[62], One of Parker's brothers, Adam "Ad" van Kuijk, visited Parker once in Los Angeles in April 1961. Parker was able to receive more than half of the income from the enterprise, an unprecedented figure for a music manager. [16] NBC had originally wanted Presley for the role, but Parker had turned them down. Reportedly, Hanks was approached by movie director Baz Luhrmann, and after a short conversation, the actor was hooked. Presley had been living with Priscilla Beaulieu, ten years his junior, for the past four years, but it had not been public knowledge. The two had become almost strangers, and false reports in the media suggested that Presley's contract was up for sale. Tom Hanks has built a reputation for disappearing into his roles. Parker was eventually sued by the Elvis estate over mismanagement, which found his dealings over the years to be unethical and extortionate. [67] According to interviews given by Parker to the Associated Press many years later, he and Marie were married in Tampa, Florida, during the winter of 1932,[67] but the Florida Office of Vital Statistics had no record of such a marriage any time between 1927 and 1946. 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. Hanks said, "I was anticipating hearing horror stories about this venal, cheap crook. He negotiated Presley's lucrative merchandising deals, TV appearances, and acting roles in films. He made him join the Army after Elvis was offered an out by the Memphis draft board. Austin offered Parker the opportunity to move to Nashville, Tennessee, where music was becoming a big business, but for reasons unknown Parker turned him down. Colonel Parker died in 1997 in Las Vegas after suffering a stroke at 87 years old, outliving Elvis by 20 years. [26] By the summer Presley had become one of the most famous new faces of the year, causing excitement among the new teenage audience and outrage among some older audiences and religious groups. Played by Tom Hanks in the new biopic Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann, Colonel Tom Parker remains, 25 years after his death, and nearly half a century after the death of his only client, the most memorable and divisive manager in the history of show business.It was the Colonel who propelled his "boy", as he would refer to him, from being a local celebrity in Memphis to being the most . Tom discovered the then-unknown 20-year-old Elvis Presley in 1955. From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis, Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances, Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II, Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology, The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters, From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters, Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters, Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings, The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonel_Tom_Parker&oldid=1141644408, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from April 2020, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from December 2022, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2014, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2023, Articles needing additional references from February 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 02:32. Elvis and the Colonel were associated throughout the musician's entire career, including music, movies, and TV specials. By 1984, with his gambling debts reportedly rising again, he was evicted. [1][4], At age 15, Van Kuijk moved to Rotterdam, gaining employment on boats in the port town. [68] From then on, he continued living in Las Vegas, mostly avoiding contact with the press. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal was a shocking one. The Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal is certainly one of the highlights of the movie, giving audiences something they aren't used to seeing from the actor. Parker remained Elvis' manager until Presley's death in 1977. This deed on the part of Vernon and Gladys Presley marked a permanent separation of Elvis from his mother, and as Elvis was a classic "mama's boy". What happened to Colonel Tom Parker? [54] Vernon also threatened to find a new manager if Parker wouldn't continue to tour Presley. In January 1997, Parker suffered from a stroke and died the next day in a hospital in Las Vegas at the age of 87. [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. [4], In 1935, Parker married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. The iconic singer has never truly left the headlines, even though he died four decades ago. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. 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. 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. Parker realized early on the bigger potential of Austin Butler's Elvis and transitioned to managing him full-time. Tual also said a 1973 agreement selling RCA 700 master recordings for $5 million made no sense for the. [33] Parker, on the other hand, was fully aware that any special treatment given to Presley would instantly be used against him in the media and by those who disliked his style of music. Colonel Tom Parker, as played by Tom Hanks in Elvis, was the controversial manager of singer Elvis Presley (played by Austin Butler) with a mysterious past who had a key role in both The King's . The "Colonel" badly mismanaged Elvis. He quickly became the singer's sole representative, and within months he had won Elvis a recording contract with RCA Victor.. What's amazing is this, after Elvis' death, Parker is said to have owed $30 million in gambling debts to the Las Vegas Hilton. [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. God, yes! Related: Elvis Cast Guide: What The Characters Look Like In Real Life. With 1956 coming to a close, Parker had made Presley one of the most well-known, well-paid entertainers in the world. This is because Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had previously arranged a deal to sell those to RCA for $5.4 million, out of which only $1.35 million went to Elvis after Parker's 50% fee and income taxes. None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." [26], In April 1956, Parker made his first mistake with Presley's career. Elvis picked up an impressive seven Oscar nominations. [29] While Presley was a hit among the youth of America, the middle-aged audiences found him an oddity. "[27][28], Parker signed a deal with Beverly Hills film merchandiser Hank Saperstein for nearly $40,000 to turn Presley into a brand name. February 27, 2023 . [32], In 1957, Parker finally managed to give Tommy Sands his big break by arranging for him to audition for and star in The Singin' Idol, a drama for NBC that was loosely based on the life and career of Presley. [5] Parker countersued. For the entirety of Presley's nearly 25-year career as "The King," his manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, was the man who made all the career decisions. He said 'Did I really?' In 1935, while travelling with a circus, Parker met and married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. More: Does Elvis Have An After Credits Scene? On March 26, 1956, after Presley's management contract with Neal expired, Presley signed a contract with Parker that made him his exclusive representative. Parker made several attempts to have it stopped, but failed to do so. [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. [46] Parker had also decided that it was time for Presley to return to New York, and had arranged for him to perform at Madison Square Garden in June. 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. [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. His accent wasn't so theatrical, and he was way funnier than Baz Luhrmann gives him credit for. He's a very smart man. [48] (During Presley's career, except for a few concerts in Canada in 1957, he never performed outside the United States.) 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. I wanted to punch him in the face. There were no witnesses and almost no evidence, except that the killer spread pepper on and around the body before fleeing in hopes that police dogs would not pick up the scent. When Elvis returned home from the Army, The Colonel focused on more films, TV appearances, and albums, saturating the airwaves with Elvis. 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. [39] When Presley complained to him that he wanted better scripts, Parker reminded him of his lavish lifestyle and that risking $1 million a year for doing practically no work was dangerous. While it sometimes borders on cartoonish parody, with Hanks seemingly becoming a supervillain of sorts, it fits the overall style and narrative of Director Baz Luhrmann's movie. Born as Andreas Cornelis Dries van Kuijk in the Netherlands, the Tom Hanks Tom Parker portrayal saw him illegally immigrate to the United States, finding employment as a carnival worker before joining the Army, where he was eventually discharged after going AWOL. In the early days of their marriage, Marie and Parker worked together in the carnivals. Hanks has portrayed real-life people in a number of films, from Jim Lovell in Apollo 13 to Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood to Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger in Sully - and many more. These four shows alone grossed $730,000 ($4,729,029 in 2021 dollars[11]). Potomac, was going to be salvaged. The Amazing Comeback Of Colonel Tom Parker "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. Colonel Tom Parker was a carnival barker, a con man, an inveterate gambler Parker earned and stole from Elvis over 100 million dollars as Elvis manager. During the interview, Parker said that he was not aware that another one of his sisters, Adriana van Kuijk, had died in the Netherlands a few years before. Following the success of Presley's Las Vegas return, Parker signed a contract with the International Hotel to guarantee Presley would play a month-long engagement for $125,000 a week ($974,043 in 2021 dollars[11]), an unheard-of sum at the time. You're going to be a star.'"[71]. [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. [68] Parker began to distance himself emotionally from her, heartbroken by her slow mental deterioration from the woman he once knew. [46] Originally planned as three performances, demand was so high that Parker decided to add a fourth performance, making Presley the first performer to sell out the venue four consecutive times. During the 1960s, after many years of ill health, Marie began to display signs of dementia. [4] From about 1931 until 1938, he worked as a "carny" with Royal American Shows. But, after he gave a detailed invoice to Elvis, the star realized he couldn't pay Parker, so they continued collaborating. The opposing counsel responded by presenting into evidence a copy of Parker's U.S. Army enlistment form which stated, through a legal loophole, that because Parker signed his enlistment papers under his alias "Thomas Andrew Parker" and once he took the oath by swearing allegiance to the United States of America, he unofficially renounced his Dutch citizenship, although it is claimed that he died a Dutch citizen. [37] Parker, not one to forget harsh criticism, stated that the fee would be $125,000 (equivalent to about $1,145,000 in 2021) for two songs, a total of eight minutes on screen; Sinatra himself was receiving a lower sum for the whole show,[38] but he agreed. 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. 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. [4] During the 1960s, with his wife's health deteriorating, and Presley's career struggling, Parker found an escape with gambling at Las Vegas casinos. In May 1973, in an attempt to deal with Presley's growing dependence on prescription drugs, Presley's father, Vernon, and Parker attempted to cut off his supply. Presley's career stagnated while artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys dominated the charts. I had a different layer of expectations," the actor said. [4], On August 14, 1981, Judge Evans ordered Elvis Presley Enterprises to sue Parker for mismanagement. [15] As Presley was still a minor, his parents had to sign the contract with Parker on his behalf. [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. In particular, Hanks was looking forward to taking part in a fresh look at the story, as the tale of Elvis is well-known enough to garner fatigue. "[56] Almost immediately, before even visiting Graceland, Parker traveled to New York City to meet with merchandising associates and executives with RCA Records, instructing them to prepare for a huge demand in Presley products. In 1983, he was paid $2 million dollars in an out-of-court settlement, which had him turn over any and all audio and video recordings he had of Elvis and terminated his involvement in any Elvis-related earnings for five years. In later years, Parker's influence waned, but he continued in his management role until Presley's death in 1977. However, the tide wasn't actually changed until a 1968 TV special, produced by Scott Binder, put Elvis the singer back on top, while simultaneously showing the Colonel how close he was to losing the singer to another producer. [15] Over the next few years, he helped Arnold secure hit songs, television appearances, and live tours. 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. According to Smithsonian Magazine, Parker liked to present himself as an American man called Thomas Andrew Parker . Their instincts were proven right; the TV special proved an enormous hit, and the album that was released featuring performances from the special became a best-seller, but the comeback special was interrupted when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968. [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. He said 'Well then there ain't no doubt about it. A proud father, a combat veteran, dog lover, gym rat, coffee enthusiast and all around equal opportunity doughnut devourer, you can follow his daily exploits on Twitter and Instagram, as well as YouTube Videos on The Arctic Ninja Network. [15] Both Mercury Records and Columbia Records showed interest, although their initial offers were nowhere near the $40,000 requirement. [53], From 1974 onward, Presley's weight gain and prescription drug abuse became too much to be controlled. Having previously sold the rights to Presley's early recordings to RCA Records, he struggled to secure a steady income, and his financial situation worsened after he sustained significant gambling losses. QUICK FACTS Birth Year: 1909 Birth date: June 26, 1909 Birth City: Breda Birth. [33], Presley had been showing signs of rebellion against Parker, and Parker believed that a stint in the Army would cure him of this. Instead, he found employment as a field agent with a local animal shelter, the Hillsborough County Humane Society. But according to Alanna Nashwho spent time with the real Colonel in the '90sthere were times when he was just as scary as what you see onscreen. More than 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley remains one of the most famous and most easily recognized people in history. [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]. Parker did not appear to care if the films were good or bad but only about the profits. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. The Colonel was well-known as a strong promoter that frequently leaned into exploitation. Frequently photographed with Presley, Parker became a celebrity in his . After the Sinatra special, Parker decided that Presley's future lay in Hollywood. [52], Although many around Presley were worried about his worsening drug dependency, Parker appeared to ignore the problem. [8] This may have motivated Parker to avoid seeking a passport, as the Netherlands has an active extradition treaty with the United States, and he may have wanted to avoid criminal arrest by Dutch authorities. [4] During his first visit there, he traveled with a Chautauqua educational tent show, before returning briefly to the Netherlands. ( Elvis' Manager ) Alpha 11 201K subscribers Subscribe 2.3K Share 313K views 5 years ago Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley for the majority of. Parker made his last public appearances in 1994. 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. 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] They discussed the possibility of Presley's co-starring with Streisand in a remake of the film A Star Is Born. The document that was signed on November 21 pertained to the record label transfer. Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's . [35] He sent Presley's friends to keep him company, arranged for business associates to watch over him while they were working in Europe, and kept in regular contact with him. By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. Presley's acting career was originally intended to be a serious one, but after seeing a chance to cross-promote singles and albums with the films, Parker persuaded Presley to sing in his films. However, it would be a quiet wedding. [4][5] Parker's final years were spent living in Las Vegas, in increasingly poor health before his death in 1997. 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 . Stories of managerial terrorism abound in music history. Hanks retains all of these qualities in his performance, including the adoption of prosthetics to help look more like the controversial Parker. [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]. 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. [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. Tom Hanks' portrayal of Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker in the 2022 biopic created controversy - here's the true story behind Hanks' Tom Parker. Parker adopted the title as if it were part of his identity, frequently being referred to as "The Colonel," despite his military discharge. [34] He was upset about the possibility that would affect his career, but Parker was secretly overjoyed. 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. [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. Second, for a movie about a musician, Elvis also didn't receive any music nominations at the Oscars. [53] Seeing it as a chance to finally be taken seriously as an actor, Presley agreed to take the role if the contracts could be worked out. [35] He was reportedly afraid that Presley would realize that there were other managers available prepared to sign contracts that did not require as much as 25% of his earnings. 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. At the time of his death, Parker was suffering with diabetes, gout, and various other health problems. [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. [48] Two weeks after the Las Vegas press conference Parker received a letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman. In 1994, following the marriage of Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson, Parker stated that Presley would not have approved. A carnival worker by background, Parker moved into music promotion in 1938, working with one of the first popular crooners, Gene Austin, and then country music singers Eddy Arnold, Hank Snow, and Tommy Sands in his early career. Following his discharge, Parker worked at a number of jobs, including food concessions and gaming carnivals. 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 when adjusted for inflation. [11][10], Parker first became involved in the music industry as a music promoter in 1938, working with the popular singer Gene Austin. [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. , heartbroken by her slow mental deterioration from the woman he once knew sign contract. Was way funnier than Baz Luhrmann gives him credit for 5 million no... The actor said an oddity briefly to the record label transfer tom Hanks tom Parker, Elvis did... Television appearances, and he was evicted a remake of the most well-known, well-paid entertainers in the United.! Letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman June 26, 1909 Birth date: June 26, Birth. Of running the estate was estimated to be a star Is born not to... The next few years, he was way funnier than Baz Luhrmann gives him credit for died four ago... 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