Elvis Presley’s fame and fandom have thrived since his death on Aug. 16, 40 years ago. Television and the movies have scrambled to capitalize or pay homage to the rock ’n’ roll king, attracting many actors to slick back their hair and shake their hips. Here are 10 actors who have played Elvis — young or old or both — onscreen.
Kurt Russell: “Elvis,” a 1979 TV biopic, with Shelley Winters as mom Gladys, directed by John Carpenter. Mr. Russell’s then wife, Season Hubley, and father Bing Russell co-starred as Elvis’ wife Priscilla and father Vernon.
Bruce Campbell: “Bubba Ho-Tep,” a 2002 movie in which Elvis and JFK, who have reached their elder years and live in a nursing home, fight a mummy for the souls of fellow residents.
Michael Shannon: “Elvis & Nixon,” a 2016 movie about a real-life meeting between Elvis and President Richard Nixon (Kevin Spacey), based on the most requested photograph in the National Archives.
Michael St. Gerard: “Elvis,” a 1990 TV series based on records and early accounts of his life. The 10 episodes were later edited into the four-part miniseries “Elvis: The Early Years.”
David Keith: “Heartbreak Hotel,” a 1988 Chris Columbus movie in which a teenager decides to kidnap Elvis and set the King up with the kid’s mother (Tuesday Weld).
Dale Midkiff: “Elvis and Me,” also in 1988, a TV miniseries based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoirs of her life with Elvis, from their meeting to their marriage and divorce.
Don Johnson: “Elvis and the Beauty Queen,” a TV movie about his relationship with Linda Thompson (Stephanie Zimbalist) that delves into a dark period, allegedly fueled by drugs.
Val Kilmer: “True Romance,” a 1993 movie by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott that has Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette taking advice given by an apparition of Elvis.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers: “Elvis,” a 2005 TV miniseries about his rise to stardom, was nominated for six Emmys and won a Golden Globe for Mr. Meyers. He is the lone Brit on this list to play the man from Memphis.
Harvey Keitel: “Finding Graceland,” a 1998 movie in which a drifter claiming to be Elvis hitches a ride with a young man, and they set off on an adventurous trek to Memphis.
First Published: August 4, 2017, 4:23 p.m.
