# Elvis' fatal heart attack **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2001, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688 "2001-11-22T01:19:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barking\_Spider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Barking\_Spider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Spider)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/1 "2001-11-22T01:19:41Z")
Was Elvis Presleys fatal heart attack caused by a drug overdose? Or was it caused by being a fat, out of shape lard ass? Also, is it true that he suffered the heart attack while sitting on the toilet? ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Earthworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dirty\_Earthworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Earthworm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/2 "2001-11-22T05:00:31Z")
From what I’ve heard (not having been alive at the time), Elvis did die while on the toilet. As far as the other details, your guess is as good as mine. ---
**Author:** ![ejrn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@ejrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ejrn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/3 "2001-11-22T07:00:32Z")
He’s not dead. I saw him just last week. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/4 "2001-11-22T14:18:26Z")
My theory: fat, out of shape lard ass known to be taking a lot of drugs (not sure what his drugs of choice were, but I’d guess there were some opiates in there–does anyone know?) with a known taste for such healthy fare as fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. If anyone on the great planet Earth were ever constipated, it had to be Elvis. So Elvis goes to the can, can’t seem to make things happen, strains with everything he’s got, pushes it too hard, and that’s all she wrote. The Graceland tour does not include the toilet that Elvis died on. I asked. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Frink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Mr.Frink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Frink)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/5 "2001-11-22T21:30:51Z")
So it’s true: The King died on the Throne… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/6 "2001-11-22T21:39:42Z")
Weird. I was just thinking about this the other day. Cecil wrote about this some years ago. To wit, it appeared in one of his columns circa 1991. I remember it specifically since my roommate at the time, brought it to our attention that his brother (with some other co-writer for God’s sake) was the one who submitted the question. The odd thing – though I own all of the SD books, I have yet to see this column featured. What gives? ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/7 "2001-11-22T22:27:19Z")
There was a book about it called, appropriately, “The Death of Elvis.” According to it, the autopsy report showed he had 10 different drugs in his body. Of them, 7 were at lethal levels. He also had an impacted colon that must have looked impressive when they took it out of him. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/8 "2001-11-22T22:32:30Z")
According to his [autopsy](http://www.rockmine.music.co.uk/Archive/Vault/Autopsy/Elvis2.html) he was found on the floor of his dressing room. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/9 "2001-11-23T07:06:03Z")
Elvis Presley’s Death - as Reported in the Washington Post **Rock Idol Elvis Presley Dies at 42** By Larry Rohter and Tom Zito Washington Post Staff Writers Thursday, August 17, 1977 (© 1977 The Washington Post Co.) (----big long snip to this sentence----) Presley’s body was discovered at 2:30 p.m. Memphis time by his road manager, Jerry Esposito, in a bathroom in the singer’s multimillion-dollar Graceland Mansion. ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/10 "2001-11-23T07:37:07Z")
I thought his heart attack was a result of an allergic reaction to codeine. I don’t think he was on the toilet but I will believe that he was found in the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![TN\_hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TN\_hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TN_hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/11 "2001-11-23T12:29:29Z")
_Here I sit all broken-hearted. Came to shit, now I’m departed._ –Elvis ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/12 "2001-11-23T13:43:44Z")
You know, it just goes to show you…Elvis had talent, looks, beautiful women at his disposal, and oodles of money. Yet, he was so desperately unhappy that he drugged himself to death. There was talk that his physician should have been charged with a crime since all the drugs were legally prescribed, but nothing was ever done to the bastard IIRC. I mean, who needs a pusher when your doctor will feed your habit? On a related note, I believe Michael Jackson’s plastic surgeon should also be held criminally liable for what he’s done to MJ’s face…clearly MJ is mentally ill and that surgeon should have respectfully declined to do more work. I mean, the man looks like Pinocchio. ---
**Author:** ![aegypt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/13 "2001-11-23T13:54:39Z")
According to the Weekly World News (America’s most impeccable news source:)) Elvis died from a diabetic coma in May of 1993, having gone into hiding after faking his own death (they have _actual photographic evidence_ to back up their claim too!). So I suppose it’s safe to assume Elvis is really dead now. By the way, do you know what Elvis would say if he were still alive today? “Let me out of this coffin, dammit!!!” > [@](#): > > Elvis had a heart attack, > 'Cos he was so fucking fat. > He weighed nearly half a ton. > He looked more like a pregnant mum (From “Elvis is Dead” by Peter and the Test Tube Babies) ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/14 "2001-11-23T16:05:01Z")
> [@](#): > > I thought his heart attack was a result of an allergic reaction to codeine I think you may have elvis death rumours and Bruce Lee death rumours mixed up 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/15 "2001-11-23T16:09:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*I think you may have elvis death rumours and Bruce Lee death rumours mixed up 😉 \*\* Really? Hmmm, I don’t think I ever heard the Bruce Lee rumor. Or maybe I heard it and substituted Elvis in my head. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/16 "2001-11-23T16:28:44Z")
I can’t remember who used to do the joke, but it went like this: > [@](#): > > Elvis dying of a drug overdose, now _that_ was a shame. This was a man who had so much money, he didn’t need drugs! He could have hired people to _perform_ hallucinations for him. (Elvis impersonation:) “Throw another midget in that blender for me, wouldya?” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/17 "2001-11-23T16:30:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \* > (Elvis impersonation:) Would you believe that was supposed to read _(Elvis impersonation: )_ ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/18 "2001-11-26T15:04:57Z")
I went on the Graceland tour once (I highly recommend it). One case in the trophy room had all of the honorary police badges Elvis had been given (and there were many)). Right in the center, with pride of place, was his DEA badge. Poor dumb bastard – he had no idea he was a junkie. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/19 "2001-11-26T15:16:49Z")
My parents, who despise rock and roll, vacationed in Memphis to visit friends and museums once (museums?). As a lark they went to Graceland and said they rather enjoyed it. These people still think Bing Crosby is the cat’s meow. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688/20 "2001-11-28T03:20:07Z")
Who says Bing Crosby isn’t the cat’s meow? Elvis was unhealthy, no question. His favorite meal was a peanut butter, banana and mayonnaise sandwich, deep fried. His arteries were probably clogged worse than, uh, something that’s really badly clogged. But he was not as fat as his post-mortem legend has made him out to be. He never weighed more than 216, and he was fairly tall so that wouldn’t have looked all that fat. **PunditLisa** , why must Elvis have been “desperately unhappy” to take so many drugs? Isn’t it possible he just didn’t know his own limits? People do other things that are pleasurable and sometimes overdo them unhealthily: sunbathing, driving fast, eating cake. But no one says a person had to be “desperately unhappy” to do those things. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-fatal-heart-attack/94688.md?page=2)