Autopsy The Last Hours of... Season 4 Episode 3 Liberace
- January 1, 2015
- 42 min
In the season 4 episode 3 of Autopsy: The Last Hours of, the famous pianist Liberace is under examination. The flamboyant performer was a cultural icon in the 1970s and 1980s, with his showmanship and over-the-top costumes. However, in 1987, he succumbed to AIDS at the age of 67. The episode delves into the last days and hours of Liberace's life, and explores the challenges that he faced as a closeted gay man during his lifetime.
The episode begins with a brief biography of Liberace's life, including his early upbringing in Wisconsin and his first piano lessons as a child. From there, the episode focuses on the years leading up to his death, including his retirement from performing in the early 1980s, his declining health, and his eventual diagnosis with AIDS. Interviews with medical experts and key figures in Liberace's life provide insight into the challenges that he faced both personally and professionally during this time.
In particular, the episode examines the secrecy around Liberace's illness and the stigma that surrounded AIDS in the 1980s. As a result of the public's lack of understanding about the disease, many people assumed that only gay men and drug users were at risk, leading to increased discrimination and fear. The episode highlights how Liberace's team worked to keep his illness secret and how this affected his relationships with those closest to him.
One of the key questions explored in the episode is how Liberace contracted the disease. Since he was a closeted gay man, it is not clear whether he contracted the virus through sexual contact or through a blood transfusion. The episode discusses these possibilities, as well as the other challenges that Liberace faced in seeking treatment for the disease, including the limited availability of antiviral medications at the time.
Finally, the episode examines the circumstances surrounding Liberace's death. Despite receiving treatment for AIDS, his condition rapidly deteriorated in the weeks leading up to his passing. The episode explores the various complications that he experienced, including pneumonia and heart failure, and provides a detailed medical analysis of the possible causes of his death.
Autopsy: The Last Hours of offers a fascinating look into the final days of some of the world's most famous public figures. Season 4 episode 3 sheds light on the complicated and often tragic life of Liberace, highlighting the difficulties that he faced as a closeted gay man during a time of intense stigma and discrimination around HIV/AIDS. Through expert analysis and interviews with key figures in his life, the episode provides a compelling portrait of this iconic performer's final days.