Here is what you need to know about Elvis' death, declining health and other aspects of his life. He would pass away that same year. Those sexy dance moves helped make Elvis famous, but they also foretold what lay in store for him. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! He once told me, You never hear Superman asking for help.", "The touring is difficult," Hoedel explained. His sudden death led to rumors that he died from an overdose or even a horrible case of constipation. Presley was a long-time abuser of opiates, which not only kill pain but also cause savage constipation. Elvis had a way of getting what he wanted, said Kirk. So we know that its physically hard on his body and thats why hes taking more medication when hes on the road. Many would later wonder if this was because Elvis knew somewhere deep down that he would never play again and wanted to shout out all of those who made his career possible. 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. The other two pathologists Muirhead and Florredo eventually revealed they also had found evidence of severe and chronic constipation, diabetes, and glaucoma during their examination. As Elvis Presley embarked on a grueling tour, he was concerned about his health, Sally A. Hoedel claimed. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. newsletter for analysis you wont find anywhereelse. When critics and fans describe Elvis in his later years, one term used is "Fat Elvis." Five of those disease processes, she says, were present from birth. The grave of singer Elvis Presley in Graceland. At some point, Presley headed to the bathroom where he experienced a cardiac event. He was later pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charity. In a toxicology report, weeks after his death, Elvis' blood was found to have had extremely high levels of the opiates Dilaudid, Percodan, Demerol and codeine, as well as Quaaludes. His medicine chest was filled with amber-colored, white-topped vials of medications, in doses no responsible doctor would have prescribed. According to the New York Daily News, by the end of his life Elvis was consuming enough calories to feed several people every day. In 2020, Hoedel wrote a book titled "Elvis: Destined to Die Young," which explored the late music icons health history and what contributed to his early demise. He said: "Id have to classify Elviss death as an accident. 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. A man holds newspaper announcing his death. His official cause of death was listed as cardiac arrhythmia. Elvis Presley health: The star was destined to die young full list of his health issues. He spent most of his time holed up in the elaborate den nicknamed the "Jungle Room" for its exotic decor of his Memphis compound Graceland. "If it had been a drug overdose, [Elvis] would have slipped into an increasing state of slumber. ", Interview: Carson Daly says he's suffered from anxiety, panic attacks on 'The Voice', TV: Lessons for all of us in 'The Kardashians' finale. Preliminary autopsy findings determined Presley's death was the result of a "cardiac arrhythmia" and that drugs were not involved,saidPBS. Most challenging during Elvis' final years was his nonstop schedule of his live performances. Elvis Presley was found dead at the foot of the toilet with his bottom in the air after months of agonising constipation and cheese burger binges. Williams herself recently told a photographer that she is "formerly retired" and wants to appear on shows including "Late Night with Seth Meyers" and "The View.". Later that afternoon, a team of pathologists, Drs. Fact checking the new 'Elvis' movie: Did he really fire Colonel Tom Parker onstage in Las Vegas? But in 1976, all three were fired to "cut back on expenses." Dr. Elvis Presley in concert circa 1977. "[Those health] issues become more difficult to live with the more he tours, and he toured a great deal in those last several years. Titled Elvis: What Happened?, the book offered the public its first look into Presley's drug use and sex life. Get a daily dose of showbiz gossip direct to your inbox. He was only 42 years old and a bloated, fading version of the once-beautiful man whose rhythmic hip-swaying earned him the nickname Elvis the Pelvis. His girlfriend, Ginger Alden, found him unconscious, lying face down in the master suite bathroom on the second floor of his Memphis mansion, Graceland. One of these problems was Elvis megacolon. Elvis Presley skyrocketed to fame in the 1950s. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images), The fifth tour of the year, comprised of 10 cities, 10 shows in 10 days, began on June 17 and ended on June 26. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Thus, he likely died of a massive heart. He is the director of the Center for the History of Medicine and the George E. Wantz Distinguished Professor of the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan and the author ofThe Secret of Life: Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick and the Discovery of DNAs Double Helix (W.W. Norton, September 21). 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. You have all of the money in the world. The setlist included many of his classic hits like "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," and "Jailhouse Rock," as well as newer numbers like "Hurt" and his cover of "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Britney Spears had her trauma exploited: What it means to finallyhear her side. First he complained of vertigo, back pain, and insomnia, eye infections and headaches, and in 1973 he was rushed to hospital in a semi-coma and found to be suffering from jaundice, severe respiratory distress, marked swelling of his face, distended abdomen, constipation, a gastric, bleeding ulcer and hepatitis. Elvis Presley performing in Burbank, California, June 1968. EDS is a genetic connective tissue collagen disorder, and what that means is that you are genetically predetermined to have your collagen in certain tissues either disappear or deteriorate or become defective, and to put it bluntly, you can have a rectal problem and an eye problem at the same time due to the same cause because your collagen is deteriorating in these tissues, Tennant told my colleague Donna Gregory Burch in a 2021 interview. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, (Sally A. Hoedel), For "Elvis: Destined to Die Young," Hoedel said she spoke to numerous sources who knew and befriended Presley over the years, and "had the privilege to see documents that people have not seen and used those for research aspects of this book. needs to stop or at least radically change. Elvis Presley performs during his second appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1956. And it was his girlfriend Ginger Alden who found the rock and roll star's body with his pyjama bottoms around his ankles and his bottom in the air. ", Even Tish lives with pain surrounding Elvis' death, which she said came as "a complete shock" to her. Elvis' passing is often used as the archetypal rock star death a tragic accident caused by a poor health and drug use. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. Few if any figures in rock and roll history are as timeless or controversial as Elvis Presley. 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. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at age 42. 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.". The singers incredibly unhealthy diet consisting mostly of cheeseburgers and chronic constipation inevitably contributed to these problems. But by 1976, Elvis wasn't just getting his uppers and downers from his manager. He allegedly told her, "I cant baby, I cant stop right now. (Getty Images). And hes the head of his whole organization. When Elvis catapulted into fame with his legendary pompadour and pelvic gyrations, America swooned. "When he played Vegas, he played two shows a day for 30 days thats 60 shows. Austin Butler's 'Elvis' acting lessons began when Tom Hanks delivered a typewriter to his door, Netflix's "Blonde," starring Ana de Armas, (Marilyn Monroe)'s public and private selves. Since he died 45years ago, he has becomethe butt of "fat Elvis" jokes and is still mocked over the circumstances of his death. When it comes to public figures and mental health, Manly notes that it is often difficult for those constantly in the spotlight to seek help. Popping pills. He passed away on Aug. 16 of that year. The critics noted his weight gain when reviewing his public appearances. However, the home recording sessions of 1976 were fruitful, and seemed to inspire a burst of creativity in the King. 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. Repeated head trauma can cause an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that can then attack any organ in the body. He was a very spiritual person, she explained. These interviews provided us with an extraordinary opportunity to learn about Elvis' health, personal life and legacy. He once said: "Presley's chronic constipation - the result of years of prescription drug abuse and high-fat, high-cholesterol gorging - brought on what's known as Valsalva's maneuver. The doctor remained by Elvis' side during his drug addiction and where there on the tragic day of his death and claims in an autopsy, stunned medics found a four-month-old stool blocking his gut. "It doesn't get better than that. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. At 8:00 pm, Dr. Francisco, who only witnessed the autopsy, acted without the consent or agreement of the other two pathologists in announcing to the press that preliminary autopsy findings indicated that Elviss death was due to a cardiac arrhythmia and that drugs were not involved. Why was he in so much pain? It seems like his mother was extremely codependent on him, which more than likely had something to do with losing her other son. They were all connected. The Presley family in general did not have a good track record for health. or redistributed. His health issues were varied but he hid them so well that over-medication is all we remember now, Hoedel says. "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. Eric Muirhead, Jerry Francisco, and Noel Florredo, conducted a two-hour post-mortem examination. This statement was subsequently demonstrated not to be the case. Legal Statement. If Presley werealive today, he would be 88. In fact, Danzig's vocal style is so reminiscent of Presley's that he's earned himself the nickname "Evil Elvis," a title he's happy to accept. There, the body identified the matter as foreign and produced antibodies to destroy it, triggering hypogammaglobulinemia, a disorder of the body's immune system. Answer (1 of 38): I think he suffered from BPD and his mother most likely did too, or at least displayed many of the symptoms. 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. He abused antihistamines, tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives, for the constipation. What about now? "[I see it as] a story of survival. Replacing Linda was actress Ginger Alden (above), a woman 20 years Elvis' junior. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Really he looked disproportionate a big swollen torso and face, with relatively slim arms and legs. So what had caused all of these disease processes in his stomach, liver, lungs, heart, spine, eyes and bowel? Looking back at her past, she said theres one memory that still vividly sticks out. He was terribly ill, and he died accidentally in some ways with a dentist giving him codeine for his bad tooth, and his bad teeth were also part of the same disease that gave him a bad colon and a bad eye and a bad liver. He had to survive extreme poverty, and then he had to survive extreme fame. The pressure to perform, the loss of privacy and the incessant public scrutinycan also cause anxiety and depression leaving some to cope with medications, alcohol or other substances to reduce stress. He turned to food for comfort and had gained a considerable amount of weight. He was terribly ill, and he died accidentally in some ways with a dentist giving him codeine for his bad tooth, and his bad teeth were also part of the same disease that gave him a bad colon and a bad eye and a bad liver. 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. "So when we see a celebrity altered in any way, we can say 'Oh, see, they faltered,'or 'They're not perfect.' A diagnostic screening tool for EDS didnt exist when Elvis was alive and few physicians were even aware of the condition. Elvis Presley suffered eye disease glaucoma and was almost blind when he died, according to the late King of Rock's personal physician. Experts say it's crucial to treat stars with empathy and compassion, rather than ridicule. In the end, he died a lonely man whose ornate home became the embodiment of Heartbreak Hotel., Left: "He was miserable. Sally A. Hoedel wrote a book about Elvis Presley's health history that was published in 2020 titled Elvis: Destined to Die Young. And driven to continue performing by Colonel Parker and others. When Elvis asked for sleeping pills during his final hours, it was she who told his private doctor where to find them, and she regrets not being there as he died. Opening up about the tragic loss of his pal, the medical professional released a tell-all book; "The King and Dr. Nick" about his time with Elvis. Elvis Presley has become synonymous with many things, such asrock 'n'roll and fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Austin Butler stars as the American heartthrob through the years:as a rocking teen who eventually spirals under the crumblingpressureof success, money and power. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. "When Elvis wasdoing well, people were projecting onto him the rock star,sexual image …then as he began to get older and he lost the luster, people were no longer seeing him as a sex symbol, as the man of America, but they saw him as adeteriorating rock star. [He and Priscilla] continued to be very close via the telephone. Some expertsagreeElvis may have been performing at a feverish pace to meet fans' demands at the expense of his well-being. And there's your clue "swollen" Elvis was retaining water big time at the time of his death. We didnt have the empathy to talk about Elvis health problems then. Contributions are tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers. In her book Elvis: Destined To Die Young, Sally revealed that Elvis suffered from diseases in nine of the 11 bodily systems. 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. That always stayed with him. In addition to the head and heart problems, author Sally A Hoedel lifelong Elvis fan, historian and journalism graduate delved into his family history discovering more about his health. He paid strangers hospital bills if he heard they were poor. "made with a jars worth of blueberry jam, a jars worth of peanut butter and an entire pound of bacon,", born inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935, he placed fifth inthe 1945 Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show for a solo performance without musical accompaniment, How 'Elvis' highlights his complicated history with Black music, 45 Elvis events in the 45 years since the death of the King, We're here to help with life's everyday questions, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He was trying to function within his reality., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. But certainly back in those days we didn't, Tennant explained. Hoedel claimed that those who knew Presley were worried about how much physical anguish and stress he was enduring to keep up with a non-stop schedule. Dr. George Nichopoulos, aka "Dr. Nick," traveled with Elvis, and carried three suitcases of pills to make sure he could fulfill any of Elvis' needs. Dealing with addiction and health issues and having a difficult time adjusting to the shifting cultural climate of the '60s and '70s, Elvis died a Vegas showman rather than a groundbreaking rocker. For Mr Tennant, one major clue was in the full-body deterioration of Elvis, with almost every organ plagued by ill health. "People become agoraphobic. When his body was discovered, attempts were made to revive him and his father, Vernon Presley, begged his son not to go. Author Sally Hoedel's Elvis: Destined to Die Young notes that Elvis 's mother's parents were first cousins, with ill-health running through that side of the family. Presley knew there was something wrong with him. The singer was also on a cocktail of drugs and had been prescribed almost 9,000 pills, vials and injections in the seven months before his death. This was especially true during the last year of his life, when he was deep in his chemical dependency and had left behind many of the loyal friends of his youth. "One of the maids picked up the phone, and it's Ginger. EDS is what connects all of those health problems, correct? It was claimed that over the last 20 months of Elvis' life, Dr. Nick prescribed him over 12,000 pills. ELVIS PRESLEY was just 42-years-old when he died, having physically transformed and suffered multiple illnesses and hospitalisations in his final years. As recorded in Rolling Stone, the three bodyguards co-wrote a tell-all biography of Elvis that was released only days before his death. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Kirk was working at her clinic when she received word that Presley had died. Elvis was sitting on the toilet, straining very hard to have a bowel movement a maneuver that put a great amount of pressure on his heart and aorta. If you're depressed,go see a therapistor check yourself into rehab if you need to. Now The King's cousin has shared specific . The touring doesnt help. The world thinks he has everything, and yet the happiness isnt there. Whats Missing in Elvis Movie: The Kings Chronic Illness, The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley.. Elvis Aaron Presley died August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. But according to the book The Mysteries Surrounding the Death of Elvis Presley, even worse was in Baton Rouge, where Elvis had to cancel a show because he couldn't make it out of his hotel bed in order to get to the venue. Elvis grew up in a loving family with not much money. Market data provided by Factset. I wish there was something I could have done to make him a happier person. Westmoreland said she was horrified to hear that even in his condition, Presley was already gearing up for another tour. Selena Gomez at the White House: Why mental health is 'personal' for the singer, actress, "What will create a better and more empathic relationship between fans and celebrities ismore celebrities empowering themselves to speak out about their authentic being,"Rockwellsays. Mourners stayed all night outside Graceland, where 42-year-old Elvis Presley died. The tip of his tongue was clenched between his teeth and his face was blotchy. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He gave his rings to his fans during concerts. He . He just took more medication to keep going. One of the first responders who arrived at Graceland after the emergency call on the day Elvis died and helped carry him to the ambulance was quoted in the book "Elvis Presley: A Southern Life" saying he "must have weighed 250 pounds," according to Salon. As someone who loves this struggling individual, the young woman started to become concerned with her lover's health as it rapidly declined. (Photo by Gary Null & Frank Carroll/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Thank you. ", Celeb obsessed? Elvis is seen as less or more than human, like an image, and hes been reduced to this rocknroll guy who died in his bathroom from taking too many pills, Hoedel told the Observer. Elvis' health problems had started long before that August day in 1977. Market data provided by Factset. 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. He would ask her, "Would you rub my legs? Dr. George Nichopoulos earned notoriety when, three years. According to Practical Pain Management irrational and illogical behaviour can also occur after sustaining a heavy blow to the head. "Its hard for us to imagine [that he was in physical pain] because he once appeared so perfect on the outside that he couldn't have been flawed on the inside," author Sally A. Hoedel told Fox News Digital. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images). Please check your inbox to confirm. However, this was later proved not to be the complete case. Contrary to popular belief, celebrities aren't immune to mental health problems. He did start abusing drugs including amphetamines, opioids and sedatives as a teenager and is known to have had an appalling diet. While some claimed this was because they'd been rough enough with fans to incite lawsuits, others countered that it was due to their criticism of Elvis' drug use. I gently raised one eyelid. He missed Priscilla. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). His full medical saga has only recently begun to be thoroughly examined. You can unsubscribe at any time. Others claimed he'd died from a drug overdose, but when the investigation was reopened in 1994, coroner Joseph Davis disagreed. ", ELVIS PRESLEYS PRIVATE NURSE EXPLAINS WHY THE KING WAS 'MISERABLE' DURING HIS FINAL YEARS, As Elvis Presley embarked on a grueling tour, he was concerned about his health, Sally A. Hoedel claimed. Elvis Presley skyrocketed to fame in the 1950s. "Anytime someone mentions my name and Elvis' name in the same sentence, that's great," he told Rolling Stone. By the time hes touring again in the 70s, he was providing for more than 100 people. By 1976, Elvis had become disenfranchised and unhinged, his drug use, bad health, and financial excess chipping away at his composure. With aging, drugs, a hefty and unhealthy diet, and a hard lifestyle, health issues increase, which resulted in Elvis's death on a toilet. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. But his immune system wasnt fighting off infection as it should have. What confused some people, though, was that Elvis took a portion of the show to introduce everyone from his life onstage. Everyones relying on me. His mothers family including three uncles were cursed by early death, the author Sally Hoedel says. Nick, was at Elvis beck and call for nearly a decade. It never came to fruition. But it's "She Thinks I Still Care" that is regarded by many to be Elvis' finest latter-day moments, illustrating a man trying to move on while trapped in the role tailor-made for him and revealing, according to Rolling Stone, "a real-life glimpse into the life of an increasingly isolated man.". He had been known to use "antihistamines, tranquilizers such as Valium, barbiturates, Quaaludes, sleeping pills, hormones and laxatives, for the constipation.". In 2020, Glenn Danzig, heavy metal vocalist and frontman of horror-punk act The Misfits, released Danzig Sings Elvis, an album of Elvis covers. He was a severely injured and ill man. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Given his pill dependency and excessive weight, some might assume that Elvis spent the day before his death lying in bed eating or doing drugs. ", Harry, Meghan, The Rock, Naomi Osaka: Why celebrity mental health struggles matter. He had a private doctor who would prescribe him any pill he asked for, according to a People Magazine storyshortly after his death. He said he has made it a point to ask every one of his patients about possible head trauma, and noted that . Legal Statement. As he began to age, his mental health problems began to surface and people didn't know what to make of that, because many assume that type of person should be impervious to human issues," says Carla Manly, a clinical psychologist and author ofJoy from Fear. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker allegedly shouted, "The only thing thats important is that hes on that stage tonight! Subscribe to Heres the Deal, our politics Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. While many of Elvis' loyal fans refused the buy the biography upon its initial release in May 1977 in the UK and late July in the US the King's death soon thereafter, and the revelation that many of the book's stories were painfully accurate, turned it into one of the most successful Elvis books of all time. I was very fortunate [to have known him]. That one scene sums up how the real Elvis Presley spent his final years before dying of an apparent heart attack in 1977 at the young age of 42. As an adult, one of his favorite meals was a roll stuffed with bacon, peanut butter, and jelly, alongside midnight snacks like hamburgers and deep-fried bread. 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. "I think that younger people today are really responding to vulnerability in ways that an older generation just didnt. The book, "Elvis Presley: A Southern Life," also reported that the autopsy "confirmed what his doctors already knew: Elvis was chronically ill with diabetes, glaucoma, and constipation.". (Photo by Gary Null & Frank Carroll/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images), ELVIS PRESLEYS PAL RECALLS LAST TIME HE SAW THE KING: EVERYBODY HAD TEARS IN THEIR EYES. Dr. Howard Markel The day before he died, a dentist gave Presley codeine for an aching tooth, not realizing how sick he was or that codeine could cause his heart to stop. Hoedel, an historian, claims it was not a coincidence, that Presleys mother, Gladys, died at 46 and Presley at 42. In recent years, Hollywood has tried to spread awareness about thehuman aspects of celebrities. Among Presleys ailments attributed to his genes were alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, which can attack the lungs and liver; colon issues; an immune deficiency and lifelong insomnia. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Dan Warlick, chief investigator for the Tennessee Office of the State Chief Medical Examiner, attended the autopsy and fuelled the popular theory that Elvis died while straining to go to the toilet. More info. Numerous documentaries have exposed the fatal cost of fame forElvis,who wasn't the healthiest of eaters and increasinglyrelied on drugs to both sleep andperform. Elvis was sitting on the toilet, straining very hard to have a bowel movement a maneuver that put a great amount of pressure on his heart and aorta. Has made it a point to ask every one of his life to talk about Elvis problems. Would prescribe him any pill he asked for, according to a people Magazine storyshortly after his.... 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