Elvis Presley: Everything We Know About The King Of Rock And Roll's Death (2024)

The "King of Rock and Roll" Elvis Presley forever changed the landscape of music by being one of the first-ever rock stars, and his tragic passing cemented his legacy as a pop culture icon. By incorporating music styles he fell in love with during his childhood, Elvis Presley was suddenly plucked from obscurity in the mid-1950s, and he helped to spearhead the burgeoning genre known as rock and roll. With his silky voice, handsome looks, and never-before-seen controversial dance moves, Elvis was the shot in the arm that the world needed during the stodgy 1950s.

Elvis would ride a wave of popularity all the way to Hollywood where he became a bona fide movie star who could also belt out amazing tunes to score his own films. Every Elvis Presley movie took full advantage of his intangible star quality, and the small-town Southern boy embodied the idea of the American dream at the highest level. Even after his death, Elvis continues to be the subject of fascination from fans and critics alike, with major motion pictures like Elvis glorifying him, while others like Priscilla analyze his complicated life through a modern lens. Though he was far from perfect, Elvis Presley is certainly an American original.

How Elvis Presley Died

In the nearly five decades since Elvis Presley's death, certain misconceptions still abound about what really killed the "King of Rock and Roll". The fact of the matter is, Elvis died of a massive heart attack which was described by Shelby County coroner Dr. Jerry Francisco as a case of cardiac arrhythmia. Dr. Francisco came to that conclusion after an extensive autopsy was performed on Presley (via The New York Times), though the complex nature of the doctor's findings did cause much speculation about the actual cause of death.

In his later years, Presley's prescription drug use was well-known, which naturally led many to the conclusion that "The King" had actually died of a drug overdose. However, Dr. Francisco definitively ruled out an overdose as Presley's cause of death (via The New York Times), though prescription drugs were found in his system at the time of his passing. In the same Times piece, the coroner explained that "there is no evidence the medication present in the body of Elvis Presley caused or made any significant contribution to his death", and instead chalked it up to "hypertensive heart disease, with coronary artery heart disease as a contributing factor".

When And Where Elvis Died

A little over two decades after bursting on the music scene in the middle of the 1950s with hits like "Hound Dog, Elvis Presley died on August 16th, 1977. His death came at a time when Elvis' star had noticeably declined, though he was still touring extensively and having great success as a live act. His death was somewhat symbolic though, with outlets like The Guardian declaring that "the age of Rock is over". While that assessment was fortunately untrue, his death did mark the end of the original era of classic rock.

Elvis Presley passed away at home, which was the sprawling mansion known as Graceland the singer purchased in Memphis, Tennessee in 1957. According to the official Graceland website, the palatial estate was bought by the burgeoning star when he was only 22, and it cost him a whopping $120 thousand, a tidy sum for real estate at the time. When Elvis died in 1977, he had been occupying the residence for over two decades, and he put his signature touch on many of the famous rooms such as the infamous "Jungle Room" where he recorded several of his later albums (via Outsider).

Long a symbol of Elvis' commitment to the city of Memphis which he loved so much, Graceland was opened to the public for tours in 1982, where it continues to be a destination for visitors from around the globe. While most of the grounds are open to the public, the upstairs area of the mansion, where Elvis passed, remains blocked off out of respect for the family. Elvis, his parents, and his daughter Lisa Marie are all interred on the property.

Elvis’ Age At The Time Of His Death

Actors who have played Elvis in movies typically focus on the early days of "The King", and very rarely do biopics continue the tale to the end. Elvis Presley was 42 at the time of his passing, which makes him something of an anomaly when it comes to rock's greatest tragedies. Rockers like Jimmi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison all passed away nearly a decade before Elvis did, but they were also significantly younger, with the age of 27 being particularly dangerous for famous musicians. Despite being much older, Elvis' death was no less shocking because of his legendary status as a symbol of popular culture.

How The World Reacted To Elvis Presley’s Passing

Though Elvis wasn't the star he had been, his death was a reminder to fans worldwide that "The King" was actually a human after all. Crowds of mourners began flocking to Graceland to commiserate, and the site has become a pilgrimage location for those who wish to pay their respects to Presley and his legacy. Presley's death even reached the highest office in the land with then-President Jimmy Carter issuing a statement reading in part "Elvis Presley's death deprives our country of a part of itself. He was unique and irreplaceable" (via The American Presidency Project). Such sentiments not only mourned his death but cemented his place in American history.

The Conspiracy Theories About Elvis’ Death

Because of the sudden and unexpected nature of Elvis' death, a slew of conspiracy theories began popping up in the years since he died. As Time explains, the general gist of most Elvis conspiracy involves the singer faking his own death in order to escape the harsh glared of the limelight. Supposed "Elvis Sightings" have been the stuff of tabloid legend for decades, and some true believers even spotted "The King" as a background actor in the airport scene of 1990's Home Alone. While the M.O. is somewhat more believable than the usual conspiracy fare, it is obviously not backed by the facts.

The reason that so many conspiracy theories crop up around Elvis' death is the same reason why they crop up around the deaths of other celebrities like Michael Jackson, Tupac, and Paul Walker. Stars take on mythic proportions in the eyes of fans, and yet they are all humans who are subject to the same twists of fate as anyone else. Elvis meant so much to so many people that some couldn't accept that his death could be so shocking and simple. A man known for his grand and lavish entrances left the world with nary a flourish.

How Elvis Presley’s Death Impacted His Legacy

Elvis Presley's place in history was secured the first time he swiveled his hips and belted out a tune, but his death also helped to add to his iconic status. Elvis started from nothing and by the age of 25, he was the most famous person in the world. His death at the young age of 42 was a tragic end to an almost mythical life story, and it erased several years of declining popularity. While Elvis Presley would have always been big, his death secured his legacy and made it assured that "The King" would never slide into obscurity like so many of his early rock and roll contemporaries.