Introduction
Elvis is probably one of the most influential singers and performers that the world has ever known, and a lot of people are still enthralled with him, even though he has been gone for a long time now. Often called the King of Rock and Roll, he’s still a significant cultural figure, but how tall was he?
Elvis Presley was probably around 6 feet (1.82 meters) tall, which is taller than the average American. There is some dispute about this, and some sources state that he was only 5 foot 11 inches (1.80 meters). Regardless, he was a tall individual. He had an attractive appearance, and it’s no surprise that he was such an iconic figure for many different reasons.
The King, as he is often referred to, is likely to remain a major cultural icon across the world, and he is still renowned for his voice, his looks, and his talent – so let’s find out a bit more about him.
How Tall Was Elvis?
Most sources state that Elvis was 6 feet tall, although some put him at about a quarter of an inch smaller, and some even say 5 foot 11 inches. There’s no way to know for sure which of these is the most accurate, and a person’s height can change slightly as they age and grow. It’s safe to say that he was around 6 feet tall.
That’s pretty tall! The average American man today is 5 foot 8 inches (1.73 meters), meaning that Elvis would be at least 3 or 4 inches taller. That doesn’t make him exceptionally tall, but he’s certainly far from being a short individual, and that’s one of the many things that led to him standing out.
His good looks also helped, although Elvis’s voice is what truly won him fame. He is known for his incredible singing, which remained good even in his later years. His voice has been described in many different ways, but a lot of people consider it to be almost sinfully good, with a richness and depth rarely heard in other singers’ voices.
His height was a significant enough feature that many people have noted it, and it probably added to his attractiveness and the fame he enjoyed while on the stage, but it’s not what made this star truly stand out in the world of celebrities.
How Old Was Elvis?
Elvis was only 42 years old when he died, sadly suffering from a heart attack in 1977. He was found unresponsive in the bathroom of his mansion in Graceland, and it is thought that he had collapsed and been unable to breathe. Attempts to revive him failed, and he died.
His death followed an extraordinarily successful and incredible career; he began his music career in 1954, when he was in his late teens. His first RCA Victor single, entitled “Heartbreak Hotel,” became a number-one hit in the US after its release in January 1956, and within a year, 10 million Presley singles had sold.
He worked to promote the marginalized African-Americans, which resulted in some controversy, but his popularity continued to grow fast. However, he was drafted into military service for a few years, and had to relaunch his recording career. He also spent many years working on films and soundtracks, including Viva Las Vegas, Jailhouse Rock, and Blue Hawaii.
He also undertook live performances, but then had a 7 year break from them. After this, he was in a television comeback special, and then began a string of profitable tours and started his Las Vegas concert residency. Unfortunately, his health began to decline, partly due to drug abuse and poor eating habits, and this led to his death in 1977.
Elvis remains one of the best known and most popular musicians in history. He is among the best-selling of all time, and he won three Grammy Awards, plus multiple records, in the US and abroad.
He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018. This is given to individuals to recognize when they have made a significant contribution to the US, to world peace, or to cultural advancement, and it has been received by multiple individuals, including Rosa Parks.
How Much Did Elvis Weigh?
This depends very much on what period you are looking at. In his youth, Elvis was well-built but not overweight, and he probably weighed somewhere around 160 lb (73 kg) when he was in his early 30s.
However, most people are aware that by the time he was in his 40s, Elvis was enormously overweight, and was suffering from a lot of health complications as a result. He is estimated to have weighed around 350 lb (159 kg) at the time of his death – more than double his weight just a decade before.
He reportedly consumed around 10,000 to 12,000 calories per day, which is more than 5 times the recommended intake (according to today’s guidelines). His drug abuse may have contributed to his appearance, but there’s no question that his approach to food was unhealthy and dangerous, and many people close to him commented on it.
Today, you can even order what is known as an Elvis sandwich, based on his preferences. This sandwich varies from place to place, but often includes things like bacon, peanut butter, and bananas.
The singer did make some attempts to improve his diet, which led to wild weight fluctuations and often unhealthy eating restrictions. He reportedly even asked his doctors to induce a coma so he could reduce his food intake, and he used sleeping tablets to keep himself asleep so he couldn’t eat.
His difficult lifestyle in Las Vegas and the challenges he faced while there probably added to these problems. It’s likely that today, more help might have been available for him.
Conclusion
Elvis was an impressive 6 feet tall according to most sources, and he was an incredible icon in the music world. Sadly, he died young, probably as a result of poor diet and drug misuse. His funeral was attended by thousands, marking the phenomenal popularity this man enjoyed.
