Jeremy Renner recounts recovery from horrific accident: ‘I’m forever grateful’

Las Vegas - At this point, Jeremy Renner says there’s no reason to ever have bad days.

After all, he says, “I shouldn’t be here in the first place.”

At the closing keynote of the HIMSS 2026 Global Health Conference & Exhibition Thursday, the world-famous actor shared his memories of recovering from a near-fatal snowplow accident in 2023. He suffered 38 broken bones and required numerous surgeries. A nurse explained that he should have died in all likelihood.

Speaking to thousands of healthcare leaders, Renner grew emotional at one point, pausing and saying, “I’m forever grateful.”

With comedy and a bit of profanity, Renner recounted the physical and emotional trauma he suffered in the 2023 accident, which occurred when he tried to save his nephew from being crushed.

In a conversation with Linsey Davis of ABC News, Renner also offered his thoughts on his experience as a patient, the doctors and nurses who cared for him, and some of the hurdles that make it harder for clinicians and patients.

Renner, known globally for playing “Hawkeye” in the Marvel films, described the efforts of doctors and nurses in heroic terms. He talked about the physician who left his own vacation and helped him save his legs, and nurses who cared for him at all hours.

He recalled times when he didn’t necessarily make it easy on the clinicians, partly because of being disoriented from various medications and partly from being confused, scared and angry. He recalls being perplexed when he sought to be transferred from one hospital to another, but not grasping the challenges involved given the severity of his injuries. He recalls telling the staff, “I’m not a prisoner.”

Renner talked about the situation with some self-deprecation, saying, “I’m a superhero, with my ass in the wind.”

But the two-time Oscar nominee also outlined some of the difficulties for patients in the hospital. He described the frustration of not being able to sleep when doctors needed to perform more tests, and the agitation that brings.

When asked by Davis about ways to improve the hospital experience, Renner pointed to one consistent issue: “The communication.”

From his perspective, different sectors of the healthcare system weren’t aware of what others were doing or needed. He recalls getting X-rays and MRIs - at times of the same body part - and wondered if some of those tests could have possibly been streamlined. Different parts of the system seemed very compartmentalized and weren’t connecting to each other.

Renner said there needs to be better sharing of information to “help our helpers.”

While he characterized his take as one from someone who isn’t a doctor, plenty of healthcare leaders in the audience nodded or murmured their agreement.

Renner, who detailed his recovery in the memoir, “My Next Breath,” said he defied expectations that he would never walk again. He said he has no limitations.

“I can run, if I want to,” he said. “But what am I running for?”

“I don’t want to put more miles on these joints than I have to,” he says.

He also acknowledges days when his hips are tight and there are other aches. As he says, “I’ll be in recovery for the rest of my life.”

But Renner says the accident has prolonged his life and made him much more focused on living a healthy life. He also said that he sees a need for more attention on preventative health, saying “I don’t think we’re taught that.”

“We can participate in our health, before we need our healthcare professionals,” he said.

Now, Renner says he is enjoying working with a nonprofit organization in Nevada that helps disadvantaged youth. He says he’s relishing being around for his family.

Renner sees more acting ahead, but he said, “I certainly like living in reality and non-fiction land.”