In her new book Manual Not Included, Hilaria Baldwin describes how her husband Alec Baldwin’s physical and mental health was impacted by the shooting on the Rust set
A prop gun held by Alec discharged a live bullet on Oct. 21, 2021, accidentally killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza
A month before charges against Alec were dropped, the actor became ill and was rushed to the hospital, where Hilaria feared for his life
Hilaria Baldwin is recounting how the Rust tragedy severely affected her husband Alec Baldwin — both mentally and physically.
In her memoir Manual Not Included (out May 6), the 41-year-old yoga instructor and entrepreneur described how her husband “became a totally different man” following the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, after a prop gun he was holding discharged during a rehearsal for a scene. Director Joel Souza was also injured. Baldwin, 67, was formally charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on Jan. 31, 2023. The film’s armorer, Gutierrez-Reed, was also charged.
The charges were officially dropped in April, but about a month before, Hilaria says Alec’s health “quickly deteriorated.” She recalls rushing him to the emergency room.
“His hands became cold, and he could barely walk. I brought him to the emergency room. They did many tests. It was more stress, the doctors said,” Hilaria said, noting that he had stopped eating and drinking. “It was like he was turning off,” she added.
They headed home after that visit, but a few days later, his health worsened. Hilaria received a call from their nanny while taking their children to school, urging her to get back home because Alec was “really sick.”
Related: Alec Baldwin Says Filming Reality Show During Rust Trial Was ‘Unique,’ Says They’re Not ‘Staging Anything’ (Exclusive)
Falling Forward
Alec Baldwin and Patrick Scott McDermott in ‘Rust’
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“I rushed back and found him shaking, unable to stand up. He still refused to see the doctor, doing his best Alec-curmudgeon again to make me leave him alone,” Hilaria wrote.
Although Alec did not want to call an ambulance or go to the hospital, Hilaria finally convinced him that he needed help. They got in the car and drove to the hospital. But just as they arrived, Hilaria says Alec was having problems with his vision, and then “slumped back, eyes rolling, mouth open.”
She panicked.
“Mikey, our driver, ran inside the hospital to get help. I was sure Alec was dead. I thought I was going to vomit from feeling so helpless and heartbroken. How could this be happening?” Hilaria recalled thinking.
Alec was admitted right away and stayed in the hospital for a week. Upon leaving, “he couldn’t walk without the help of a walker,” Hilaria shared. But Alec had to return to the Rust set to finish filming. To prevent the cast and crew from knowing about his illness, the actor wore an orthopedic boot to create the impression that he was slow and weak due to an injury.
Rou Shoots/Warner Bros. Discovery
Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin with their children in ‘The Baldwins’
The couple has also reflected on how the Rust tragedy affected both of them in their TLC series The Baldwins, which debuted Sunday, Feb. 23. Cameras began rolling for the series the month before Alec headed to trial — and the series shows how he and Hilaria juggled parenting and day-to-day life with their kids alongside the legal proceedings.
“A son lost his mom in the most unthinkable tragedy. This is never something to forget, and we’re trying to parent through it,” Hilaria shares in a trailer for the series as scenes show tender moments between the two parents and their kids, followed by an emotional Alec breaking down into tears in a confessional.
“Honestly, from the bottom of my soul, I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have you and these kids,” Alec tells his wife.
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