'I couldn't be an imposter': How Austin Butler vanished into the role of Elvis Presley. He once told me, You never hear Superman asking for help.", "The touring is difficult," Hoedel explained. After the final recording session in October of '76, RCA set to work cobbling the tracks together into what would be Elvis' final records a fact none of them knew, but which the pained music seems to foreshadow in hindsight. He was found there by Ginger Alden around 2 p.m. on August 16. Mourners stayed all night outside Graceland, where 42-year-old Elvis Presley died. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker allegedly shouted, "The only thing thats important is that hes on that stage tonight! Elvis Presley performs in concert during his 'Aloha From Hawaii' 1972 television special. His friends kept pimping him with pretty 17- and 18-year-old girls but he had nothing in common with them. It takes hours to die from drugs.". 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.". or redistributed. For fans of rock and roll everywhere, the King's death was a monumental blow. He was a very spiritual person, she explained. Presley had recorded tracks at home in Palm Springs in 1973 to great success, and said that he enjoyed being in a room with his fellow musicians to feed off their emotions so why not set up a mobile studio in Graceland? He wasborn inTupelo,Mississippi, on Jan.8, 1935. Elvis approved of the idea, and the label sent a studio truck to his home. The autopsy results are due to be unlocked in 2027, but until then, the biggest insight into the star's mysterious death has come from prominent California physician, Forest Tennant, who actually reviewed the report while defending Elvis' doctor, Dr. George Nichopoulos, who was later acquitted of over-prescribing drugs. While some have sought to portray the family as hillbillies, the author points out that inter-marriage was not at the time unusual across society. Indeed, the other two pathologists later admitted that Francisco was covering up the real cause of death at the request of Elviss mortified family who were concerned about the singers reputation. He was very family-oriented, Kirk explained. Exactly what caused Elvis Presley's death remains shrouded in mystery. According to Rolling Stone, that was when producer Felton Jarvis had a game-changing idea: If Elvis wouldn't go to the studio, they'd bring the studio to Elvis. If Presley werealive today, he would be 88. According to the New York Daily News, by the end of his life Elvis was consuming enough calories to feed several people every day. Westmoreland said she was horrified to hear that even in his condition, Presley was already gearing up for another tour. I ran upstairs, I go into the bathroom, and Elvis had fell over and was laying on the floor. Like many stars who became hugely famous before the concept of celebrity handlers had been formalized, Elvis was surrounded by yes-men and sycophants. After a quick injection of stimulant drugs, Elvis recovers just enough to sing, dance and entertain an adoring crowd in a packed showroom. He was last seen alive going into the bathroom to read. ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. A diagnostic screening tool for EDS didnt exist when Elvis was alive and few physicians were even aware of the condition. 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.. Two-year-old Elvis with his parents Vernon and Gladys Presley in 1937 in Tupelo, Mississippi. Elvis had divorced his wife Priscilla Presley in 1973, and developed a dependence on prescription drugs to get through the day, all while maintaining a grueling schedule. 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. He was buried on the grounds of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. That added a lot of strain to this health. Some experts agree Elvis may have been performing at a feverish pace to meet fans' demands at the expense of his well-being. I turned him over and I knew. Here's why. Elvis Presley's Health and Legacy. Savannah Guthrie left the "Today" show during Tuesday's live broadcast amid Hoda Kotb's absence from the NBC morning show. ", Additionally, a report from the tabloid The Sun shows that Priscilla considered depictions of Elvis as a bystander in his own life to be inaccurate, only that he was dismissive of attempts to help him get treatment. … We really aren't happy for them, because we want that life, too, and we can't get it," Rockwell says. . 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. Contrary to popular belief, celebrities aren't immune to mental health problems. When the toxicology report came back several weeks later, however, Elvis blood was found to contain very high levels of the opiates Dilaudid, Percodan, Demerol, and codeine as well as Quaaludes. Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charity. Since he died 45years ago, he has becomethe butt of "fat Elvis" jokes and is still mocked over the circumstances of his death. 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He did start abusing drugs including amphetamines, opioids and sedatives as a teenager and is known to have had an appalling diet. Sally A. Hoedel wrote a book about Elvis Presley's health history that was published in 2020 titled Elvis: Destined to Die Young. 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. What about now? I gently turned his face toward me. 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. Atherosclerosis is a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances. adios.". The truth is more complex. (Reuters), '70S ROCK PIONEER SUZI QUATRO SAYS SHE WAS NEVER TEMPTED BY FAME: 'YOU EITHER GO MAD OR WIND UP DEAD', Kirk said she kept her stories about Presley private for 38 years before she decided to revisit them in her 2015 self-published memoir Taking Care of Elvis.. 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. Please check your inbox to confirm. And they did not like that. Presley, as depicted by actor Austin Butler, collapses in a hallway minutes before being scheduled to take the stage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Instead of rushing an unconscious Elvis to a hospital, manager Tom Parker --- played by a surprisingly villainous Tom Hanks -- declares that the show must go on and summons Dr. He passed away on Aug. 16 of that year. Despite his introverted personality, Presley had immense musical talent. Kirk first met Presley in 1968 when she treated him at a Memphis medical clinic for saddle sores, Closer Weekly reported. 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. 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. ", "We don't want celebrities to actually have that picture-perfect life. ", Elvis Presley with his girlfriend Ginger Alden in March 1977 in Hawaii. 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. As detailed in the documentary Elvis Presley: The Last 24 Hours, Elvis' final day on earth included a nighttime trip to the dentist in search of prescription drugs, a 4 a.m. game of racquetball with his cousin Billy Smith, and an impromptu piano performance of classics including "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain." Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. We and our partners use cookies on this site to improve our service, perform analytics, personalize advertising, measure advertising performance, and remember website preferences. 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. In 2020, Glenn Danzig, heavy metal vocalist and frontman of horror-punk act The Misfits, released Danzig Sings Elvis, an album of Elvis covers. It was claimed that over the last 20 months of Elvis' life, Dr. Nick prescribed him over 12,000 pills. Interestingly, the pathologists tested him for immune deficiencies, and found Elvis had hypogammaglobulinemia, a disorder of the body's immune system, as indicated by decreased levels of immunoglobulin A (I g A) and I g G. Rosette formation studies revealed decreased numbers of T cells and B cells (lymphocytes). The music icon passed away nearly 43 years ago, on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42 from a heart attack, which. (Getty Images). The grave of singer Elvis Presley in Graceland. On Aug. 16, 1977, Presley was found unconscious in his Graceland mansion. 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. 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). 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. there was another problem: Elvis Presley's issue with prescription drug abuse. 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. Others claimed he'd died from a drug overdose, but when the investigation was reopened in 1994, coroner Joseph Davis disagreed. They really tried to push Elvis beyond his capacity in the last few years of his life. It was clear that, from the moment he landed on the floor, Elvis hadnt moved.. Really he looked disproportionate a big swollen torso and face, with relatively slim arms and legs. When Elvis catapulted into fame with his legendary pompadour and pelvic gyrations, America swooned. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. ", Review: Austin Butler rules as the King, butBaz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' is an unchained mess. He had a private doctor who would prescribe him any pill he asked for, according to a People Magazine storyshortly after his death. Some expertsagreeElvis may have been performing at a feverish pace to meet fans' demands at the expense of his well-being. And rather than being shownempathy, he was mocked by the country that lifted him onto the pedestal. Lisa Marie Presley dies: Elvis Presley's only daughter dies at 54 after a brief hospitalization. The singer, who made teenage girls hysterical with his movie star looks, catchy songs and gyrating. Slurring his words. "A few speculated and began telling untruths regarding Elvis and me which were completely unwarranted, mean spirited and wrong.". The gang held various roles, from sounding boards for Presley's personal problems to helping him wade through crowds of rabid fans. He said: "Id have to classify Elviss death as an accident. Documentary claims Elvis signed his own death certificate, Elvis Presley was found dead on the floor of the bathroom at his Graceland estate, Elvis' body was discovered by his girlfriend Ginger, Elvis' health had deteriorated rapidly over the last decade of his life, Elvis had been a fit young man, but his health suddenly went down hill, A young Elvis pictured in his prime while in the Army. The maids were like family. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "We see that when he tours, he takes more medication than when hes not touring. We didnt have the empathy to talk about Elvis health problems then. Kirk, her husband and their daughters soon found themselves living in Graceland. Most challenging during Elvis' final years was his nonstop schedule of his live performances. Theres a scene towards the end of the new Elvis movie when you know the end is coming soon. 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. "Elvis's story is looked on as one of destruction, but it is a futile struggle to survive, through poverty and then through health issues. In the last years of his life, he suffered from many heart-attack-provoking factors: a high-sugar, high-fat diet high blood pressure chronic insomnia liver damage rheumatoid arthritis chronic drug addiction His eye was staring straight ahead and blood red.". Kirk was working at her clinic when she received word that Presley had died. "So when we see a celebrity altered in any way, we can say 'Oh, see, they faltered,'or 'They're not perfect.' In . Forest believes it all stemmed back to a serious head injury he sustained in 1967 that triggered a progressive autoimmune inflammatory disorder. 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. 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. After the trial, Tennant remained curious about Elvis medical problems and continued his research while treating people with intractable pain. (R.D/Images Press/Getty Images), "Elvis story is long told as one of self-destruction," said Hoedel. Here's why. 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. Suffering high blood pressure, liver damage, glaucoma and an enlarged colon Presley died of a heart attack in his bathroom, his body pumped full of prescription pills, many administered by Letetia. Elvisembodied modern American youth and rock 'n'roll, changingthe course of popular music with his songs, dance moves, charisma and wardrobe. "In 1956 they didn't understand that these pills could become addictive. That same year, Presley became involved with 1972s Miss Tennessee Linda Thompson. It was huge, and its shag carpeting naturally absorbed ambient sound, although the fake waterfall did have to be turned off. Now The King's cousin has shared specific . Our mission is to raise awareness, connect and educate pain sufferers, caregivers, healthcare providers and the public about the pain experience. During the autopsy it became clear that Elvis did in fact have multiple heart problems, including a strained aorta and atherosclerosis. The problem became alarming especially during his last decade of life. He was not prejudice at all. People assumed, Well, thats just an excuse to get medication. But he really was having this problem with fighting infection. His doctor tried at one point to see if he could sleep without anything. 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. 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. 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. "Not getting to know them well, shortly after Elvis passed away, I was extremely disappointed to see the character of some that Elvis had around him," she said in a 2019 interview with Elvis' Australian fan club while promoting her book Elvis and Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiance and Last Love Finally Tells Her Story. Some of the symptoms of this problem include fatigue, fainting spells and high blood pressure. "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. Elvis Presley's greatest songs: 20 essential cuts you need to hear now Review: The 10 best (and the absolute worst) Elvis movies, ranked Elvis' health problems, explained. I think its important to take a real honest approach to his humanity. Pain News Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit online news service for information and commentary about chronic pain and pain management. 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