorship Is Changing Butler’s Perspective on Acting and Recovery
Support from mentors like actress Laura Dern has helped Butler reconsider the relationship between intense character work and personal well-being. Dern has guided him toward the understanding that deep emotional investment in a role does not have to harm his health.
Butler elaborated,
“She’s helping me more and more to see that you can come out the other side, and maybe bits of you have healed, and synthesized, and metabolized,”
adding,
“It can be therapeutic, in a way.”
This shift suggests a move toward a healthier mindset in managing demanding acting roles without sacrificing his physical and emotional health.
Looking Ahead: Butler’s Upcoming Projects
Currently, Austin Butler is preparing for the release of Caught Stealing, a film directed by Darren Aronofsky. The movie features co-stars Regina King, Matt Smith, and Zoë Kravitz and is set for release on August 29, 2025. The story follows a former baseball player navigating the criminal underworld of New York City, continuing Butler’s trajectory of challenging and transformative roles.
