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Elvis Presley
Age: 42 (passed away Aug. 16th, 1977)
Height: 6'
Birth Place: Tupelo, Mississippi, USA
Born: Jan. 8th, 1935
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Elvis Presley's Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi. In September 1948 when Elvis was 13, he and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from Humes High School in Memphis, Elvis took odd jobs working as a movie theater usher and a truck driver for Crown Electric Company. He began singing locally as "The Hillbilly Cat", then signed with a local recording company, then in 1955 with RCA. He did much to establish early rock and roll music, bringing black blues singing into the white, teenage mainstream. Teenage girls became hysterical over his blatantly sexual gyrations, particularly the one that got him nicknamed "Elvis the Pelvis" (TV cameras were not permitted to film below his waist). At the time of his death, he had sold over 600-million singles and albums.
In 1956 following his 6 TV appearances on The Dorsey Brothers'" Stage Show" , Elvis was cast in his first acting role in a supporting part in Love Me Tender (1956), the first of 33 movies he starred in. Critics blasted most of his films, but they did very well at the box-office earning upwards of $150 million total. Elvis's military service in the late 1950s and the "British invasion" of the 1960s reduced his concerts, though not his movie/recording income. Through the 1960s, Elvis settled in Hollywood where he starred in over 20 movies, acting alongside some of the most well known character actors in Hollywood.
Elvis made a comeback in the 1970s with live concert appearances starting in early 1970 in Las Vegas with over 57 sold-out shows. Elvis toured throughout the USA appearing on-stage in over 500 live appearances, many of them sold out shows. But the stress of constantly traveling as well as his increasing weight gain and dependence upon stimulants and depressants took their toll. Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977 at his mansion in Graceland, near Memphis at age 42. Since his death, his Memphis home Graceland has become a shrine for millions of followers worldwide. Elvis impersonators and purported sightings have become stock subjects for humorists.
TRIVIA:
- In the fall of 1955, he appeared in a Rock N Roll documentary "The Pied Piper of Cleveland" filmed in various locations in the Cleveland area, mainly Brooklyn High School. The film headlines many top acts of the day including Bill Haley and The Comets. Pat Boone, The Four Lads and others. This film has yet to be released. It is reportedly the property of Polygram International and in the Universal vault.
- Was extremely proud of his Cherokee roots. Wanted to be more open about it but was advised against it, according to some sources by 'Tom Parker (XI)' (qv), since this was around the time that there were still racial tensions in the US. Sometimes the audiences were "deceived with the truth" like in _G.I. Blues (1960)_ (qv) when his character tells about his Cherokee background. In real life his Cherokee roots started with his maternal great-great-great grandmother Morning Dove White and it was even rumored in Memphis that he had Cherokee blood from his father's side of the family as well, though never confirmed.
- Newspaper reports indicated that 'Sammy Davis Jr.' (qv), 'Farrah Fawcett' (qv), 'Burt Reynolds (I)' (qv) and 'John Wayne (I)' (qv) were supposed to attend Presley's funeral, but they did not turn up. 'Ann-Margret' (qv), 'James Brown (I)' (qv) and 'George Hamilton (I)' (qv) were the only celebrities in attendance.
- He was good friends with 'Johnny Cash (I)' (qv), going back to their Sun Records days.
- In 2007 the National Rifle Association (NRA) released an Elvis Presley Tribute Revolver, officially authorized by his estate.
- In 'Sam Lovullo' (qv)'s book "Life in the Kornfield" (which recalled his years as producer of the country music TV series _"Hee Haw" (1969)_ (qv)), he remarked that Elvis was a big fan of the show and had always wanted to perform on it. However, according to Lovullo, Elvis remarked they'd have to tape his spots in the middle of the night, knowing that if manager 'Tom Parker (XI)' (qv) found out, he'd never clear his appearance. Several months after Elvis' death, his father, 'Vernon Presley' (qv), appeared on "Hee Haw" and spoke about how the world would always love him and remember his music.
- Helped to support an All-Negro Day at the Memphis Zoo in 1956.
- Was a huge fan of the television shows _"The Jeffersons" (1975)_ (qv), _"Good Times" (1974)_ (qv), _"Happy Days" (1974)_ (qv) and _"The Flip Wilson Show" (1970)_ (qv).
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