He was often getting fevers and flu-type symptoms. "[Those health] issues become more difficult to live with the more he tours, and he toured a great deal in those last several years. Elvis Presley skyrocketed to fame in the 1950s. I wish there was something I could have done to make him a happier person. Did he really fire Colonel Tom Parker onstage in Las Vegas? They don't want to go out. Legal Statement. That always stayed with him. needs to stop or at least radically change. Presleys physician, George Nichopoulos, or "Dr. Nick," said Presley "suffered from chronic pain from degenerative problems in his back and neck as a result of severe arthritis. She says, 'Come upstairs, I need help. But Tennant thinks Presley had all the symptoms of EDS, including an unusual degree of flexibility and double jointness that allowed him to swing his hips and gyrate wildly. This can lead to constipation which the star was famously trying to rid when he passed away. He knew he was not going to be able to perform like he wanted to., We shared many hours together, she continued. Elvis. The last decade of his life had seen his health take a dramatic nose dive. After a quick injection of stimulant drugs, Elvis recovers just enough to sing, dance and entertain an adoring crowd in a packed showroom. Subsequent armchair diagnosticians (and a few geneticists who claimed to have a lock of Elviss hair and performed a DNA analysis of it) have suggested Elvis had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle in which there is thickening of the hearts walls, weakening and enlargement of the muscle itself, and, ultimately heart failure or sudden cardiac death. No one was going to question him. (CBS via Getty Images). He was miserable because hed gained so much weight. His medicine chest was filled with amber-colored, white-topped vials of medications, in doses no responsible doctor would have prescribed. It was hard to be Elvis, no one had done fame like that before, and no one else could do it for him. But according to "Elvis," overwhelming demand from fans played a part in his fall. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Elvis Presley skyrocketed to fame in the 1950s. LOS ANGELES - It has been widely reported that Elvis Presley died in 1977 from cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat, possibly brought on by drug dependency, obesity and a weak heart. When critics and fans describe Elvis in his later years, one term used is "Fat Elvis." Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Elvis approved of the idea, and the label sent a studio truck to his home. Forrest Tennant, author of The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley, believed that the singer was actually suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder . Atherosclerosis is a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances. Elvis was taken by ambulance to the Baptist Memorial Hospital, where the medical staff was known to be more discrete than the far-closer Methodist South Hospital. The maids were like family. On Aug. 16, 1977, Presley was found unconscious in his Graceland mansion. His untimely death was mourned by fans as many made their way to Graceland, his mansion in Memphis, to pay respects. "I realized this man was as iconic as they come, and yet he of course was a human being, sensitive and vulnerable, with virtues and flaws, and I got to experience all of that, Butler said in a USA TODAY interview. During the autopsy it became clear that Elvis did in fact have multiple heart problems, including a strained aorta and atherosclerosis. He allegedly told her, "I cant baby, I cant stop right now. That haunts me.". (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty), SEAN ASTIN SAYS LATE MOTHER PATTY DUKES MENTAL ILLNESS LED HIM TO OFFER SUPPORT TO OTHER PEOPLE, Kirk claimed she tried to improve Presleys diet, but it didnt stick. By the mid-70s, Presley was in declining physical and mental health, history.com reported. The knowledge and experience Tennant gained in the last 50 years led to his recent book, appropriately titled The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley.. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images). (According to the medical examiner's report,the singer died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease at 42.). Elvis' last live gig was on June 26, 1977, at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis to a crowd of 18,000 fans, according to LiveAbout. Since the June 2022release of BazLuhrmann's"Elvis,"starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, discourse surrounding Presley's life and death has become all shook up. Elvis Presley was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. Throw in the obesity Elvis suffered from near the end of his life, what appears to be type II diabetes, an enlarged heart, and a steady diet of unhealthy, fatty and fried foods, along with his notorious prescription pill consumption, and you have the perfect prescription for disaster. Well, that's not true. He had all these metabolic defects due to his genetics, and so the codeine built up in his system. "People think: Oh, you're a star or you have money. After all these years people still want to know what happened to the "King." The King was just 43 when he was found face down on the floor of the bathroom at his Graceland home, appearing to have fallen off the toilet. Therefore, you should be happy. Elvis' passing is often used as the archetypal rock star death a tragic accident caused by a poor health and drug use. "He was miserable. "The phone rings intercom," said Joe Esposito, foreman of the Memphis Mafia. They had a similar four-year period of degenerative health, and thats interesting because she did not take the same medication as he took.. He bought strangers new cars just to see their reactions. Her new book, which comes out on Sept. 15, is titled "Destined to Fly: The Story of Pilot Ron Strauss From Iowa to Elvis," which tells the little-known tale of Presleys pilot. Everyones relying on me. She credits this topublic figureslike Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish and Michael Phelps, who usetheir platforms toshare theirstruggles and help reducemental health stigma. "We see that when he tours, he takes more medication than when hes not touring. If Presley werealive today, he would be 88. Elvis Presley's Health and Legacy. ", "We don't want celebrities to actually have that picture-perfect life. I asked Dr. Tennant how we could use Elvis' predicament to help others in pain. What confused some people, though, was that Elvis took a portion of the show to introduce everyone from his life onstage. Market data provided by Factset. But when one looks at the last 12 months of Elvis' life, it becomes clear that the truth behind the King Of Rock And Roll's death might have been even stranger than the rumors people spread about him. The tip of his tongue was clenched between his teeth and his face was blotchy. The book alleges that during the second show of that fourth tour, Presley, who was semiconscious, had his head dunked in a bucket of ice water. Three of his uncles died of heart, kidney and liver issues in their 40a and early 50s. Thats not enough for a man who culturally shifted our universe. At his last concert, which took place in Indiana, Presley was quoted as saying, "My body really hurts, but no matter what Im going out there tonight and giving everything I have no matter what." As a young man embracing both a punishing work schedule and the stresses of newfound celebrity, Elvis was under a tremendous amount of pressure. And despite having never smoked, he also suffered from emphysema. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. His doctor tried at one point to see if he could sleep without anything. And you have to remember, this was a time when people really didnt talk about their health like they do now. He needed a full-time nurse and apparently refused to bathe throughout 1975, causing him to develop sores on his body. The jury thought Dr. Nick was acting in the best interests of the patient (an extremely improbable conclusion, it seems to this doctor) and was acquitted. Experts say it's crucial to treat stars with empathy and compassion, rather than ridicule. Whats Missing in Elvis Movie: The Kings Chronic Illness, The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley.. Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charity. Presleys forebears may have made marriage choices because of poverty and proximity, but Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt married to keep wealth in the family. While the world at large saw Elvis as the man who had it all, Letitia known to those around Elvis as "Tish" had a private window into his personal struggles. Title track "Moody Blue" became Elvis' final Number One single; the song is in keeping with the pop music of the time, tinged with disco and exotica, but still showcases the warbling, lonely figure that the singer had become. The singer, who made teenage girls hysterical with his movie star looks, catchy songs and gyrating. Really he looked disproportionate a big swollen torso and face, with relatively slim arms and legs. They were all connected. Hugely overweight, his mind dulled by the pharmacopeia he daily ingested, he was barely able to pull himself through his abbreviated concerts.". The Colonel owes a lot of money in gambling debts and some of the guys will be in bad financial shape if I dont keep working. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images). However, the home recording sessions of 1976 were fruitful, and seemed to inspire a burst of creativity in the King. Nick, was at Elvis beck and call for nearly a decade. Its not accurate and its not enough. The pressure to perform, the loss of privacy and the incessant public. Others claimed he'd died from a drug overdose, but when the investigation was reopened in 1994, coroner Joseph Davis disagreed. The King of Rock 'n' Roll shocked prudish 1950s America with his hip swiveling and unprecedented charm and was treated as an icon - until his tragic final years. Slurring his words. Linda had been a stabilizing force in the singer's world, but she eventually left him because she wanted a more normal life. According to Elvis: Destined to Die Young, the singers downward spiral, punctuated by health problems routinely written off as the consequences of addiction, could have been caused by Presleys maternal grandparents, who were first cousins. Within the book Sally revealed that Elvis grandparents were first cousins. This manifested most egregiously in March 1977 during two stops in Louisiana. He was later pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital. While he was also taking many dangerous pharmaceuticals throughout his life, it was the heart disease caused by his bad diet that ultimately killed him. Similar to many who found fame in the 60s and 70s, Elvis developed a drug addiction. "Hound Dog" is an antique in 2020, but when it first premiered, it was a revolution. I gently turned his face toward me. Since he died 45years ago, he has becomethe butt of "fat Elvis" jokes and is still mocked over the circumstances of his death. He felt the pressure. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He was hospitalised again in 1975 with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a condition called megacolon, whereby the large intestine becomes distended and can allow toxins to flood the body. He would also often say "God, I hurt all over." More: Austin Butler's 'Elvis' acting lessons began when Tom Hanks delivered a typewriter to his door. Some of the many interesting and caloric meals heconsumed over the yearsincluded, the Fools Gold Loaf, which was "made with a jars worth of blueberry jam, a jars worth of peanut butter and an entire pound of bacon," and peanut butter and banana sandwiches. But Donna Rockwell, a clinical psychologist specializing in celebrity mental health, says the cultural mockery of imperfect stars speaks to "a part of human nature we're not particularly proud of. Deeply depressed. Legal Statement. A man holds newspaper announcing his death. Elvis Presley died at 42 years oldon Aug. 16, 1977, in Memphis, Tennessee. Copyright 2023 Pain News Network / Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Advertising / Surveys / Donors. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Elvis Presley in concert circa 1977. He would pass away that same year. He pitched forward onto the carpet, his rear in the air, and was dead by the time he hit the floor. Early on, these were heavily pushed by his manager, the infamous "Colonel" Tom Parker, who many believe swindled the naive young Elvis while running him ragged. A diagnostic screening tool for EDS didnt exist when Elvis was alive and few physicians were even aware of the condition. Today, Hoedel hopes her book will encourage readers to take a look at the "human" side of Presley, a figure who was put on a pedestal for his talent and then gawked at as he tumbled. All proceeds from sales of The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley go the Tennant Foundation, which gives financial support to Pain News Network and sponsors PNNs Patient Resources section. But his immune system wasnt fighting off infection as it should have. (Aug. 16), fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, died in Memphis, Tennessee, on Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis Presley's only daughter dies at 54 after a brief hospitalization, 'Elvis' is onefried peanut butter and banana sandwich of a movie, tasty but overstuffed. But now, "Elvis" (in theaters) strives to humanize the legendary singer beyond his musical abilities. Manly adds the objectification of Elvis also played a role in this mistreatment: not only was he used as a "moneymaking machine" by power-hungry leadersin the industry, but he was also sexualized and reduced toan image by his youngfemalefans. Either way, not only do BPD parents often. Dr. Nick testified he gave into all of Elviss prescription requests because he wanted to keep Presley from seeking out these drugs on the street., Doctors still argue about this princes early death, How a serious illness gave Eugene ONeill his dark literary power. All rights reserved. While Elvis did suffer from a pill addiction, as the Austin Butler Elvis movie ending explained, he had chronic pain and health problems that may have fueled it. I think he was awake for three days. In a toxicology report, weeks after his death, Elvis' blood was found to have hadextremely high levels of the opiates Dilaudid, Percodan, Demeroland codeine,as well as Quaaludes. According to Kirk, Presley was impressed by the nurse and her country ways. In 1972, he hired her as his nurse, as well as her husband for security. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. They were all connected. He wasborn inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935. However, as Presleys body was slowing down, Hoedel said his determination to hit the road endured. Examining them, she believes, is a way to humanise the mythical figure of Presley, who in later life was known for his corpulence and indulgent appetite. Why the early death? However, though Dr. Nick was charged with 11 felony accounts of overprescribing drugs, he was acquitted the medical examiner claimed that Elvis had died of heart disease, adding, "Had these drugs not been there, he still would've died.". He was trying to function within his reality., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The world thinks he has everything, and yet the happiness isnt there. She walked past the painting, and she took her little fingers and blew a kiss and said, I love you, daddy. I melted right away.. ", In Ginger's mind, these opinions were unfair stones cast by her fiance's cronies. As a result of his horrendous diet, he suffered from chronic constipation and a post mortem found he had compacted stool that was four months old sitting in his bowel. Equally cryptic for some were the parting words the King said as he left the stage: "We'll meet again. After the trial, Tennant remained curious about Elvis medical problems and continued his research while treating people with intractable pain. Appropriation or appreciation? Early on, these were heavily pushed by his manager, the infamous "Colonel" Tom Parker, who many believe swindled the naive young Elvis while running him ragged. All rights reserved. Contrary to popular belief, celebrities aren't immune to mental health problems. And I believe the explanation in this book is as close as well get to fully understand what was going on in his life and what led to his death.". 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