Despite successful European tours , his career had in fact been slumping since 1957 , but Liberace built it back up by appealing directly to his fan base . Through live appearances in small-town supper clubs , and with television and promotional appearances , he began to regain popularity . On November 22 , 1963 , he suffered renal failure , reportedly from accidentally inhaling excessive amounts of dry cleaning fumes from his newly cleaned costumes in a Pittsburgh dressing room , and nearly died . He later said that what saved him from further injury was being woken up by his entourage to the news that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated . Told by doctors that his condition was fatal , he began to spend his entire fortune by buying extravagant gifts of furs , jewels , and even a house for friends , but then recovered after a month
assassinated
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Liberace