Jeremy Renner wasn’t ready to revisit the terrifying moment that almost took his life.
The actor, known for roles in Avengers and The Hurt Locker, opened up on CBS Mornings about why he didn’t want to write about his January 2023 snow plough accident in his new book, My Next Breath.
He revealed that most of the book was already written before he finally decided to add the chapter on his near-death experience. At first, he didn’t think sharing it would matter to anyone. “It was a private incident that happened in my driveway. Why does anybody care about it?” he said. But Renner realized that opening up could offer others something valuable, especially the lesson of pushing past your own fear and vulnerability. “Getting out of your own way is quite important to achieve and get anything you want in your life,” he explained.
The accident itself was brutal. Renner had been trying to stop a snowplough from sliding into his nephew during a heavy snowfall near his home in Reno, Nevada. He ended up getting crushed by the 14,000-pound vehicle, suffering more than 30 broken bones, blunt chest trauma, and orthopedic injuries. Doctors were unsure if he would walk again, but his determination to recover shocked even them.
Earlier this year, Renner marked the second anniversary of the incident with a moving Instagram post. He shared a throwback photo of the medical team that helped save his life and called it his “second ReBirthday.” He wrote, “I send out my love, respect, and gratitude for the army of people that it took to put me back together again.” Renner didn’t hold back, also thanking his brave nephew and his neighbors who were the first to respond and help him while he lay critically injured on the icy driveway.
Despite his reluctance, My Next Breath includes the raw details of the incident, not to relive the trauma, but to show what healing can look like. The actor hopes his honesty helps others navigate their own hardships. He acknowledged how hard it was to share those haunting moments, especially knowing what his family had to see. “I’m so sorry all the haunting images I imprinted on you,” he said in his post, admitting the memory still weighs heavily on him.
From being unable to move to now walking red carpets again, Jeremy Renner’s story is more than a comeback, it’s a lesson in resilience, courage, and being brave enough to be vulnerable.
