"[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. [68] From then on, he continued living in Las Vegas, mostly avoiding contact with the press. QUICK FACTS Birth Year: 1909 Birth date: June 26, 1909 Birth City: Breda Birth. [53] Parker later claimed that Presley had asked him to make the contract so demanding so that they would not offer him the part, although many of Presley's friends have contradicted Parker's statement because they had said Presley was furious at losing the role.[53]. [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. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. [60] In 1993, interest in Presley's enduring legend, interest that is sometimes notable for its obsessiveness, provoked Parker to remark: "I don't think I exploited Elvis as much as he's being exploited today. Parker was still worried that Presley would return to nothing, that the public would have found a new star to fawn over by then, and that his golden goose would be reduced to nothing more than a "has-been".[35]. 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. As a reward, Davis gave him the honorary rank of "colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia.[2][3]. Andreas Cornelius Van Kuijk ("Colonel Tom Parker"), manager and promoter: born Breda, Holland 26 June 1909; twice married; died Las Vegas 21 January 1997. He was punished with solitary confinement, from which he emerged with a psychosis that led to him spending two months in a mental hospital,[4] and he was discharged from the Army because of his mental condition. [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. Parker was eventually sued by the Elvis estate over mismanagement, which found his dealings over the years to be unethical and extortionate. [4] From about 1931 until 1938, he worked as a "carny" with Royal American Shows. 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. Related: Elvis Cast Guide: What The Characters Look Like In Real Life. [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. But this guy is like eighty years old too old to be taught the limits of racism He probably doesn't realize how horrible a thing that was to do. [44] He would usually fly ahead to the venues and prepare the way for Presley's entourage to follow so that he and Presley rarely saw each other, and, as time progressed, it became even more difficult for Parker to get in contact with Presley. Imagine owing anyone $146.6 million dollars. Parker served two years in the 64th Coast Artillery (United States), at Fort Shafter, in Hawaii, and shortly afterwards re-enlisted at Fort Barrancas, Florida. 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. 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. He claimed Parker negotiated side deals with RCA that defrauded Presley of $2.8 million. Dolly admitted: "I cried all night. [37] He envisioned him as an entertainment machine, pumping out three films and soundtracks a year, until the end of the decade. [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. During the 1960s, after many years of ill health, Marie began to display signs of dementia. Parker was also afraid that any attempt to block Presley from being drafted would result in a more detailed look into his own service record. All in all, the manager was known for some appalling behavior towards his star client, and Elvis tries its best to portray that accurately. [5] However, Judge Joseph Evans, aware that Lisa Marie Presley was still a minor, appointed attorney Blanchard E. Tual to investigate Parker's management. [50] As well as being their employer and paying their wages, he was also their main source of access to drugs for themselves. [64] In 1993, in one of his last media appearances, Parker appeared in a television interview with Dutch TV director Jorrit van der Kooi where they spoke to each other in Dutch about the Netherlands and about Elvis Presley's life and career. His films still made money and his albums still sold well, but the profits were falling. [68] Parker began to distance himself emotionally from her, heartbroken by her slow mental deterioration from the woman he once knew. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. He influenced Presley's personal life, including Presley's decisions to accept military service in 1958 and to marry Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967. [51] In her book, The Colonel, she writes: "in the days before the Betty Ford Clinic, the Colonel didn't know where to take him for discreet, effective help and loathed risking the loss of work if the truth got out". I said 'Yeah'. ", "Photos: Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker", https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/a-new-light-on-colonel-tom-parker.shtml, "A Larger-Than-Life Look at a Larger-Than-Life Star", "Meet the Fifth (Jewish) Beatle Manager Brian Epstein", "The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the rock-a-billies", Tom Parker collection and interviews with co workers, ED Bonja Interview Elvis Photographer - the Elvis Information Network exclusive. [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. He died of complications from the stroke[72] the following morning at a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada, at age 87. The 19 years of silence that his mysterious correspondent mentioned took the story as far back as 1961exactly the year that the Van Kuijk family had made contract with Parker, and Ad van Kuijk. [citation needed], After the success of Presley's return to live performing in Las Vegas, Parker decided it was time to take him back out on tour for the first time in 13 years. [49] Seeing the chance to publicize Presley's charitable nature once again, Parker eagerly agreed. [4] By this time, with the IRS demanding almost $15 million in taxes, the estate was facing bankruptcy. [16] Remembering his previous experience with Sands, Sholes dismissed Sands as a viable replacement for Presley.[16]. Instead, he found employment as a field agent with a local animal shelter, the Hillsborough County Humane Society. [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". 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. "[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. During this part of Presley's career, Parker and Presley agreed to a 50/50 "partnership", which, with Parker controlling merchandising and other non-music related items, resulted in Parker earning more than his client. What happened to the Colonel who managed Elvis? [16] He arranged live appearances and became something of a father figure to the then-15-year-old Sands. [16] In the drama, the role of Sands was portrayed as a "twisted psychopath". 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. After Elvis' death, Parker continued to manage the Elvis Presley Enterprises, and also worked with Presley's daughter Lisa Marie and his wife Priscilla. [33] If Presley could show the world that he the same as any other young man, Parker told him, then more people would accept him and his music. 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 . [4] After a lifetime that saw him earn in excess of $100 million, Parker's estate was worth barely $1 million when he died. [34] He was upset about the possibility that would affect his career, but Parker was secretly overjoyed. Parker hoped that marriage would not only boost Presley's career but also possibly tame him. Despite Parker's troubling exploitation of Presley, though,. [33], Presley had been showing signs of rebellion against Parker, and Parker believed that a stint in the Army would cure him of this. Before getting into the relationship between the King and his manager, a quick crash course in the pre-Elvis life of Colonel Tom Parker is in order and hoo boy, what a life it was. I said, 'Yeah, you rubbed my head.' But according to Alanna. [4][5] Tual, once appointed as Lisa Marie's guardian ad litem, chose to investigate the entire period of Parker's management of Presley; his preliminary finding was that Parker's management deal of 50% was extortionate compared to the industry average of 1520%. [18] According to Moore, Presley agreed to take 50 percent, with Moore and Black splitting the other 50 percent. [44] He offered RCA Records the opportunity to buy Presley's entire back catalog for $5.4 million. Adam van Kuijk died from emphysema in 1992, never seeing or visiting Parker again.[63]. In 1968, he was asked in an interview if it was true that he took fifty percent of everything Elvis earned. [33] He also realized that it would be a great opportunity to promote Presley by having the media witness his induction day, including the Army haircut that would see the most famous hair style in the world destroyed.[33]. [48], Aloha from Hawaii proved to be the last great moment in Presley's career. What Elvis Gets RightAnd WrongAbout the Real Colonel Tom Parker His accent wasn't so theatrical, and he was way funnier than Baz Luhrmann gives him credit for. [4] It was later revealed that Presley owned 22% of the company, Parker owned 56%, and the final 22% was made up of various business associates. While the . His accent wasn't so theatrical, and he was way funnier than Baz Luhrmann gives him credit for. 1. [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. According to Smithsonian Magazine, Parker liked to present himself as an American man called Thomas Andrew Parker . [52] Angered by this outburst, Parker declared: "You can't fire me. These four shows alone grossed $730,000 ($4,729,029 in 2021 dollars[11]). Parker found ways to market Elvis through merchandise, TV appearances, and films, always working in some kind of cross-promotion to make more money off the endeavor. [67] Author Alanna Nash has suggested that the couple may have simply placed their hands on a Bible and given themselves a "carny wedding".[67]. [4][5] Parker's final years were spent living in Las Vegas, in increasingly poor health before his death in 1997. He then did the unthinkable, convincing Elvis' father, Vernon, to sign over control of Elvis' movie and singing "career" to him. Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. [55] Worried about the impact such details might have on his career, Presley, through his father, asked Parker to stop the publication. And there certainly would've been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker.' In November, Parker and Snow persuaded RCA to buy Presley out from Sun for $40,000, and on November 21, Presley's contract was officially transferred from Sun Records to RCA Victor. [50] They hired private detectives to find out where the drugs were coming from and were successful in stopping any more from reaching Presley. Nature once again, Parker liked to present himself as an American man Thomas! Was upset about the possibility that would affect his career, but the profits were falling hoped that would! The drama, the role of Sands was portrayed as a `` psychopath... 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