Elvis Presley's death left fans devastated, and curious. To this day, 45 years after his untimely passing, people still question what exactly happened—and how did it all end so quickly? Now, with the King's thrilling new biopic, Elvis, cleaning up awards season, the details of Elvis Presley's life and death are under the microscope yet again.
The film is directed by Baz Luhrmann, and stars Austin Butler as Presley. The actor totally disappeared into the role, even learning how to sing for production. The movie focuses primarily on the chaos of Presley's rise, but closes with a powerful musical performance that took place just a couple of months before he died. Here, we're breaking down the singer's legacy—and why mystery still swirls around his final moments.
A Rockstar's Legacy—and His Controversies
Elvis Presley's life first turned into a spectacle in the '50s. He changed the way America thinks about music and challenged the very limits of decorum. He notched 108 Billboard Hot 100 hits during his tenure—and his home, the Graceland Mansion, is the second-most-visited property in the United States. (The White House is first.) He is widely regarded as the king of rock music. But Presley also had his fair share of controversies, from his embrace of the holy trifecta of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, to dating a 14-year-old. It has been claimed that he frequently pursued underage women while on tour.
Elvis performing just two months before his death in 1977.
When And Where Did Elvis Die?
The King's life came to an end on August 16, 1977. He was found unconscious by his then-girlfriend, Ginger Alden, on the bathroom floor in his Graceland mansion home. He was rushed to the hospital but after several attempts to revive him failed, Presley was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. He was only 42 years old.
At the time, his death was ruled a heart failure. However, what actually happened?
The Truth Of Elvis's Death
Mystery still surrounds the exact cause of Elvis's death, because his autopsy was sealed at the request of his family for 50 years. It will continue to be private until 2027, though some telling information was revealed at the time. Notably that Dilaudid, Percodan, Demerol, Codeine, and Quaaludes were all found in the singer's blood at his time of death. This was shocking to the public, as his family—despite Elvis's degrading appearance—largely kept his substance abuse under wraps. Many complained, including doctors, that the pronouncement of his cause of death seemed rushed, overly accommodating to his loved ones, and incomplete.
Drugs were not Presley's only health issue, though. He gained a substantial amount of weight throughout his life, and even refused to bathe throughout 1975—which led him to develop sores on his body. Elvis also suffered from insomnia, which was an influence in his eventual amphetamine addiction.
Who's To Blame?
Even though Elvis didn't take street drugs, he was still an addict. And he was overprescribed by Doctor C. Nichopoulos, also known as Dr. Nick. The medical professional prescribed thousands of drugs for Elvis during the final years of his life. In a PEOPLE report from 1980, it was revealed that he wrote orders for 12,000 pills in just the 20 months that preceded his death. That same year, Dr. Nick had his license suspended for three months by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, who charged him with dangerously overprescribing drugs—not only for Elvis Presley, but for 19 other patients as well.
The following fall, in 1981, Dr. Nick was charged with 11 felony counts of overprescribing drugs. He was, however, acquitted. In 1995, his license was permanently revoked.
Lexi Carson is a writer from Orlando, Florida, with an interest in movies, music and culture.
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Elvis Presley's Life and Legacy
Elvis Presley was a renowned American singer and actor who had a significant impact on the music industry. He rose to fame in the 1950s and is widely regarded as the king of rock music. Presley's music challenged the limits of decorum and changed the way America thought about music. He achieved great success during his career, with 108 Billboard Hot 100 hits, and his home, the Graceland Mansion, is the second-most-visited property in the United States, after the White House .
However, Presley's life was not without controversies. He embraced the holy trifecta of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, and there have been claims that he frequently pursued underage women while on tour. These controversies have been a part of his legacy.
Elvis Presley's Death
Elvis Presley's life came to an end on August 16, 1977, when he was found unconscious on the bathroom floor of his Graceland mansion home by his then-girlfriend, Ginger Alden. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. at the age of 42. At the time, his death was ruled as a heart failure.
The exact cause of Elvis's death remains a mystery, as his autopsy was sealed at the request of his family for 50 years. However, some information was revealed at the time. It was found that various drugs, including Dilaudid, Percodan, Demerol, Codeine, and Quaaludes, were present in his blood at the time of death. This revelation shocked the public, as his family had largely kept his substance abuse under wraps. Elvis also had other health issues, such as weight gain, sores on his body due to refusing to bathe, and insomnia, which influenced his eventual amphetamine addiction.
Elvis's overprescription of drugs has been attributed to his personal physician, Dr. C. Nichopoulos, also known as Dr. Nick. Dr. Nick prescribed thousands of drugs for Elvis during the final years of his life. In 1981, he was charged with 11 felony counts of overprescribing drugs, but he was acquitted. However, in 1995, his medical license was permanently revoked.
In summary, Elvis Presley's life and legacy are marked by his immense contributions to music and his controversies. His death at the age of 42 remains a subject of mystery, with the exact cause sealed in his autopsy report until 2027.
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