His first wife, Marie, died in 1980. As theLos Angeles Timespoints out, his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, knew that Elvis' brand was so powerful that he could earn millions at any moment simply by booking a tour, recording an album, or appearing in a film. He was quickly arrested and spent a few months in military prison. In 1963, Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's audacious manager who had gotten his start selling candy apples in carnivals, read in the paper that Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential. Colonel Tom Parker signed Elvis to these terrible films for a simple reason: AsThe Conversationpoints out, they made buckets of money $2.2 billion in domestic gross alone. Moreover, he wanted to clear his own debts and open a stream of unlimited revenue for himself. After Elvis' death in 1977, the Elvis Presley manager continued on as if The King were still alive. "They probably first crossed paths at Sun Studio, but only briefly.". According to The Washington Post, Parker turned down offers for Presley to star in several films that went on to be huge hits and establish their stars as legitimate actors. Formerly the Editor-in-Chief of JoBlo.com, he has over a decade of writing and reporting about the entertainment industry and has covered everything from Comic Con to CinemaCon to Star Wars Celebration, as well as covering numerous set visits and junkets all over the world. Parker was a svengali who exerted an extreme amount of control over his charge's career, and took enormous 25 to 50% in commission. Then in 2017, when the house was set to be demolished for a car wash, music historian and collector Brian Oxley purchased the rights to the . He saw the greasy-haired lad, clad in a pink suit, transform into a superhero. Tom used to work in the carnival, and he knew that there were certain tricks that left the audience baffled. There were questions as to the citizenship of Tom Parker. Adds Nash:Priscilla was not as involved with Elvis after their divorce as she would now have people believe.. His mother, Gladys Presley, had a premonition of sorts. All rights Reserved. Parker entered the country illegally and never took any steps to correct his status despite the fact that it would have been relatively easy to do so. At that point in time, a fresh voice had emerged out of nowhere in the market. Elvis picked up an impressive seven Oscar nominations. Elvis was known for many things: launching rock and roll into the mainstream, scandalizing folks with his hip gyrations, rhinestone-studded jumpsuits and some really, really awful movies. They wanted to make a statement, and the 1968 Comeback Special etched the singer-songwriters name in history, though it left Tom Parker infuriated. Colonel Parker lay on the hospital bed, overlooking the International Hotel of Las Vegas, and all over the media, there was news that he was responsible for the death of Elvis Presley. He was a heavier-set man with balding hair and frequently wore a fedora and a suit of some type, sometimes made of gaudy designs to help promote something. He allegedly took a 50% commission on his earnings and exploited him to support his gambling and betting addiction. Tom told Elvis that for International tours, a lot of investment would have to be made from his pocket, whereas for performing in the International hotel, he wouldnt have to spend a single penny. He had toured with carnivals, worked with elephants and. He became a sensation, and his music and performances reverberated across the country. In 1956, Elvis also starred in a hit movie, Love Me Tender. The True Story Of Colonel Tom Parker, Tom Hanks' 'Elvis' Character - Bustle Andreas van Kuijk kept up his false identity for decades, but eventually, at least part of the truth caught up with him. Parker became one of the most famous people in the world, amassed a huge fortune, and negotiated huge deals on Presley's behalf often making business enemies as he went due to his hard-nosed style. Elvis was asked to perform, but his contract wouldnt allow it, Nash says. Court records show that Parker represented Elvis in return for an unheard-of 50 percent of . Rarenotes that despite being a superstar, Elvis Presley only toured outside the U.S. three times all in 1957, and all in Canada. One reason Parker needed all that money was his gambling and as theDailyExpressreports, he may have contributed to Presley's early death by pushing the singer to perform two shows a night, seven days a week, for his Las Vegas residencies in order to keep the cash coming. Breaking News. Elvis arrived for the start of two weeks of rehearsals on June 3, 1968, and Kennedy was shot on June 5, dying the next morning, June 6, she says. He rode him till he died and even in death he attempt. As a veteran even a veteran with a stain on his record Parker would have been an ideal choice for the draft. Over the course of their long relationship, he exerted a remarkable level of control over the star, who put up with him until his death in 1977. The preliminary autopsy findings indicated that the cause of death was . They didnt know whether to be happy or not after witnessing those tricks. Parker was known to be a ruthless businessman who was only interested in making money, and some believe that he killed Elvis in order to cash in on his death. There was money to be made, and Elvis wanted to travel abroad too. But big Elvis fans know Parker the man who managed the musicians career from 1955 until the iconic singer died prematurely in 1977 all too well. Never one to miss an opportunity to make money off of his prized client, Colonel Tom Parker jumped on Elvis' death as a marketing cash grab. I just wish I had a microphone so I could have recorded it all. When Tom made an offer to partner with Elvis, the first thought that came to the singers mind was that it could be the end of all his struggles. Nobody cared about what Elvis wanted. Colonel Parker lay on the hospital bed, overlooking the International Hotel of Las Vegas, and all over the media, there was news that he was responsible for the death of Elvis Presley. Stop reading if you haven't seen it yet and don't want to know. However, as he always does, Hanks shone as Tom Parker in Elvis, and the Colonel proved to the world that he could play a complex villain. But its gone now.. But it's also possible that the man who managed the most famous singer in rock history was a true psychopath. When [Presleys family and associates have] done all they can with him, then they start picking on me I dont think I exploited Elvis as much as hes being exploited today.. but was then declared dead from cardiac arrest at 3:30pm. Colonel Tom Parker - FameChain The assassination put Elvis into an emotional spiral.. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Elvis' movie fact check: What's true, what's fiction in new biopic? Held at a Hilton Hotel, his funeral was attended by the likes of Sun Records boss Sam Phillips and Parker's former client . Still, Presley called Mr. Parker and his first wife, Marie, ''the finest people in the world.''. AsThe New York Timesnotes, Parker was eventually simply discharged from the Army but only after suffering some sort of "breakdown." Yet Parker soaked Elvis for an enormous amount of money. In 1953 Parker bought a house in Madison, Tennessee, where Presley would visit and stay while recording. His real name was Andreas van Kuijk. Elvis hung out in Beale Street and was heavily inspired by Mahalia Jackson, the gospel legend. Tom Parker caught a glimpse of the singer backstage. He met Priscilla, the love of his life, the daughter of a United States Air Force officer. As a young man, he worked at carnivals and fairs, founding the Great Parker Pony Circus and Colonel Tom Parker and His Dancing Chickens. But Colonel Parker didnt agree with what the people had to say. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal was a shocking one. He worked with traveling carnivals and eventually got into music promotion, changing his name to Tom Parker (taking the name from his Army recruitment officer) and erasing any mention of his true origins. That night from the stage, Elvis delivered a furious attack on Hilton, saying he wasnt worth a damn, she says. As Smithsonian Magazine reports, van Kuijk, who was born in the Netherlands, created an elaborate fake past for himself. AsCMT Newsreports, in order to slow down any attempt to bring criminal charges against him, Parker officially claimed that he was a citizen of no nation a man without a country and thus not subject to any country's laws. The courts merely termed it financial abuse, but who would account for all those lost years? How Did Colonel Parker Died. Tom knew that Elvis was the golden goose and Hank was a story of the past. Spoiler alert! Michael Ochs Archives/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, granted him an honorary colonelcy in 1948, sold Presleys contract to RCA Victor for $35,000, restricted Presley from touring internationally. At some point, he made his way to the United States Smithsonian speculates that he entered through the Canadian border and resided in America for the rest of his life as an undocumented immigrant. The new contract also allowed Parker to charge additional fees for services he provided, eating away at the money that should have gone to Elvis instead. When was Elvis Presley's funeral and who attended? But it certainly would explain Parker's hurried exit from his home country and his fevered secrecy and worry over his true identity. In Elvis, Tom Hanks' Colonel Tom Parker refers to himself as " The Snowman ," but the nickname was far from a joke for Parker. He said, Let me hear it again, and it was only after he heard it seven or eight times that he said, OK,Ill do it. ", Review:Austin Butler rules as the King, butBaz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' is an unchained mess of a movie. Elvis: Colonel Tom Parker Really Was That Bad | Den of Geek He came on stage, and it felt like he would faint because of anxiety and stage fright. Col. Parker was credited with getting Presley a $35,000 recording contract with RCA Victor in the mid-1950s when Sam Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis decided to sell Presley's contract. Media in category "Colonel Tom Parker" The following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Lisa Marie Presley dies:The only child of Elvisdies at 54 after a brief hospitalization. One of the most surprising things about Colonel Tom Parker is that he wasn't an American, he never held American citizenship, and his real name wasn't Tom Parker. Col. Tom Parker, 87, a onetime carnival pitchman who shrewdly guided singer-actor Elvis Presley's career for 22 years, died here Jan. 21 after a stroke. There is a scene in the film where Elvis faints just before going on stage. ': Tom Hanks changed his mind about his favorite Elvis song, The colonel was delighted that Elvis was causing riots and grabbing headlines for being overly suggestive, she says. Much of the money went to Col. Tom Parker, the King's enigmatic, cigar- chomping manager and Svengali. All in all, the manager was known for some appalling behavior towards his star client, and Elvis tries its best to portray that accurately. The Colonel travelled to Memphis for the funeral, where he turned up dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, and smoked his trademark cigar. One of the suits was filed by a lawyer for Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie. It was no less than blasphemy. Elvis Presley had his own struggles, particularly in his later years, as his lavish spending, addiction issues, divorce, and declining health took a toll on The King. Tom Parker's Cause of Death. He booked Presley as an opening act on a Hank Snow tour and began trying to persuade Presley, his parents and his manager, Bob Neal, to let him provide professional guidance. Related: The Darkest Moments In Oscars History. Alsocredit star Austin Butler's studious depiction of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. After his wife died in 1980, he remarried and moved to Las Vegas, where he lent his experience to entertainers and served as an entertainment adviser to the Hilton Hotel chain. A rough-spoken, imposing, cigar-chomping businessman, Mr. Parker rarely gave interviews and was known for fabricating his background. Parker struggled with a gambling addiction while keeping Elvis on a short leash, halting the singer from touring overseas and pushing him into cheap projects that were frequently averse to what the artist wanted to be a part of, eventually taking 50% of Elvis' earnings, of which they both agreed upon. Astrological Sign: Cancer Nacionalities Dutch Death Year: 1997. It has been suggested he assumed his new name from a Captain Thomas. Parker was eventually sued by the Elvis estate over mismanagement, which found his dealings over the years to be unethical and extortionate. The Colonel was well-known as a strong promoter that frequently leaned into exploitation. In 1948, he wangled the honorary colonel's title from Louisiana's Governor, Jimmie Davis, and henceforth asked to be addressed as ''Colonel.'' Show director/producer Steve Binder turned to songwriter Earl Brown to write an emotional ballad, "If I Can Dream," that reflected Elvis hopes that the nation could get through such a crisis and heal. Parker quickly set out to turn Presley into more than just a successful musician. As the manager of the biggest musical star in the world, he could afford to bluster, often bragging about being in charge of Presley's career and earning the lion's share of the income. In a review of a biography of Parker in The Washington Post, book critic Jonathan Yardley reflects that The hold [Parker] had on Presley is an enduring mystery. Presley remained loyal to Parker, even as Parker exploited and benefited from his star power and talent. Related: Every Baz Luhrmann Movie, Ranked According To Box Office Mojo. From his exorbitant 50-percent fee for his services to a multitude of deals where he actually made more money than his client, Parker violated plenty of ethical rules, even if Presley willingly signed the contracts. The senator was shot elsewhere in Los Angeles, andnot during the taping of that iconic Elvis TV specialbut during rehearsals,Nash says. I think I didn't hear you very well. Colonel Tom Parker was astonished to hear that Elvis Presley was a white man. Ever since Tom Parker's cause of death has been discussed many news sources started covering this news and also providing information about his cause of death. He arranged everything from Presley's career-making appearances on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' to his profitable but bland Hollywood films. But what he didnt know was that he was about to enter a swamp, and there was no way out of it. Snow eventually led Parker to Elvis Presley. In 1967, Parker pushed Elvis to marry Priscilla Beaulieu, hoping that it would help change the tide of his career. The actor won his first Oscar for Philadelphia, where he played an AIDs-afflicted lawyer, losing significant weight to portray the character's declining health. AsThe Washington Postreports, the judge in the suit was so shocked by what he saw that he said Parker was "guilty of self-dealing and overreaching" and barred him from any involvement with the estate going forward. Her response: People who ask that dont know Elvis. Colonel Parker died on January 26, 1997, at the age of 87. He was ruthless and heartless. Elvis and the Colonel were associated throughout the musician's entire career, including music, movies, and TV specials. It can never be proved that Colonel Parker had direct involvement in the death of the artist, but it is an inevitable fact that he created situations that led to it eventually. Everybody loves Tom Hanks but they may not love Tom Parker, the predatory music manager he plays in Elvis. Despite the shady financial dealings Parker maintained with Presley, his net worth when he died was much less than that of Elvis, who died with a net worth of $5 million -- around $20 million. He was a carny and Elvis was his cash cow, nothing more. Some people, though, didnt appreciate his wiggly gyrations and considered them obscene and against public morality. Colonel Tom Parker's House. Parker quickly set to work promoting Presley, arranging tour dates and television appearances (including Presleys famous performances on The Ed Sullivan Show), and by the end of 1956, he and Presley had signed a contract making Parker the musicians sole and exclusive adviser, personal representative and manager.. King, his music, and his style. TheDaily Express estimated that he earned as much as a billion dollars over the course of his career. There's no way to know if the man who would become Elvis' manager was Anna van den Enden's killer. If Parker hadn't been so paranoid about Presley being outside of his direct control, The King would have earned a lot more money. The cause of death was not immediately known, but it was later revealed that he had been suffering from a number of health problems in recent years, including Alzheimer's disease. He dreamt of donning the same suit that B.B King wore, one day. Theres no one, including his father, who could have pulled that off., By the time Elvis was trying to get help for his addictions, his ex-wife was no longer in his life on a daily basis. However, Hanks, who has six prior nominations and won twice, was snubbed for his role as Colonel Tom Parker. She knew that something bad would happen with this association, but Elvis had made up his mind. Obituary: Col Tom Parker | The Independent | The Independent But Parker was also a very scared man who sacrificed millions in potential earnings because, as writerAlanna Nashreports, he didn't have a passport and was afraid to let Presley tour overseas without him. were acquaintances, but not close friends," she says. King, who worked as a DJ in Memphis at the time,would certainly have been aware of Elvis, and vice versa, but they would not have been hanging out and catching acts such as Little Richard as the movie portrays,says Nash. After a stint as a salesman he joined the US army in 1930 and served with the coastal artillery at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. As The Washington Post notes, British music promoter Harvey Goldsmith said flat out that when he tried to sign Presley to a performance in England, Parker told him privately it would never happen because he was afraid to leave the U.S. Colonel Tom Parker - Elvis, House & Death - Biography The actor has talked about the project, what drew him to it, and how he felt about the overall story.