Movie Roles Elvis Presley Turned Down

The King Plays A Kid
The King Plays A Kid

Yes folks, we too can cut and past for your devoted love and affection and here off a terrific website called notstarring.com, we found roles turned down by Elvis Presley or more like Colonel Tom Parker. It is like a road not taken with Presley, certainly the man who performed in “Jailhouse Rock” and “Kid Galahad” to name but two could have become a serious actor.

Though I am not really sure if any of these were great fits for the King. That mix of oedipal vulnerable and blue collar visceral is so specific it is hard to imagine him in anything not tailor made for his gifts.

Anyway without further ado:

Roles turned down by Elvis Presley:

Being There

The producer wanted Elvis but could not get him due to his manager.

Actor who got the part: Peter Sellars

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Elvis turned down the role of Brick.

Actor who got the part: Paul Newman

The Defiant Ones

Elvis sought the role of John ‘Joker’ Jackson.

Actor who got the part: Tony Curtis

The Godfather

Elvis Presley was a fan of Mario Puzo’s novel and wanted to play the part of Tom Hagen.

Actor who got the part: Robert Duvall

Midnight Cowboy

Elvis was supposed to play the character that leaves his hometown to make it big in New York.

Actor who got the part: Jon Voight

The Rainmaker (1956)

Elvis said he was up for a role in an interview, even though the claim was later disputed.

A Star Is Born (1976)

Elvis turned down the role of John Norman Howard.

Actor who got the part: Kris Kristofferson

Sweet Bird of Youth

One of the many challenging roles turned down by Elvis’ manager who didn’t want his client to play a shady character, cheating Elvis of the chance to play Tennessee Williams’ drifter and Hollywood hopeful “Chance Wayne.”

Actor who got the part: Paul Newman

Thunder Road

Robert Mithcum tried to talk Elvis into a part. Colonel Parker vetoed due to salary.

Valley of The Dolls

Author Jacqueline Susann wanted Presley for the role of Tony Polar.

Actor who got the part: Tony Scotti

West Side Story

Elvis turned down the role of Bernardo. George Chakiris won an Oscar for the part.

Actor who got the part: George Chakiris

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

Elvis Presley was considered for the lead role.

Actor who got the part: Gene Wilder

Your Cheatin’ Heart

MGM thought about Elvis for the lead but Hank William’s widow did not want to take away from Hank’s legacy.

Actor who got the part: George Hamilton

12 thoughts on “Movie Roles Elvis Presley Turned Down”

    1. Elvis Presley Was Really very unfortunate. 1- He went to Thá Army without Being necessário because Holis Manager Could Not Travel Abroad Due to the Fact that He Was an Illegal Immigrant to the USA. Elvis Presley Was Offered the Possibility to Sing to the American Troops all Over The World but as His Manager Could Not Travel as an Illegal Immigrant He Brainwashed Presley and Convinced Him to go to the Army . Nobody of HIS time Went to the Army like :”” Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry , Roy Orbison,,Little Richard,etc Went . Consequences 1- Advice to take Anphetamines and Pills to Sleep . 2- To Know His Future Wife Priscilla who asked Currie Grant to BE Introduced to Him but after Marriage Divorced Him despite that the Only Person from Whom She Hás and Had de Money , Houses etc was Elvis Presley . NONE OTHER gsve Her a peny Stil She talks about love . She talks about My Husband . NO When She Divorced Elvis Presley She Was.No Longer His Husband She was ,In fact , and as per Law HIS Forner Wife . She Is No Widow at All. She Is a Divorced Woman . That is the Truth that NOBODY CAN REFUTE . NO lawyer and No Law. Just these 2 Things were Enough for Elvis Presley Death but also 2 Other were like The Death of HIS Tween brother Jesse GARON and Latter His Mother GLADYS LOVE SMITH PRESLEY.Elvis Presley Had a Great Sense of Loss . He was Generous to no falta .Once He Said :”” I Want to distribuir my Wealth Not Only to my Family and friends but also to the World and só He Did .

  1. Guillermo Perez Arguello

    Of all of those films mentioned, thebonky one where Ekvus coulkd have done a great job was on on “Being there”. Classy movie, classier Washington locale.

  2. the role that Elvis was up for in The Rainmaker was played by Earl Holliman.

    Elvis was offered the role played by Glenn Campbell in True Grit with John Wayne

    1. Wilda Ann Bisesi

      Elvis would have been PERFECT as the Texas Ranger in True Grit! Colonel Parker really messed his acting career up!

  3. Rita Corrêa da Silva

    To Work with Tom Parker or Rather Kuijk was No good Deal for Elvis Presley. The Man Was Just Interested in Top Billings Movies to get his 50%+ almost All The Rights of The Movies and Songs.

  4. First you must Know that When Parker Went to Elvis Presley’s home for Them to Sign a Contrat with Him Elvis Was Already Known in the South accompanied with the””Blue Bell Boys “” Otherwise Parker Wouldn’t even Know Him .
    Parker Went to Elvis Presley’s home but His Mother Mrs. Gladys Love Smith Presley Didn’t Trust this Parker and Neither She Signed nor Her Husband . Parker Knew That Mrs Gladys Love Smith Presley Liked Hunk Snow and Went There for a Second Time for Them to Sign thevContrato still it SHOUD BE Called :””SNOW’S ATTRACTIONS”” Because Both Mr. Hunk Snow and Parker Would BE Managing Elvis Presley. Still Instead of Giving Mrs Gladys Love Smith Presley and Vernon Presley The Contract Under the Name of “” SNOW”S ATTRATIONS”” Parker Presented them with another Contract Called “” JAMBORRE ATTRACTIONS”” Which Was Only for Himself but Elvis Parents As Mr. Hunk Snow Was Presente They Believed it was The Right Contacto and Signed. Mr. . Snow Felt Cheat and Indeed Was.. As From There Elvis Presley Had this Manager and No Other . Another Thing You Should Know . Vernon Presley alied Himself with Parker to Exploit Elvis Presley . A Father Elvis Presley Loved Did Such a Thing but Unfortunately Vernon Presley Did It . I Confirmes in the internet .

  5. Charles Johnson Jr

    Presley Shud of ben cast as LtJg McConnel in Wayne’s Best Pic,
    “In Harm’s Way” ,
    All-Star Cast,
    5 STARS Auto Preminger/BatJac Prod…Wayne’s Movie Co (BatJac),
    ,Military Personnel Donate to Colorize, Recieved free DVD.
    All Star Cast…
    Sound Score shd of Recieved OSCAR..
    Made in B/W by mistake….1965
    John Wayne,
    Kirk Douglas,
    Patricia Neal,
    Dana Andrews,
    George Kennedy,
    Fla’s Patrick ONeil,
    Will Sell Out at Movie Theaters if Colorized….Make it Happen Thx…C. Johnson..

    1. Charles Johnson Jr

      Fr C.Johnson
      In Addition
      Other Cast Mem of
      “In Harm’s Way”.
      Larry Hangman, Slim Pickens,
      Bruce Cabot,
      Paula Prentiss,
      Tom Tyrone etc
      OPINION
      Producer/Director
      Auto Preminger did Outstanding Job, as well as Wayne’s Co BatJac Productions

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