All kinds of actors have performed Elvis Presley through the years. Other biopics (with various levels of accuracy) of the King of Rock have been made, together with ones that concentrate on his time in highschool earlier than changing into well-known. In simply two years, audiences have seen two drastically totally different movies based mostly on Elvis: Baz Lurhmann’s huge epic Elvis, and Sofia Coppola’s extra nuanced character piece, Priscilla.
All the movies Presley starred in, besides his live performance documentaries, had been fictitious works during which he assumed a faux persona. The King has been portrayed on the massive display in quite a lot of methods, from a good Southern gentleman to a crazed martial arts skilled with a keenness for all issues ostentatious. The fact is many portrayals of Elvis are extremely misconstrued, however that doesn’t cease Hollywood from loving him any much less. Here is our complete information to actors who’ve performed Elvis Presley all through movie historical past.
Update January 8, 2024: Today is Elvis Presley’s birthday, so in honor of the King of Rock’s large day, this text has been up to date with much more performers who’ve performed Elvis.
12 Kurt Russell — Elvis (1979)
Elvis, the very first biopic about Elvis Presley, stars Kurt Russell and covers Elvis’ life as much as 1970. The recognition of Elvis on American tv led to its theatrical distribution in Europe and Australia. Although the screenplay obtained vital criticism from reviewers, it was nonetheless nominated for 3 Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe. Russell and John Carpenter collaborated on a number of main movies after working collectively on this venture for the primary time, together with Escape from New York and The Thing. Rent on Prime Video and Vudu.
11 Don Johnson — Elvis and The Beauty Queen (1981)
Elvis is portrayed by Don Johnson in Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which facilities on his romance with Linda Thompson (Stephanie Zimbalist), a teenage magnificence pageant contestant, following his divorce from Priscilla Presley. Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which has obtained appreciation for a few of its themes, facilities on the ultimate 4 years Elvis spent with Linda and his heroin habit. However, the film left no enduring impressions and obtained many unfavorable evaluations. Not out there to stream.
10 Paul Hipp — Liberace: Behind The Music (1988)
In Liberace: Behind the Music, Paul Hipp performs Elvis Presley. The bond between Elvis and Liberace is highlighted on this unauthorized biography concerning the life and passing of the well-known American pianist and singer, Wadziu Valentino Liberace. According to the film, Liberace instructed Elvis to be extra glitzy and flamboyant. Is it doable that is what impressed Elvis’ iconic dancing routines and eccentric fits? Stream on The Roku Channel, Tubi, PlutoTV, and Freevee.
9 Dale Midkiff — Elvis and Me (1988)
Elvis is portrayed by Dale Midkiff within the 1988 movie Elvis and Me, which tells the story of Priscilla Presley’s marriage to Elvis. The film, which was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Movie/Miniseries, is predicated on the e-book of the identical identify by Priscilla Presley. Using supply materials from somebody who was truly there and lived the love story is the easiest way to get an awesome movie on this case. Not out there for streaming.
8 Michael St. Gerard — Great Balls Of Fire (1989)
Great Balls of Fire!, one of many uncommon motion pictures that makes use of Elvis as a personality, however is not actually concerning the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll himself, stars Michael St. Gerard because the rock star. The lifetime of Jerry Lee Lewis (Dennis Quaid), who was tipped to develop into the subsequent Elvis, is proven on this biographical movie. Lewis grew to become well-known for his musical talents, however his contentious union together with his cousin, a 13-year-old, in the end contributed to his collapse. The film examines his ascent to recognition and his expertise navigating the music enterprise. Not out there for streaming.
7 Rob Youngblood — Elvis and The Colonel: The Untold Story (1993)
Elvis was portrayed by Rob Youngblood within the very first movie to element his relationship with Colonel Tom Parker (Beau Bridges), his supervisor. The exploitative connection Elvis had together with his supervisor is examined from the angle of Elvis’ spirit within the 1993 movie Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story. There aren’t many evaluations for the film, however the ones that do exist do not do the film any favors, with The Biopic Story solely giving it 1 out of 5 stars. Not out there for streaming.
6 Rick Peters — Elvis Meets Nixon (1997)
Rick Peters performs Elvis in Elvis Meets Nixon, the primary adaptation of Elvis and President Nixon’s (Bob Gunton) well-known assembly. Elvis Meets Nixon is a comedic documentary concerning the encounter that occurred when Elvis went to the White House to function a federal marshal for the DEA, in contrast to one other film on this record. The actual story on which the mockumentary is predicated was expanded on and exaggerated for the movie. Even just for the absurdity of attempting to make a comedy out of Elvis, the film is a implausible satire. Stream on FuboTV and Peacock.
5 Tyler Hilton — Walk The Line (2006)
Another movie that highlighted a star with ties to Elvis Presley was Walk the Line, during which Tyler Hilton, finest identified for his half within the adolescent drama One Tree Hill, portrays Elvis. Walk the Line, starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, is an account of Cash’s journey to stardom and is predicated on the 2 memoirs written by Cash. Although Hilton’s half within the movie isn’t very vital, it honors a relationship that the 2 musicians shared earlier than changing into well-known. Walk the Line garnered favorable evaluations from each critics and viewers, receiving seven Oscar nominations and making a whopping $187 million on solely a $28 million price range. Rent on Vudu and Prime Video.
4 Peter Dobson — Protecting The King (2007)
In the 2007 movie Protecting the King, starring Peter Dobson as Elvis, one in every of his bodyguards who was employed on the age of 16 is the topic. David Stanley (Matt Barr), Elvis’ bodyguard, was additionally his stepbrother and shared an opulent way of life with him. Despite providing a contemporary perspective on Elvis’ life and people round him, the film did badly, incomes only a 35% viewers ranking on Rotten Tomatoes. Not out there for streaming.
3 Michael Shannon — Elvis & Nixon (2016)
A unusual movie, Elvis & Nixon, particulars the true account of Elvis Presley and President Richard Nixon’s encounter in 1970. Elvis is portrayed by Michael Shannon within the movie, which is predicated on the assembly that led to probably the most usually sought National Archives {photograph} — the one in every of Presley and Nixon shaking arms — being taken. Shannon was nominated for a Best Actor award by the Indiana Film Journalists Association. Stream on Prime Video.
2 Austin Butler — Elvis (2022)
Elvis is a 2022 biopic directed by Baz Lurhmann, starring Austin Butler within the lead. The plot of the movie illustrates how Elvis Presley’s profession developed, with particular emphasis on Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ supervisor, performed by Tom Hanks, and their advanced dynamic. Elvis’ songs are coated by Butler in his personal fashion. The movie sheds gentle on his sudden recognition and romance with Priscilla Presley throughout a time when America’s cultural setting was altering.
Even although many critics lambasted the film for varied causes, Elvis garnered a 12-minute standing ovation on the Cannes Film Festival and the American Film Institute named it one of many top-ten movies of 2022. Elvis obtained eight nominations on the ninety fifth Academy Awards, together with Best Picture and Best Actor for Butler. While it may need misplaced each award it was nominated for, it went on to develop into a favourite with audiences because it grossed $151 million domestically and $288.7 million worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing movie of the Academy Award nominees behind solely Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water, respectively. Butler’s efficiency as Elvis additionally captured the viewers’s coronary heart and is probably going now the definitive on-screen Elvis. Elvis is streaming on Netflix and Prime Video.
1 Jacob Elordi - Priscilla (2023)
Seen as considerably of a companion piece to Elvis, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla tells the story of Priscilla Beaulieu (Caliee Spaeny) and her courtship and relationship with Elvis Presley, performed by Jacob Elordi. The movie digs into the courtship between the 2 and eventual marriage whereas stripping away the romance’s fairy story nature by highlighting that Priscilla was only a 14-year-old highschool scholar after they met. Spaeny is the star, however Elorid actually shines as Elvis.
In a pleasant distinction to Butler’s depiction seen within the Elvis biopic of the showman persona of Elvis, Elordi’s Elvis is way more the person behind the persona. It depicts Elvis for the qualities individuals love about him but additionally a number of the extra uncomfortable facets of his persona, together with his controlling persona towards Priscilla and the character of relationship a highschool scholar. Elordi’s pure allure helps promote why Priscilla fell for him and why the world appeared the opposite manner in what’s an unsavory act. While many awards our bodies may need neglected Elordi, as it’s proper, the highlight is being placed on Spaeny; his efficiency continues to be very nicely achieved, and, alongside the discharge of Saltburn, on the identical time, cemented him as one of many subsequent large film stars. Priscilla is taking part in in theaters.
