Paul Shirey is a senior news writer for Screen Rant. [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. [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. [15] However, Parker remained involved in many of Arnold's live tours and demanded a buyout of $50,000 (US$506,405 in 2021 dollars[11]) to settle their contract. [52], Although many around Presley were worried about his worsening drug dependency, Parker appeared to ignore the problem. [59] Experts in the field at the time estimated that it had potentially cost Presley millions of dollars[59] and worse for Parker, it had also potentially cost him those millions of dollars. God, yes! He realized that by keeping RCA Victor, and more importantly the public, hungry for more Presley material, he would be able to negotiate a better contract when Presley returned from active service. 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. 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]. The Amazing Comeback Of Colonel Tom Parker "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. [44] However, Presley had asked him to raise funds to pay for his upcoming divorce settlement, and Priscilla divorced Elvis in 1973. He quickly became the singer's sole representative, and within months he had won Elvis a recording contract with RCA Victor.. [52] Parker was furious, and he stormed into Presley's dressing room after the show to confront him. 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. What happened to Colonel Tom Parker? Tom Hanks' portrayal of Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker in the 2022 biopic created controversy - here's the true story behind Hanks' Tom Parker. 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. By 1980, the cost of running the estate was estimated to be as much as $500,000 a year. [15] RCA made it clear it were unwilling to go above $25,000 for a practically unknown singer,[15] but Parker persuaded them that Presley was no ordinary unknown singer. [69] In October 1990, Parker married Loanne Miller, his secretary since 1972. 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. What Really Happened To Colonel Tom Parker? [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". 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. However, it would be a quiet wedding. [15], Parker and Neal worked together to promote Presley, using their own Hank Snow Tour to book him and tour him. Related: The Darkest Moments In Oscars History. [41], On January 2, 1967, Parker re-negotiated his managerial/agent contract with Presley, persuading him to increase Parker's share from 25% to 50% on certain transactions. QUICK FACTS Birth Year: 1909 Birth date: June 26, 1909 Birth City: Breda Birth. After Elvis' death in 1977, the Elvis Presley manager continued on as if The King were still alive. [48] Two weeks after the Las Vegas press conference Parker received a letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman. What happened to the Colonel who managed Elvis? Parker encouraged Presley to make film musicals which became the focus of his career during his commercial decline in the 1960s until his 1968 comeback and return to touring. He was a heavier-set man with balding hair and frequently wore a fedora and a suit of some type, sometimes made of gaudy designs to help promote something. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Tom Parker Is Dead at 87; Controlled Presley's Career", "Colonel Parker Managed Elvis' Career, but Was He a Killer on the Lam? [53] Several members of Presley's band later stated that Parker had no idea just how bad the situation was getting. The actor has proven time and again that he's up to the challenge of playing a real-world personality and the role of Elvis and the Colonel is no different. 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. He made him join the Army after Elvis was offered an out by the Memphis draft board. After a heated argument between the two, Presley told Parker he was fired. Thats insane! [49] Seeing the chance to publicize Presley's charitable nature once again, Parker eagerly agreed. 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] Yet, despite Presley's eagerness to do the shows, Parker again turned them down. [7] As a boy, he worked as a barker at carnivals in his hometown, learning many of the skills that he would require later while working in the entertainment industry. The Colonel was well-known as a strong promoter that frequently leaned into exploitation. However, there were some interesting omissions from the award announcements. Frequently photographed with Presley, Parker became a celebrity in his . He was 87. He said 'Well then there ain't no doubt about it. Colonel Parker was a very complicated person, and his . "[42] Parker used the argument that Presley was his only client and he was thus earning only one fee.[42]. [17] In the beginning, Presley, Moore, and the bassist Bill Black were a trio, the Blue Moon Boys. "[70], Songwriter Mac Davis recounted a similar experience where Parker rubbed his head and declared "You're going to be a star. Nash portrays the Colonel as a psychopathic murderer born June 26, 1909 in Breda, Holland, whose real name is Andreas "Andre" Cornelis van Kuijk. Parker sent Elvis all over the United States, but he would never let him out of North America, leaving Canada as the only other nation to host The King in his long career. Tom Hanks was also intrigued by the fact that the wider public knew very little about the Elvis manager, claiming this was another reason he took on the role. " [Elvis] let us all know when he was upset, and he'd go on a rampage and, you know, cursing. [39] Throughout the 1960s Parker would continually renegotiate Presley's film contracts, often paying little attention to the scripts or the concerns of his client. Mourners recall being surprised at his wearing a Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, smoking his trademark cigar, and purposely avoiding the casket. 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. The document that was signed on November 21 pertained to the record label transfer. [16], Eddy Arnold fired Parker in 1953 over Parker's growing involvement with the singer Hank Snow. [53], From 1974 onward, Presley's weight gain and prescription drug abuse became too much to be controlled. 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. By 1984, with his gambling debts reportedly rising again, he was evicted. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. What happened to Colonel Tom Parker after Elvis died? [53] Presley was beginning to consider new management, with Concerts West co-founder Tom Hulett being the clear favorite for the job. [15], In early 1955, Parker became aware of a young singer, Elvis Presley. Instead, Parker sent demonstration recordings to record producer Steve Sholes at RCA Victor. [5] However, Judge Joseph Evans, aware that Lisa Marie Presley was still a minor, appointed attorney Blanchard E. Tual to investigate Parker's management. [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. [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. 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 . And I know that Elvis loved it. [59] Due to an ill-advised agreement between Parker and Presley that gave RCA sole ownership of all his recording royalties prior to 1973, the estate was relying heavily on the income from Factors Etc. 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. [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. 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. [65] However, there is no definite proof that anything other than romance led to their marriage. [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. [12] Despite having sold over 86 million records since 1924 and earning over $17 million, Austin's career was at a low point. In 1955, Colonel Tom Parker became Elvis Presley's manager, a partnership that would last over two decades and see Presley become one of the biggest stars in the world. [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. His death certificate lists his birth name as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, his country of birth as the Netherlands, and his citizenship as American. [15] Both Mercury Records and Columbia Records showed interest, although their initial offers were nowhere near the $40,000 requirement. [68] Parker began to distance himself emotionally from her, heartbroken by her slow mental deterioration from the woman he once knew. [14] In 1945, Parker became Arnold's full-time manager, signing a contract for 25% of his earnings. [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. [4] It is believed that Parker lost at least $1 million a year from gambling. Elvis didn't really fire Colonel Parker on stage in Vegas. . However, they had a dispute over an incident Presley had done on stage, and Parker was about to get fired. The Elvis Presley manager did a lot of controversial things during his time in show business, and the Baz Luhrmann movie reveals just how much of a monster he really was. The killing happened a few streets from where the Van Kuijk family lived, and Parker had been hired to make deliveries from this and other grocery stores in the area. [46], On July 8, 1972, inspired by the visit of President Richard Nixon to China a few months earlier,[47] Parker announced that there would be a worldwide satellite broadcast from Hawaii to allow the whole world the chance to see a Presley concert, "since it is impossible for us to play in every major city". In the end, they'd become dependent on one another and were in too deep to even know how to start over. After Presley showed signs of rebellion again in 1966 and because of his flagging career, Parker decided that it was time for a new approach: marriage. So clearly the rock star never worked up the will to actually go through with the firing. [37] Parker signed long-term contracts with the film studios,[39] possibly to guarantee work and income for both him and Presley. However, when Presley signed a recording contract with Phillips, Moore and Black were excluded. [15] Eventually, Parker began getting more involved in music promotion again, this time for himself rather than the Society. He adopted a new name and claimed to have been born in the United States. According to Priscilla, Elvis was happy to pay 50% to Parker to manage him.[73]. "[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. But according to IMDb, it was because Elvis just didn't like dealing with confrontation. [29], Despite this setback, Presley was still going from strength to strength. Colonel Tom is credited as being the man who made Elvis Presley a star. After Elvis' death in 1977, the Elvis Presley manager continued on as if The King were still alive. Although from the Netherlands originally, actor Tom Hanks' Parker had a Southern-style accent due to a huge chunk of his life being spent there, but it was more of a mixture with his native Dutch accent. [4], In 1935, Parker married 27-year-old Marie Francis Mott. Tom Parker didn't enjoy a good reputation even after being associated with one of the legendary artists that history has ever seen. I wanted to punch him in the face. [53] Promoters in South America also made offers, as much as $2.5 million, and all of them were turned down by Parker; "Well, whenever I need $2.5 million I'll call you," he once said to them. 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. [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. Their's was probably the most unique artist-manager relationship ever in show business, clearly one of the most successful. [9] He began to build up a list of contacts that would prove valuable in later years. [4], "Colonel Tom Parker rubbed my head in Vegas", Eddie Murphy stated in 1989. [4] After a lifetime that saw him earn in excess of $100 million, Parker's estate was worth barely $1 million when he died. By this time, Parker was aware that Presley needed a rest from touring and the chance to deal with his prescription drug addictions. 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. 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. 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 . [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. [39], For the remainder of the 1960s, Presley made films that relied heavily on exotic locations and mundane songs, and he was tied into contracts that he could not escape. The Colonel (Tom Hanks) first sees Elvis (Austin Butler) backstage at the Louisiana Hayride. [4] A year later at 18, with enough money to sustain him for a short period, he entered America illegally by jumping ship from his employer's vessel. [5] Parker countersued. While it is believed that he made over $100 million dollars during his time with Elvis, he was rumored to only be worth a million dollars when he died, and at one point, had gambling debts in excess of $ Continue Reading Related questions [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". He was given the honorary title of "Colonel" in the Louisiana State Militia from Governor Jimmie Davis as thanks for the work he did on his political campaign. Colonel Tom Parker's home (former), 409 Park Ridge Avenue, Temple Terrace, Fl. [50] As well as being their employer and paying their wages, he was also their main source of access to drugs for themselves. [15] However, RCA Victor producer Steve Sholes was convinced that Presley's style of music would be a huge hit with the right label, and he began talks with Parker. Dolly admitted: "I cried all night. [50] This would be successful for a short time, but when Presley discovered the trick, he simply found himself other doctors. Hanks retains all of these qualities in his performance, including the adoption of prosthetics to help look more like the controversial Parker. [31] Parker made sure that the contract allowed Presley the freedom to make at least one film a year with another studio, and also managed to set up an office, with staff, at Paramount. [4][5] Parker's final years were spent living in Las Vegas, in increasingly poor health before his death in 1997. The pattern that Parker would traditionally follow was affordability and profit over quality, which would eventually help to torpedo Elvis' career for a time. At that time Parker believed Elvis to be black. [40] These deals were sometimes so harsh on the studios that it led producer Hal Wallis to state: "I'd rather try and close a deal with the Devil. [15] The rank was honorary, since Louisiana had no organized militia, but Parker used the title throughout his life, becoming known simply as "the Colonel" to many acquaintances. [52] In Las Vegas, he was starting to appear drugged on stage, slurring his words and forgetting song lyrics. 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. 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. They struggled to survive during the Great Depression, working short cons and traveling across the country in search of work. In January 1979, it was discovered that Presley had lost out on royalties for songs on which he had been listed as an author or composer because Parker had unwisely advised him not to sign up to ASCAP or its younger competitor, BMI. [65] Unbeknown to Parker at the time, she had a second son from her first marriage, but had given him up for adoption at birth due to his disability (a club foot). 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. Despite Parker's troubling exploitation of Presley, though,. Gaining or losing weight, taking on accents, and experimenting in a variety of genres that pushed his limits as an actor, Hanks has built a career out of challenging roles. He claimed Parker negotiated side deals with RCA that defrauded Presley of $2.8 million. He takes fifty percent of everything I earn." Finally, Tom Hanks wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actor. [65], Others, however, had doubts about whether they were legally married at all. February 27, 2023 . None of the rules of the relationship was operative any longer, yet neither had the courage to walk away, for a variety of reasons." I said, 'Yeah, you rubbed my head.' In an interview (via Entertainment Weekly), Hanks broke down why he took the part, "Baz said, 'There would've been no Colonel Tom Parker without Elvis. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. 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. [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. This proved very lucrative, especially when the single for Presley's first film, Love Me Tender, sold over one million copies in advance sales. These four shows alone grossed $730,000 ($4,729,029 in 2021 dollars[11]). Asked by a journalist what he would do now, Parker responded: "Why, I'll just go right on managing him! [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. Parker hoped that marriage would not only boost Presley's career but also possibly tame him. He had expressed interest in making films when he first met Parker, and now Parker was working to make that happen. In general, fans of the icon think that Colonel Parker never let Elvis fully shine. After his Army hitch, he had him stop making personal appearances, and limited his public exposure to three sappy movies a year. Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 - January 21, 1997), commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager.. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. [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 Elvis returned home from the Army, The Colonel focused on more films, TV appearances, and albums, saturating the airwaves with Elvis. After that, his crippling gambling habit caught up with him, and Parker died nearly penniless. Parker's net worth when he died was $1 million. But, after he gave a detailed invoice to Elvis, the star realized he couldn't pay Parker, so they continued collaborating. Just the opposite. 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