Atherosclerosis is a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances. And yet, when Elvis died on August 16, 1977, he had become something entirely different from his former self. Market data provided by Factset. In November 1976, Elvis split with his girlfriend of four years Linda Thompson, according to The Wrap. Experts say it's common for people to detach celebrities from reality and laugh at them for entertainment and amusement. 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. Nothing happened to Elvis Presley that we don't have a good logical, scientific explanation for now. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. From my research, he was always trying to help Elvis but the line between friend and doctor got blurred, Hoedel says. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. But by 1976, Elvis wasn't just getting his uppers and downers from his manager. While this is a cruel and derogatory way to describe someone dealing with personal health problems, it's undeniable that Elvis' eating and weight issues colored his last year on Earth. 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. But in 1976, all three were fired to "cut back on expenses." He was last seen alive going into the bathroom to read. The pressure to perform, the loss of privacy and the incessant public. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. A doe-eyed boy from the South whose unique mix of barking and crooning made him both a rebel and a heartthrob, Elvis changed the way the world thought about music, pop culture, and celebrity. But he was found to have a wide variety of drugs in his system including amphetamines, barbiturates, and opiates. (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. (Getty), LISA MARIE PRESLEY'S SON, BENJAMIN KEOUGH, DEAD AT 27, He was very, very happy with Linda, said Kirk, adding Thompson was an intelligent stunning lady., But the romance was not meant to be. And rather than being shownempathy, he was mocked by the country that lifted him onto the pedestal. Either way, not only do BPD parents often. This manifested most egregiously in March 1977 during two stops in Louisiana. ", Harry, Meghan, The Rock, Naomi Osaka: Why celebrity mental health struggles matter. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). ", Remembering Elvis: Here are his 10 most popular hits. Elvisembodied modern American youth and rock 'n'roll, changingthe course of popular music with his songs, dance moves, charisma and wardrobe. The touring doesnt help. Its not accurate and its not enough. Whats Missing in Elvis Movie: The Kings Chronic Illness, The Strange Medical Saga of Elvis Presley.. "It doesn't get better than that. "He was not only my patient, but a good friend," Henley later wrote in a book,via Express. He felt the pressure. He explained: "The position of Elvis Presley's body was such that he was about to sit down on the commode when the seizure occurred. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Prior to his death, Presley was visually no longer the hip-swaying "Elvis the Pelvis" sex symbol. But on this day 41 years ago, millions of music lovers wept to the news that Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n Roll, was dead. And you have to remember, this was a time when people really didnt talk about their health like they do now. In his opinion, as shared in a 2013 medical paper, when Elvis tripped over a television cord and knocked himself out on the bathtub, the injury was so severe that it caused brain tissue to dislodge and seep into his blood circulation. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. Legal Statement. 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. "He was encouraged to cancel the tour. According to the outlet, Thomas left Presley a year before his death because, she said, it was exhausting watching him slowly self-destruct.. Repeated head trauma can cause an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that can then attack any organ in the body. 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. He had all these metabolic defects due to his genetics, and so the codeine built up in his system. newsletter for analysis you wont find anywhereelse. PBS reported that at the time of Presley's deathtwo pathologists "found evidence ofsevere and chronic constipation, diabetes and glaucoma." (Getty Images). He was not only my patient but a good friend., LIBERACE TOLD ELVIS PRESLEY HE NEEDED MORE GLITZ IN HIS SHOWS BEFORE LAS VEGAS TRANSFORMATION, BOOK CLAIMS, Elvis Presley in his final years. "Formerly retired . As a young man embracing both a punishing work schedule and the stresses of newfound celebrity, Elvis was under a tremendous amount of pressure. Linda Thompson (left) posing with her then-boyfriend Elvis Presley and her parents. If he didn't prescribe the pills to Elvis, someone else would, and at least this way he wouldn't get them off the street. 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. ", Even Tish lives with pain surrounding Elvis' death, which she said came as "a complete shock" to her. If Presley werealive today, he would be 88. They don't want to go out. (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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He was very family-oriented, Kirk explained. 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. 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.. All Rights Reserved. I walked over, lifted his chin, and said, Elvis, if you talk to me, you look at me, she said. As he had in recent gigs, Elvis appeared overweight and at times winded but was reported to have given a solid performance overall. (According to the medical examiner's report, How Austin Butler vanished into the role of Elvis Presley, Austin Butler rules as the King, butBaz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' is an unchained mess, Carson Daly says he's suffered from anxiety, panic attacks on 'The Voice', Lessons for all of us in 'The Kardashians' finale. Austin Butler stars as the American heartthrob through the years:as a rocking teen who eventually spirals under the crumblingpressureof success, money and power. However, another part of thelegacy of the "King of Rock 'n'Roll" is his untimely death. The singer, who made teenage girls hysterical with his movie star looks, catchy songs and gyrating pelvis during the 50s, was suffering from declining health in the 70s. People there in the inner group did but you did not tell Elvis what to do. Now The King's cousin has shared specific . We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Here's why. [He and Priscilla] continued to be very close via the telephone. 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. According to a 1977 review in Alexandria Town Talk, the first show in Alexandria lasted less than an hour before Elvis had to leave the stage. Elvis was a sick man who hid a lot of his weakness to fill concert venues and support his family. Presley, once a former teen idol, had gained a considerable amount of weight. No one was going to question him. Slurring his words. One of the first responders who arrived at Graceland after the emergency call on the day Elvis died and helped carry him . Three of the Mafia members, David Hebler, Robert "Red" West, and Robert's cousin Sonny West, had acted as Elvis' bodyguards for much of his career. On the day that Presley died, the Colonel was already planning the start of his next tour. 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. "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 said: "Id have to classify Elviss death as an accident. These interviews provided us with an extraordinary opportunity to learn about Elvis' health, personal life and legacy. They finally had to give him medication just so he could sleep. Deeply depressed. The rest of the tour was subsequently canceled, acting for many historians as a benchmark of just how far the King had fallen from the pedestals of his youth. 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. "If it had been a drug overdose, [Elvis] would have slipped into an increasing state of slumber. She has a new book about the King coming out in September. 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." Photo by Fred Ross/Toronto Star via Getty Images, Elvis personal physician, George Nichopoulos, or Dr. Elvis' health problems had started long before that August day in 1977. Elvis had a way of getting what he wanted, said Kirk. Nichopoulos, however, continued to over-prescribe to many other patients and in 1995, the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners finally and permanently suspended his medical license. Contributions are tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers. He was buried on the grounds of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. I just want the world to know what a great, intelligent, kind, spiritual individual he was. "The phone rings intercom," said Joe Esposito, foreman of the Memphis Mafia. Please check your inbox to confirm. Lamar Fike, a member of Elvis' "Memphis Mafia"entourage, famously said Ginger "didn't give a rat's ass about him. Eric Muirhead, Jerry Francisco, and Noel Florredo, conducted a two-hour post-mortem examination. Elvis Presley was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. What about now? The singer had developed a dangerous dependence on prescription drugs and turned to overeating. More info. The singers incredibly unhealthy diet consisting mostly of cheeseburgers and chronic constipation inevitably contributed to these problems. During many shows, the audience wouldn't be able to understand what he was saying, and he would often leave the stage early, unable to continue. He was a very special person., BOB ROSS' TIME IN THE AIR FORCE INFLUENCED HIM IN 'THE JOY OF PAINTING,' PAL SAYS, Elvis Presley performs in concert during his 'Aloha From Hawaii' 1972 television special. 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You can unsubscribe at any time. Like many stars who became hugely famous before the concept of celebrity handlers had been formalized, Elvis was surrounded by yes-men and sycophants. Many other musician biopics, such as Bohemian Rhapsody, fail to cover the latter half of these prolific figures' lives, mostly focusing on their rise to fame and notoriety.That being said, Elvis struggled with a fair number of health issues that Elvis didn't address, leading up to his tragic passing. And theres evidence of that time and time again. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He would pass away that same year. He passed away on Aug. 16 of that year. Elvis Presley, who died 44 years ago this month, was not a drug abuser in the typical rocknroll lifestyle sense, a new book claims, but he was medicating to address a series of congenital illnesses. What confused some people, though, was that Elvis took a portion of the show to introduce everyone from his life onstage. ", Review: Austin Butler rules as the King, butBaz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' is an unchained mess. In the recent HBO documentary Elvis Presley: The Searcher, the singer's longtime wife Priscilla revealed that she wasn't sure whether Elvis' death was really an accident. "It's more difficult to project onto somebody who's showing their fault lines. It was there, in October 1976, that Elvis recorded his final studio sessions, resulting in some of his most memorable and emotionally crushing material to date. In 1980, the not-so-good doctor was indicted again for overprescribing to Presley as well as Jerry Lee Lewis, but was acquitted again. "Elvis had an incredible work ethic," she explained. Elvis Presley died at 42 years oldon Aug. 16, 1977, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was miserable because hed gained so much weight. Elvis Presley's Health and Legacy. Sure, Elvis will always be remembered for "Jailhouse Rock" and "Can't Help Falling In Love With You", but these final tracks are a testament that even lonely, depressive Elvis had a message that would resonate with audiences for years to come. 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. Want the world to know what a great, intelligent, kind, spiritual individual he was found have. Organ in the top right ] would have slipped into an increasing state of slumber like they do now then! Came as `` a complete shock '' to her `` Elvis had an incredible work,. Diabetes and glaucoma. Colonel was already planning the start of his next tour the Rock Naomi. 15 minutes pbs reported that at the time of Presley 's deathtwo pathologists `` found ofsevere... A new book about the King & # x27 ; s health and.! 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