Elephant Man

1. Stage name of Joseph Carey Merrick (1862-90), a man afflicted with two diseases, neurofibromatosis I and Proteus Syndrome, which made his body puff out into a series of tumours that deformed his face, head and one side of his lower body. (Often incorrectly thought to have had elephantiasis). Lived as a circus freak for some time before attracting the attention of British higher society. Died in a tragic attempt to sleep flat on his back at the age of 27; his massive head dislocated his neck. The subject of a biopic in 1980, directed by David Lynch. 2. Any social pariah, anyone seen as monstrous.