Brian Piccolo Death
Louis passed away on June 16, 1970 at the age of 26 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Louis's cause of death was embryonal cell carcinoma.
When did Brian Piccolo die?
June 16, 1970How did Brian Piccolo die? What was the cause of death?
Embryonal cell carcinomaHow old was Brian Piccolo when died?
26Where did Brian Piccolo die? What was the location of death?
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Brian Piccolo Birthday and Date of Death
Brian Piccolo was born on October 31, 1943 and died on June 16, 1970. Louis was 26 years old at the time of death.
Birthday: October 31, 1943
Date of Death: June 16, 1970
Age at Death: 26
Brian Piccolo - Biography
Louis Brian Piccolo (October 31, 1943 – June 16, 1970) was a professional football player, a running back for the Chicago Bears for four years. He died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of germ cell testicular cancer, first diagnosed after it had spread to his chest cavity. Piccolo was the subject of the 1971 TV movie Brian's Song, with a remake (of the same title) TV movie filmed in 2001. He was portrayed in the original film by James Caan and by Sean Maher in the 2001 remake.
The film Brian's Song, loosely based on Gale Sayers' autobiography, tells the story of the friendship between Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers and their time together while playing football for the Chicago Bears, up until Piccolo's death. It first aired in 1971 on ABC on Tuesday, November 30, less than 18 months after his death, and starred James Caan as Piccolo and Billy Dee Williams as Sayers. It was such a success on television that it was later shown in theaters. A remake aired in 2001 on ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney and starred Mekhi Phifer and Sean Maher.
The Bears were in the midst of a 1–13 season in 1969, the worst record in their history. Piccolo had finally earned a place in the starting lineup as an undersized fullback. Their first win came in the eighth game on November 9, a 38–7 home win over struggling Pittsburgh and Piccolo opened the scoring at Wrigley Field with a 25-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. The next week in Atlanta, he scored a fourth quarter touchdown on a one-yard run, and then voluntarily removed himself from the game, something he had never done, raising great concern among his teammates and coaches. Breathing while playing had become extremely difficult for him, so when the team returned to Chicago he was promptly sent for a medical examination and diagnosed with embryonal cell carcinoma.
Soon after initial surgery at Sloan-Kettering in New York City to remove the tumor, he underwent a second procedure in April 1970 to remove his left lung and pectoral muscle. Bothered by chest pain afterward, he was re-admitted to the hospital in early June and doctors determined the cancer had spread to other organs, particularly his liver. He died in the early morning of June 16 at the age of 26. The month before Piccolo's death, Gale Sayers was accepting the George S. Halas Award for Most Courageous Player and told the crowd that they had selected the wrong person for the award. He said, "I love Brian Piccolo, and I'd like all of you to love him, too. Tonight, when you hit your knees to pray, please ask God to love him, too."
