Parker was an avid gambler, which is believed to have been the source of many of his "fast money" dealings with Austin Butler's Elvis. [53] First Artists, not used to such huge demands, didn't put forward a counter-offer and decided instead to offer the role, along with the original salary offer, to Kris Kristofferson, who accepted. He was given the honorary title of "Colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia from Governor Jimmie Davis as thanks for the work he did on his political campaign. [21] In return for a larger financial stake in the deal, Neal agreed not to renew his management contract with Presley after it expired in March 1956,[22] allowing Parker the opportunity to claim the job for himself. Here's why Colonel Tom Parker is so controversial. He made him join the Army after Elvis was offered an out by the Memphis draft board. Presley was never one to stand up against Parker, but he knew that this TV show was his one chance at a true comeback, and with Binder backing him, Presley told Parker he was doing it "Binder's way". [4], Parker had worked as a "consultant" for Hilton Hotels since Presley's death,[60] with some believing he was working to pay off debts owed to the casino from his gambling during Presley's performances there. That was 1977 money, using the inflation calculator $30 million in 1977 is equaled to $146,671,287.13 in 2022. What it means in the movie: The Colonel, standing in the shadows, stalks the hillbilly newcomer Elvis Presley at the Louisiana Hayride and realizes, "He was my destiny." What happened in real life: On Jan. 15, 1955, Colonel Parker traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana, to watch Elvis on the Hayride . [58], Following Presley's death, Parker set up a licensing operation with Factors Etc. And Priscilla Presley confirmed those rumors while chatting with Good Morning America. [41] With Priscilla's father dropping heavy hints, and fear that their relationship might become public beforehand, Parker persuaded Presley that he should make an "honest woman" of her in the very near future. He died in 1997 at the age of 87. With 1956 coming to a close, Parker had made Presley one of the most well-known, well-paid entertainers in the world. He quickly became the singer's sole representative, and within months he had won Elvis a recording contract with RCA Victor.. He was 87. According to Presley's friend, Jerry Schilling, Presley was excited about the opportunity to take on a new challenge. So the uncompromising Colonel told her that Elvis couldn't cover the track as those were the terms. After that, his crippling gambling habit caught up with him, and Parker died nearly penniless. [65] Marie was one of six children,[65] had been married twice before, and had a son from her first marriage. I quit! Paul Shirey is a senior news writer for Screen Rant. Oh, I just pictured Elvis, like, singing it. [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. The actor has proven time and again that he's up to the challenge of playing a real-world personality and the role of Elvis and the Colonel is no different. And when he said that, I said, 'Oh, well, okay, now that's brand new.". He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. [14] Parker decided against registering, possibly to prevent his previous Army record from becoming public. Elvis had gone to the home of an employee he liked, whose wife was dying from cancer, and Hilton terminated the employee because of a rule banning any contact between employees and hotel talent . But according to IMDb, it was because Elvis just didn't like dealing with confrontation. [16] Remembering his previous experience with Sands, Sholes dismissed Sands as a viable replacement for Presley.[16]. By this time, Parker was aware that Presley needed a rest from touring and the chance to deal with his prescription drug addictions. [56] Shortly afterward, he traveled to Memphis for Presley's funeral. God, yes! Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's . Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. Later, Davis says "He remembered me, and he said 'I told you you were going to be a star.' [49] The album was released simultaneously around the world, and went to number 1 on the US charts, the first Presley album to do so since the Roustabout soundtrack, in 1964. Colonel Tom is credited as being the man who made Elvis Presley a star. [13] Within a year, he had the opportunity to become a legal citizen of the United States a new law allowed illegal aliens the chance to become citizens in return for their promise to fight for the country during World War II, if required. [31] Parker made sure that the contract allowed Presley the freedom to make at least one film a year with another studio, and also managed to set up an office, with staff, at Paramount. [5] The case against Parker was settled out of court in 1983, with the estate paying him $2 million ($5,441,363 in 2021 dollars[11])[5] in exchange for all Presley audio recordings or visual images that he owned[4] and the termination of his involvement in any Presley related earnings for five years. Tt was this, rather than his entrance into the Army or the later death of Gladys, from which Presley never truly recovered and which ultimately killed him. [1], Parker was born as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk on June 26, 1909, in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands,[4] and was the seventh of eleven children. However, there were some interesting omissions from the award announcements. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. But according to Alanna. [16] Critics were very positive in their reviews of both the drama and Sands, leading to Capitol Records signing Sands within a week. Colonel Tom Parker's home (former), 409 Park Ridge Avenue, Temple Terrace, Fl. Finally, Tom Hanks wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actor. [33], Presley had been showing signs of rebellion against Parker, and Parker believed that a stint in the Army would cure him of this. [37] After that, until 1968, Presley gave no live performances, and had very little contact with his fans. I said no." Yet, in the end, standing up to the Colonel proved to be an expert . Andreas Cornelius Van Kuijk ("Colonel Tom Parker"), manager and promoter: born Breda, Holland 26 June 1909; twice married; died Las Vegas 21 January 1997. [53] Promoters in South America also made offers, as much as $2.5 million, and all of them were turned down by Parker; "Well, whenever I need $2.5 million I'll call you," he once said to them. However, they had a dispute over an incident Presley had done on stage, and Parker was about to get fired. 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. [33] He had arranged for Presley to record five singles before his induction,[35] guaranteeing RCA Victor enough material to release over a two-year period. He also became friendly with the estate again, attending special ceremonies and events in Memphis, invited by Priscilla. [35] Parker had declined to travel to Europe, denying that he spoke any language other than English. [15], In early 1955, Parker became aware of a young singer, Elvis Presley. Adam van Kuijk died from emphysema in 1992, never seeing or visiting Parker again.[63]. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal was certainly a different type of role for the actor, who is known for taking on characters like the sunny Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The truth about his early years was revealed in 1960 when one of Parker's sisters, Nel Dankers-van Kuijk, living in the Netherlands, recognized him in photographs standing next to Presley. Parker was a svengali who exerted an extreme amount of control over his charge's career, and took enormous 25 to 50% in commission. [15], Parker and Neal worked together to promote Presley, using their own Hank Snow Tour to book him and tour him. Little, Brown. [50] Author Alanna Nash suggests that one of the reasons Parker didn't do more is because he may have just not known how to handle the situation. Related: The Darkest Moments In Oscars History. While proving to be a frequent challenge for Parker, Elvis and the Colonel stuck together. [16], Regardless of the success that Parker and Presley had achieved, Parker was still struggling to believe that Presley's career would last longer than a year or two. 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. You read that right, $146.6 million dollars. Elvis died of a heart attack aged 42 on August 16 1977. [56] Other accounts suggest he slumped in his chair at his office, muttered, "Oh, dear God", and then quickly phoned Vernon Presley, where Parker advised Presley's father that his son's image needed to be protected. On January 20, 1997, Parker suffered a stroke. Parker's Net Worth When He Died Was $1 Million. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. He attended Elvis funeral dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, avoiding any display of emotion. [53] Streisand's production company, First Artists, offered Presley a salary of $500,000 ($2,517,934 in 2021 dollars[11]) and 10% of the profits. Presley had been living with Priscilla Beaulieu, ten years his junior, for the past four years, but it had not been public knowledge. [41] The Cadillac tour proved to be somewhat more successful than the film itself. [5] During a second, more detailed investigation, Tual discovered that all earnings were paid directly to the Trust instead of Parker. Despite the fact that no one is certain what actually happened on that tragic day in 1977, it is clear that Colonel Parker had a significant impact on the singer's life and death. He had booked Presley into a four-week Las Vegas engagement, misjudging the reaction of the slightly older, more reserved audiences that Las Vegas attracted. Between 1969 and 1972 alone, RCA released three albums of live material. Both Priscilla and Jerry said he was a lovely man". In 1968, he was asked in an interview if it was true that he took fifty percent of everything Elvis earned. [48] The press were told that an audience of one billion was expected to tune in to see the "first entertainment special to be broadcast live around the world",[48] although Parker had not taken into account the fact that many countries, including parts of Europe and America, would not see the concert live due to the time of the broadcast. [37] Parker signed long-term contracts with the film studios,[39] possibly to guarantee work and income for both him and Presley. However, Parker claimed that his issue with overseas performances was over security issues, as well as poor venues not suitable for the star's stature. $ 30 million in 1977 is equaled to $ 146,671,287.13 in 2022, $ 146.6 million dollars a rest touring. Offered an out by the Memphis draft board no live performances, and Parker died penniless... Morning America viable replacement for Presley. [ 63 ] live material he remembered me, and he said,... 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