ATLANTA — Actor Quinton Aaron is opening up about a spinal stroke that turned his world upside down. In an exclusive with ABC News, he also revealed the shocking discovery he made about his marriage during his recovery.
Aaron, who first gained fame for his breakthrough performance opposite Sandra Bullock in the 2009 movie “The Blind Side," collapsed at his home in Atlanta earlier this year. His family had to put him on life support. They later learned that Aaron suffered from a spinal stroke.
A spinal stroke happens when a blood clot or bleeding interrupt blood flow in your spinal cord, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It can be fatal or cause permanent damage to a spinal cord.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Aaron told ABC News’ Steve Osunsami that he spent four days in a coma and couldn’t breathe on his own for a month. When he woke up, he learned that his wife was married to another man and couldn’t make any legal decisions on his behalf.
“And that’s what eventually led to the doctors removing her from around me,” Aaron told Osunsami in an interview that aired Monday on "Good Morning America."
TRENDING STORIES
- Father of 3 killed in motorcycle crash. His family to driver charged: ‘We forgive you’
- Recall alert: 1.39M Ford F-150s recalled; may downshift without warning
- NFL Draft 2026: Dates, times, draft order, how to watch on Channel 2
Aaron said his wife told him she had been divorced for over a decade. But when Aaron ended up in the hospital, an attorney found records showing his wife was still married.
“You did love her,” Osunsami said.
“Yes, I did,” Aaron responded.
His wife disputes Aaron’s account and told ABC News there was tension between her and Aaron’s family. Her husband also confirmed her account of their divorce, telling ABC News they both thought the divorce went through.
Aaron said he is now focused on his recovery and managing his diabetes, which doctors say was a contributing factor for his stroke.
The doctors told Aaron it could take months or up to a year for him to learn to walk again. But he remains optimistic about what lies ahead.
“And I said, ‘I don’t claim that time frame. I’ll be walking a lot sooner than you think.’ You know, and that’s just how I believe,” he continued. “That’s how, you know, between me, my faith, and my relationship with God.”
Reporting from “Good Morning America” and ABC News
©2026 Cox Media Group
