Eddie Carmel
Encyclopedia
Eddie Carmel was an entertainer with gigantism
and subsequent acromegaly
resulting from a pituitary adenoma
. Popularly known as "The Jewish
Giant
", Carmel was billed at the height of 8 ft 9 in (268 cm) tall, though he may have more realistically been around 7 ft 6 ¾ in tall. At the time of his death
at age 36, he had shrunk 6 ¾ inches, due to kyphoscoliosis
(curvature of the spine, a mixture of scoliosis, and kyphosis, meaning hunchback).
Carmel was born in Tel Aviv
, to Jewish migrants Itzack and Miriam Carmel. He moved to the Bronx with his parents when he was a child. He was made famous by photographer Diane Arbus
' picture Jewish Giant, taken at Home with His Parents in the Bronx
, NY
in 1970.
Due to his condition, his primary work was in carnival sideshows including appearances at Hubert's Museum in Times Square and a few films such as 50,000 B.C. (Before Clothing) (1963), and The Brain That Wouldn't Die
(1962).
Gigantism
Gigantism, also known as giantism , is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average...
and subsequent acromegaly
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
resulting from a pituitary adenoma
Pituitary adenoma
Pituitary adenomas are tumors that occur in the pituitary gland, and account for about 15% of intracranial neoplasms. Tumors which exceed 10 mm in size are defined as macroadenomas, and those smaller than 10 mm are referred to as microadenomas...
. Popularly known as "The Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
Giant
Gigantism
Gigantism, also known as giantism , is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average...
", Carmel was billed at the height of 8 ft 9 in (268 cm) tall, though he may have more realistically been around 7 ft 6 ¾ in tall. At the time of his death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
at age 36, he had shrunk 6 ¾ inches, due to kyphoscoliosis
Kyphoscoliosis
Kyphoscoliosis describes an abnormal curvature of the spine in both a coronal and sagittal plane. It is a combination of kyphosis and scoliosis. Kyphoscoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder causing chronic underventilation of the lungs and may be one of the major causes of pulmonary hypertension...
(curvature of the spine, a mixture of scoliosis, and kyphosis, meaning hunchback).
Carmel was born in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, to Jewish migrants Itzack and Miriam Carmel. He moved to the Bronx with his parents when he was a child. He was made famous by photographer Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus March 14, 1923 – July 26, 1971) was an American photographer and writer noted for black-and-white square photographs of "deviant and marginal people or of people whose normality seems ugly or surreal." A friend said that Arbus said that she was "afraid.....
' picture Jewish Giant, taken at Home with His Parents in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, NY
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1970.
Due to his condition, his primary work was in carnival sideshows including appearances at Hubert's Museum in Times Square and a few films such as 50,000 B.C. (Before Clothing) (1963), and The Brain That Wouldn't Die
The Brain That Wouldn't Die
The Brain That Wouldn't Die, also known as The Head That Wouldn't Die, is a 1962 science-fiction/horror film directed by Joseph Green and written by Green and Rex Carlton. The film was completed in 1959 under the title The Black Door, but was not released until May 3, 1962, when it was renamed...
(1962).
External links
- The Jewish Giant A radio segment presented by SoundPortraits.org
- Eddie Carmel Carmel's entry in the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
.