Real to Reel

COLONEL TOM PARKER

Tom Hanks plays Presley’s controversial manager, who also acts as narrator in the movie. Parker is portrayed as a man who propelled Elvis to stardom, but also held him back in the later stages of his career – tying him to play year after year in Las Vegas so that the Dutch immigrant could satisfy his gambling addiction. Parker lived a long life and died aged 87 – unlike Elvis, who was just 42.

PRISCILLA PRESLEY

Played by Aussie star Olivia DeJonge, Priscilla first met Elvis when she was just a teenager in Germany, where both her father and the singer were stationed. They married in 1967 and welcomed their daughter, Lisa Marie, in 1968. They divorced in 1973, but remained close. The 77-year-old says she never stopped loving him and was devastated by his death. “I love him,” she says. “I still love him. I’ve never not loved him. Ever.”

GLADYS PRESLEY

Award-winning Aussie actress Helen Thomson takes on the role of the Presley matriarch. Elvis, whose twin brother Jesse was stillborn, was extremely close to his mother who was the dominant member of the family and a big influence on him. She seemed to struggle with his fame and began drinking heavily, developing liver problems. She died aged just 46 when Presley was only 23 – the same age Butler was when he lost his own mother.

LITTLE RICHARD

Sexy, loud, intelligent, electric – that’s how actor Alton Mason describes Little Richard, the man he portrays in the movie. Little Richard was just one of the many black artists who performed on Memphis’ Beale Street that influenced Presley. Born Richard Wayne Penniman, he helped pioneer the early rock ‘n’ roll era of the 1950s, and was known for his flashy clothes and his flamboyant showmanship. He died aged 87 in 2020.