Known for his keen promotion and merchandising savvy, Parker, or "the Snowman," would help to make Elvis a household name, putting the singer on everything from lunch boxes to board games to trading cards and beyond. [53] Parker, who had always dealt with Presley's film contracts and viewed the offer as a starting bid to earning more money, instead asked for a salary $1 million ($5,035,869 in 2021 dollars[11]), 50% of the profits, plus another $100,000 ($503,587 in 2021 dollars[11]) for expenses, and spoke of needing to arrange details of a soundtrack deal. [65] However, there is no definite proof that anything other than romance led to their marriage. Austin had spent much of his fortune on partying, cars, mansions, and women, and his popularity had been eclipsed by other singers, such as Bing Crosby. [14] The job not only offered him a secure wage, it also offered a rent-free apartment above the Humane Society in a remote part of West Tampa for him and his family. [44] The tours were so popular and financially successful that they determined Presley's workload for the remainder of his life and career. While Elvis and the Colonel carried the movie to several awards, Hanks' omission stands out above most others. [16] Sholes showed little interest in Sands, but promised that he would attempt to find songs Sands might be able to record. [52] In Las Vegas, he was starting to appear drugged on stage, slurring his words and forgetting song lyrics. [14] With the Society in need of funds, Parker set about using his promotional experience to raise money and awareness for the shelter. According to Presley's biographer Peter Guralnick, Presley and Parker "were really like, in a sense, a married couple, who started out with great love, loyalty, respect that lasted for a considerable period of time, and went through a number of stages until, towards the end of Presley's life, they should have walked away. Oh, I just pictured Elvis, like, singing it. After the Sinatra special, Parker decided that Presley's future lay in Hollywood. 1. [15] Over the next few years, he helped Arnold secure hit songs, television appearances, and live tours. Paul Shirey is a senior news writer for Screen Rant. [12] Despite having sold over 86 million records since 1924 and earning over $17 million, Austin's career was at a low point. With 1956 coming to a close, Parker had made Presley one of the most well-known, well-paid entertainers in the world. Parker's cut of Presley's earnings was typically 50%, and by the time Presley died in 1977, Parker had earned an estimated $40 million from his share of Presley's income. [14] Parker decided against registering, possibly to prevent his previous Army record from becoming public. 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. Elvis Presley expressed his desire to go overseas frequently, but he was kept at bay with easy and fast money arranged by The Colonel on projects in the U.S. By the time they reached the final years of Elvis' career, the two were so intertwined and invested that it made more sense to stay in business than to walk away. [15] Around the same time, realizing the deal for Presley might fall through due to the cost of the contract, Parker attempted to sell Tommy Sands to RCA. [44], During a closing night performance on September 3, 1973, following news that a Hilton staff member whom Presley was fond of had been fired, Presley attacked Hilton Hotels chairman Barron Hilton in a verbal rage on stage. [56], In September 1978, shortly after the first anniversary of Presley's death, Parker arranged a fan festival, Always Elvis, where he, Vernon, and Presley's ex-wife Priscilla, dedicated a bronze statue of him in the lobby of the Las Vegas Hilton. According to financial documents, Parker took nearly half of Elvis' income, which is an indication that the singer's lifestyle was heavily reliant on debt. [68] From then on, he continued living in Las Vegas, mostly avoiding contact with the press. [43], It took the energetic 1968 television special Elvis, which the Singer Company sponsored, and a subsequent series of acclaimed recording sessions in Memphis, Tennessee, that included songs such as "Suspicious Minds" and "In the Ghetto", to restore Presley's musical reputation. However, it soon became obvious that Elvis had staying power, with the right guidance. [4] He also noted that Parker's handling of Presley's business affairs during his lifetime, including the decision to sell off past royalties to RCA for $5.4 million in 1973, was unethical and poorly handled. [52] Angered by this outburst, Parker declared: "You can't fire me. He arranged for a screen test with Paramount Pictures, and after impressing them with Presley's acting ability, Presley was signed to a seven-picture contract. During the week-long visit, Parker was informed by Adam van Kuijk that their mother had died three years earlier in 1958, never knowing what happened to her son after he left the Netherlands for good in 1929. Many Parker biographers, including Dirk Vellenga and Alanna Nash, have stated that Parker's gambling habit began to get out of control in the mid-1960s. On January 20, 1997, Parker's wife heard a crashing sound from the living room, and when she heard no response to her calls, she went in to find him slumped over in his chair after suffering a stroke. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. Presley had been living with Priscilla Beaulieu, ten years his junior, for the past four years, but it had not been public knowledge. Both Priscilla and Jerry said he was a lovely man". [50] Presley's main doctor, George C. Nichopoulos, would often replace Presley's medication with placebos in an attempt to wean him off the drugs. He said 'Did I really?' Parker appeared at posthumous events honoring Presley, such as the 1993 issuing of a U.S. postage stamp with Presley's likeness. His accent wasn't so theatrical, and he was way funnier than Baz Luhrmann gives him credit for. The other five nominations were for technical (Editing, Sound, Cinematography) and design (Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling). [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. The actor wore a fat suit and heavy make-up to appear more like Parker, but the real performance came in the mannerisms, accent, and presence of Hanks embodying Elvis' manager. Adam van Kuijk died from emphysema in 1992, never seeing or visiting Parker again.[63]. [54] He phoned Presley's father once to suggest taking time off, but Vernon Presley told him they couldn't afford to stop touring due to Presley's constant and lavish spending of money. The actor has talked about the project, what drew him to it, and how he felt about the overall story. [4] During his first visit there, he traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show, before returning briefly to the Netherlands. Parker is also a controversial figure, known to have defrauded the King of Rock and Roll on several occasions for as much as $8 million. [11][10], Parker first became involved in the music industry as a music promoter in 1938, working with the popular singer Gene Austin. Parker had unknowingly backed himself into a financial corner. [17] In the beginning, Presley, Moore, and the bassist Bill Black were a trio, the Blue Moon Boys. God, yes! Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. [67] It is also recorded that Marie did not divorce her second husband until 1936, and her brother, Bitsy, recalled no ceremony of marriage between Parker and Marie. [56] Shortly afterward, he traveled to Memphis for Presley's funeral. [52] After nearly two weeks of trading insults back and forth, Parker and Presley decided to continue to work together. And I know that Elvis loved it. [55] Worried about the impact such details might have on his career, Presley, through his father, asked Parker to stop the publication. In 1994, following the marriage of Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson, Parker stated that Presley would not have approved. [4] Although Parker had served honorably for a time, he went AWOL this time and was charged with desertion. [5] However, Judge Joseph Evans, aware that Lisa Marie Presley was still a minor, appointed attorney Blanchard E. Tual to investigate Parker's management. Later, in 1983, Parker admitted during an interview that after 1966, the income from Presley films and soundtracks was dramatically reduced. [53], From 1974 onward, Presley's weight gain and prescription drug abuse became too much to be controlled. But, after he gave a detailed invoice to Elvis, the star realized he couldn't pay Parker, so they continued collaborating. First, Baz Luhrmann joined a list of directors including Joe Wright, Frank Darabont, and Lawrence Kasdan as someone who had two Best Picture nominations but didn't get a Best Director nomination either time. [41], To make up for lack of earnings, Parker arranged for Presley's gold Cadillac to go on tour. [56] At the funeral, he persuaded Presley's father to sign over control of Presley's career in death to him. It was in 1948 that Parker pulled off one of his most inspired "snow-jobs" when he persuaded Jimmie Davis, former country-singer turned Governor of Louisiana, to grant him the honorary title of "Colonel". [23] Later, when Hank Snow asked Parker about the status of their contract with Presley, Parker told him: "You don't have any contract with Elvis Presley. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Colonel Tom Parker was Elvis Presley's manager for more than 20 years, and was with him when he died on August 16, 1977. What happened to Colonel Tom Parker? [44] However, Presley had asked him to raise funds to pay for his upcoming divorce settlement, and Priscilla divorced Elvis in 1973. [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. The claim of Parker's Dutch heritage was publicly confirmed when Parker unsuccessfully tried to avert a lawsuit brought against him in 1982 by asserting in open court that he was a Dutch citizen. [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. It's one of only a very few villainous roles that Hanks has taken in his long career in movies, making it a relatively rare departure for the actor. He completed basic training at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia.[4]. [51], After the Aloha special, Parker made a deal that would later be used in court to prove that he had not acted in the best interests of Presley. [5] During a second, more detailed investigation, Tual discovered that all earnings were paid directly to the Trust instead of Parker. [4], In The Colonel, her 2003 biography of Parker, Alanna Nash wrote that Parker may have been a suspect or a person of interest in an unsolved murder case in Breda. Their's was probably the most unique artist-manager relationship ever in show business, clearly one of the most successful. [60] However, he did occasionally bother them by criticizing some decisions. [4] At age 17, he first displayed signs of wanting to run away to the United States to "make his fortune". With more and more fans learning about Presley and his legacy, many are developing an intense curiosity about those in the King's inner circle. [13] Instead, Parker decided to stay in Temple Terrace, Florida, with his family, perhaps to avoid having to submit paperwork that could expose his illegal status. When critics questioned this arrangement and that Parker was exploiting Presley for more money because of greed, Presley quipped "I could have signed with East Coast Entertainment where they take 70 percent! [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. He arranged for Presley to appear on popular television shows, such as The Milton Berle Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, securing fees that made Presley the highest-paid star on television. [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. Parker suffered a stroke in 1997, dying at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada after years of declining health, survived only by his second wife. Tom Hanks' portrayal of Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker in the 2022 biopic created controversy - here's the true story behind Hanks' Tom Parker. You read that right, $146.6 million dollars. Austin Butler won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, beating out favorite Brendan Fraser (The Whale), and he picked up a nomination for the same award at the Oscars. [41] Selling it to RCA for $24,000 ($200,443 in 2021 dollars[11]), it was used to promote Presley's latest film, Frankie & Johnny. Tom discovered the then-unknown 20-year-old Elvis Presley in 1955. He's a very smart man. "[52], Parker accepted that their working relationship was over, Parker telling them over the phone that Dr. Nick's services are no longer required, and demanded that Presley pay him $2 million to end their contract; money Parker claimed he was owed. [33] Presley had wanted to join Special Services, allowing him the opportunity to perform while at the same time getting an easier ride than other soldiers. 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 yacht, the U.S.S. Presley remembered the event as one of the worst moments of his career. [15], Parker and Neal worked together to promote Presley, using their own Hank Snow Tour to book him and tour him. While Presley was serving in West Germany, Parker was hard at work keeping Presley's name known to the public. Colonel Tom Parker's home (former), 409 Park Ridge Avenue, Temple Terrace, Fl. Parker appeared to be in complete control during Presley's time away, but he was worried about the outside influence that Presley might encounter in West Germany. Parker was eventually sued by the Elvis estate over mismanagement, which found his dealings over the years to be unethical and extortionate. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal has caused quite a bit of controversy upon the film's release. [1][4], At age 15, Van Kuijk moved to Rotterdam, gaining employment on boats in the port town. [18] When the contract expired, the Memphis radio personality Bob Neal stepped in and made a deal with Phillips to become Presley's manager. [18] A one-year management contract with Presley provided Moore with a 10-percent commission, which Moore said he never took. He was 87. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. " [Elvis] let us all know when he was upset, and he'd go on a rampage and, you know, cursing. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. 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". By this time, Parker was aware that Presley needed a rest from touring and the chance to deal with his prescription drug addictions. [62], One of Parker's brothers, Adam "Ad" van Kuijk, visited Parker once in Los Angeles in April 1961. [66] Some suggested that Parker married Marie to disguise his illegal status in the United States;[65] a marriage to a U.S. citizen with a child could help him bury his past in a "ready-made family". In 1967, Parker pushed Elvis to marry Priscilla Beaulieu, hoping that it would help change the tide of his career. Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's . [15], In 1948, Parker received the honorary rank of colonel in the Louisiana State Militia from Jimmie Davis, the governor of Louisiana and a former country singer, in return for work Parker did on Davis's election campaign. However, it would be a quiet wedding. [15] Despite this, Phillips was not keen to let him go easily, advising Parker that he would require $40,000 (US$404,621 in 2021 dollars[11]) to secure the release of Presley's contract, a completely unheard-of sum at the time. And I know it wasn't him, but it's true. That was 1977 money, using the inflation calculator $30 million in 1977 is equaled to $146,671,287.13 in 2022. 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