Eddie Carmel

Who was Eddie Carmel?

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 tall, though he may have more realistically been around 7 ft 3 in tall. At the time of his death at age 36, he had shrunk several inches, due to kyphoscoliosis.

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., and The Brain That Wouldn't Die.