Eddie Carmel
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Eddie Carmel (b. 1936, d. 1972) was a well-known sufferer of acromegaly, a disorder of the pituitary gland, caused in his case by a tumor of the gland, which, untreated, causes uncontrolled growth. Popularly known as "The Jewish Giant", Carmel was billed at the height of 8'9" (268 cm), though he may have more realistically been around 7'8". At the time of his death at age 36, he had dropped down to 7' tall, due to kyphoscoliosis (curvature of the spine, a mixture of scoliosis, and kyphosis, meaning hunchback).
Carmel was made famous by photographer Diane Arbus' picture Jewish Giant at Home with His Parents in the Bronx, NY, 1970. [1]
Due to his condition, his primary work was in carnival sideshows, and a few films such as "50,000 B.C. (Before Clothing)" (1963), and "The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)."
His parents were Itzack and Miriam Carmel, and he grew up in the Bronx, NY.
[edit] External links
- The Jewish Giant A radio segment presented by SoundPortraits.org
- NPR A National Public Radio press release about the segment just cited.
- Eddie Carmel Carmel's entry in the Internet Movie Database.
![[1]](http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/asc/projects/comm544/library/images/528.jpg){kind=link}