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. 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. [52] After nearly two weeks of trading insults back and forth, Parker and Presley decided to continue to work together. [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. [67] As Parker's management career began to take off, Marie became more of a housewife, although she would occasionally travel with him to various parts of the country. [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. The Masked Lookalike Explained, Every Baz Luhrmann Movie, Ranked According To Box Office Mojo, Tom Hanks' Tom Parker isn't his usual role. Parker appeared to be in complete control during Presley's time away, but he was worried about the outside influence that Presley might encounter in West Germany. [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. [33] Parker had seen many acts come and go during his earlier years in management, and felt that it would be foolish to believe that Presley, despite being Parker's most successful act to date, would be any different. He takes fifty percent of everything I earn." So the uncompromising Colonel told her that Elvis couldn't cover the track as those were the terms. 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. Related: Why Elvis' Reviews Are So Positive. After Elvis' death in 1977, the Elvis Presley manager continued on as if The King were still alive. [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. [55] As with all the talk about Presley touring overseas, Parker never followed through with the deal. [56] Shortly afterward, he traveled to Memphis for Presley's funeral. Later, Davis says "He remembered me, and he said 'I told you you were going to be a star.' [15], Parker immediately went to work to find a new label for Presley. 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. Stories appeared in the press regularly about Presley, including that he would do a live CCTV broadcast when he returned and that he had signed a deal for a series of annual television spectaculars to be broadcast across the country. [48] Two weeks after the Las Vegas press conference Parker received a letter from Honolulu Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman. [45], By 1972, Parker had managed to increase Presley's weekly wage in Las Vegas to $150,000 ($971,718 in 2021 dollars[11]), and secured $50,000 a year ($323,906 in 2021 dollars[11]) for himself as a "consultant to the hotel chain". And there certainly would've been no Elvis without Colonel Tom Parker.' Here's why Colonel Tom Parker is so controversial. [23] Later, when Hank Snow asked Parker about the status of their contract with Presley, Parker told him: "You don't have any contract with Elvis Presley. [6] He was the son of Maria Elisabeth (Ponsie) and Adam van Kuijk. [68] Marie died on November 25, 1986, of a chronic brain syndrome at age 78. [4] Priscilla and the Trust were prepared to let Parker continue to handle Presley's business affairs, and petitioned the court to that end. More than 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley remains one of the most famous and most easily recognized people in history. And when he said that, I said, 'Oh, well, okay, now that's brand new.". 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. After Elvis' death in 1977, the Elvis Presley manager continued on as if The King were still alive. So clearly the rock star never worked up the will to actually go through with the firing. Parker's net worth when he died was $1 million. [16] NBC had originally wanted Presley for the role, but Parker had turned them down. 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. He suggested to Parker that, as Presley had recorded and was still performing the song "I'll Remember You" written by Kui Lee, the donations could go to the Kui Lee Cancer Fund that had been set up following the death of the songwriter in 1966. He had a matter-of-fact method of speaking and didn't suffer fools lightly. There are probably a number of reasons for this. [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). [16] Critics were very positive in their reviews of both the drama and Sands, leading to Capitol Records signing Sands within a week. Parker realized early on the bigger potential of Austin Butler's Elvis and transitioned to managing him full-time. Second, for a movie about a musician, Elvis also didn't receive any music nominations at the Oscars. The other five nominations were for technical (Editing, Sound, Cinematography) and design (Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling). 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 Parker didn't enjoy a good reputation even after being associated with one of the legendary artists that history has ever seen. Elvis died of a heart attack aged 42 on August 16 1977. 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. [44] These live performances, as well as being financially satisfying, also allowed Parker to fulfill Presley's recording contract with RCA Victor. Parker's Net Worth When He Died Was $1 Million. Colonel Tom Parker was Elvis Presley's manager for more than 20 years, and was with him when he died on August 16, 1977. Presley's first manager was Scotty Moore, the guitarist in his band, who was encouraged by Sun Records owner Sam Phillips to become Presley's manager to protect Elvis from unscrupulous music promoters. I had a different layer of expectations," the actor said. [35] All of these stories were fabrications, but it kept his name in view of the public. For the rest of his life, Parker managed the Presley estate. 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. Presley remembered the event as one of the worst moments of his career. Just the opposite. Parker is also a controversial figure, known to have defrauded the King of Rock and Roll on several occasions for as much as $8 million. The Elvis manager certainly had some unethical practices when it came to the King of Rock n Roll, and many were shocked upon viewing the film to find out that this was the case. [16] Sholes showed little interest in Sands, but promised that he would attempt to find songs Sands might be able to record. You're going to be a star.'"[71]. [72], His funeral was held at the Hilton Hotel and was attended by a handful of friends and former associates, including Eddy Arnold and Sam Phillips. [44] However, Presley had asked him to raise funds to pay for his upcoming divorce settlement, and Priscilla divorced Elvis in 1973. [4], Parker had worked as a "consultant" for Hilton Hotels since Presley's death,[60] with some believing he was working to pay off debts owed to the casino from his gambling during Presley's performances there. (Elvis), Tom Hanks (Colonel Tom Parker), Olivia DeJonge (Priscilla) and other actors will also be on . Later in 1975, the government of Saudi Arabia offered Parker $5 million for Presley to perform there. After the gig came to an end, Colonel Tom Parker came looking for him. The premises had been ransacked in search of money. Parker made his last public appearances in 1994. Elvis is signed exclusively to the Colonel. The "Colonel" badly mismanaged Elvis. [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. He made him join the Army after Elvis was offered an out by the Memphis draft board. 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. [14] The job not only offered him a secure wage, it also offered a rent-free apartment above the Humane Society in a remote part of West Tampa for him and his family. What it means in the movie: The Colonel, standing in the shadows, stalks the hillbilly newcomer Elvis Presley at the Louisiana Hayride and realizes, "He was my destiny." What happened in real life: On Jan. 15, 1955, Colonel Parker traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana, to watch Elvis on the Hayride . Elvis picked up an impressive seven Oscar nominations. [33] Presley had wanted to join Special Services, allowing him the opportunity to perform while at the same time getting an easier ride than other soldiers. His films still made money and his albums still sold well, but the profits were falling. Inc, to control Presley merchandise and keep a steady income supporting his estate. 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. [60] In 1993, interest in Presley's enduring legend, interest that is sometimes notable for its obsessiveness, provoked Parker to remark: "I don't think I exploited Elvis as much as he's being exploited today. [18] A one-year management contract with Presley provided Moore with a 10-percent commission, which Moore said he never took. Related: Elvis True Story: Who Was Orion? 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. Parker was looking ahead when he persuaded Presley to sign up as a Soldier. "[40], Presley had to do no more than provide RCA Victor with three albums a year,[37] and his film soundtracks did that for him. [16] Soon after, Sands' song "Teen-Age Crush" reached number 2 on the pop charts, eventually selling 800,000 copies. Tom Parker wasn't a household name before Elvis, but it's clear that after the biopic, it soon will be. "[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. A gambling, circus- and cigar-loving illegal immigrant: that's who created the buzz behind the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley.Colonel Tom Parker was the one person you'd see at . The two had become almost strangers, and false reports in the media suggested that Presley's contract was up for sale. [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". [49] Seeing the chance to publicize Presley's charitable nature once again, Parker eagerly agreed. At that time Parker believed Elvis to be black. [8], In May 1929, Van Kuijk returned to the United States at age 19, finding work with carnivals due to his previous experience in the Netherlands. Parker adopted the title as if it were part of his identity, frequently being referred to as "The Colonel," despite his military discharge. Potomac, was going to be salvaged. [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. [49] Sherman had read in news accounts that there was to be no charge for admittance to the concerts, a donation to charity being required instead. Despite the fact that no one is certain what actually happened on that tragic day in 1977, it is clear that Colonel Parker had a significant impact on the singer's life and death. [37] For the first few years Presley's films were somewhat successful, his albums topped the charts, and any singles that were released were mostly hits. Parker encountered Presley in 1955, and by 1956 had become his primary representative. [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. But as time went on, as the Beatles began their dominance of the music charts and the worldwide phenomenon known as Beatlemania began, Presley became less significant. Many Parker biographers, including Dirk Vellenga and Alanna Nash, have stated that Parker's gambling habit began to get out of control in the mid-1960s. [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. But according to Alanna. [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. [15] Over the next few years, he helped Arnold secure hit songs, television appearances, and live tours. Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 January 21, 1997),[1] commonly known as Colonel Parker, was a Dutch musical entrepreneur, best known for being Elvis Presley's manager. what happened to jackie bradley in heartbeat. The Amazing Comeback Of Colonel Tom Parker "Colonel Tom Parker managed Elvis Presley's career from 1955 to 1977. [15], In early 1955, Parker became aware of a young singer, Elvis Presley. 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 . The actor has talked about the project, what drew him to it, and how he felt about the overall story. [4] He would often spend 1214 hours at a time gambling in the casinos, betting large sums. [55] Worried about the impact such details might have on his career, Presley, through his father, asked Parker to stop the publication. [9] He began to build up a list of contacts that would prove valuable in later years. It's a surprisingly relatable trait for someone . 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. [citation needed] After a cold reception during his first few shows,[30] Parker cut Presley's appearance to two weeks. [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. Having been a staple in The King's life for so long, he was well known to Elvis' ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, who humored his appearances at such venues, regarding him as a family friend despite their clashes over the estate. [61], As Presley's fame grew, people became interested in Parker as well. 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. "[72] She reiterated her positive opinion to Tom Hanks in 2022 when the actor prepared to play Parker for Elvis (2022). And now I need to locate my wallet, because I noticed there was no ticket booth on the way in here, but I'm sure that the Colonel must have arranged for some toll on the way out. The Colonel seized on the moment and put Elvis back on tour, eventually settling on a residency in Las Vegas and a non-stop barrage of venues and recordings that took the singer to the brink, as he deteriorated into a mockery of his former self. 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. [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. All in all, the manager was known for some appalling behavior towards his star client, and Elvis tries its best to portray that accurately. [50] This would be successful for a short time, but when Presley discovered the trick, he simply found himself other doctors. But, after he gave a detailed invoice to Elvis, the star realized he couldn't pay Parker, so they continued collaborating. [26] Parker, with his 25% share of profits, found ways to make money from his artist that other managers before him had never thought of. 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. Andreas Cornelius Van Kuijk ("Colonel Tom Parker"), manager and promoter: born Breda, Holland 26 June 1909; twice married; died Las Vegas 21 January 1997. [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. [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. His accent wasn't so theatrical, and he was way funnier than Baz Luhrmann gives him credit for. [62], One of Parker's brothers, Adam "Ad" van Kuijk, visited Parker once in Los Angeles in April 1961. With no touring or public appearances to be made, Parker was able to keep costs to a minimum. Parker, who was born in the Netherlands, entered the United States illegally when he was 20 years old. 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