Outer Banks star Chase Stokes has revealed he suffered liver and kidney failure after filming the fifth and final season of the hit Netflix series. The 33-year-old actor, who plays central character John B, said he needed to step back from work to focus on his health.
Health crisis after filming
Stokes appeared in Outer Banks from its premiere in 2020, with the final scenes filmed in December 2025. After finishing work on the show, he realised he needed to put his health before returning to work.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he said: "I left that show... my liver was failing, my kidney was failing. I had so many health issues that I had to figure out, and my brain was all out of whack. It was a really important time for me to get my bearings right versus just go back into work and mask it."
Treatment and recovery
The actor also revealed he had "alarmingly low" testosterone levels, leading him to undergo blood tests twice a month and begin transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, known as TMS. He described the treatment as "deep" and "intensive". TMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate areas of the brain and can be used in the treatment of some mental health conditions and neurological disorders.
Stokes stressed that taking time away from work was important, saying he needed to "take care of my body". Without doing so, he said he "unfortunately wouldn't have been around much longer". The actor added that he had "a lot to live for" and still had plenty he wanted to achieve.
Fame and reflection
He also reflected on others who had struggled without seeking help, describing it as "unfortunate" how many "great people" had suffered by not getting treatment sooner. Stokes said he is now feeling much better after getting help.
Elsewhere in the interview, he admitted he had a "really hard time" adjusting to the level of fame that came with Outer Banks. The teen drama centres on working-class locals and wealthier seasonal residents in North Carolina, as a group of young people search for lost treasure. John B leads the hunt after his father disappears.
Stokes said even taking his dog for a walk could be difficult because strangers would photograph him without permission. Despite the challenges, he said he never expected to become part of something so successful and remains grateful for the opportunity. Stokes has also appeared in Uglies, the 2024 adaptation starring Joey King, and the 2021 series Tell Me Your Secrets.
