A broad variety of actors have played Elvis Presley over the years. Other biopics (with varying degrees of accuracy) of the King of Rock have been made, including ones that focus on his time in high school before becoming famous. Baz Lurhmann’s newest film, Elvis, is no exception. All the films Presley starred in, except his concert documentaries, were fictitious works in which he assumed a fake persona. The King has been portrayed on the big screen in a variety of ways, from a respectable southern gentleman to a crazed martial arts expert, with a fondness for all things ostentatious. The truth is many portrayals of Elvis are highly misconstrued, but that doesn’t stop Hollywood from loving him any less. Here is our comprehensive guide to actors who have played Elvis Presley throughout film history.

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11 Kurt Russell — Elvis (1979)

     Worldvision Enterprises

Elvis, the very first biopic about Elvis Presley, stars Kurt Russell, and covers Elvis’ life up to 1970. The popularity of Elvis on American television led to its theatrical distribution in Europe and Australia. Although the screenplay received significant criticism from reviewers, it was nonetheless nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe. Russell and John Carpenter collaborated on several major films after working together for the first time on this project.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

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10 Don Johnson — Elvis and The Beauty Queen (1981)

     Sony Pictures Television

Elvis is portrayed by Don Johnson in Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which centers on his romance with Linda Thompson (Stephanie Zimbalist), a teenage beauty pageant contestant, following his divorce from Priscilla Presley. Elvis and the Beauty Queen, which has received appreciation for some of its themes, centers on the final four years Elvis spent with Linda and his heroin addiction. However, the movie left no enduring impressions and received many unfavorable reviews.

9 Paul Hipp — Liberace: Behind The Music (1988)

     CBS

In Liberace: Behind the Music, Paul Hipp plays Elvis Presley. The bond between Elvis and Liberace is highlighted in this unauthorized biography about the life and passing of the well-known American pianist and singer, Wadziu Valentino Liberace. According to the movie, Liberace instructed Elvis to be more glitzy and flamboyant. Is it possible this is what inspired Elvis’ iconic dancing routines and eccentric suits?

8 Dale Midkiff — Elvis and Me (1988)

     New World Television

Elvis is portrayed by Dale Midkiff in the 1988 film Elvis and Me, which tells the tale of Priscilla Presley’s marriage to Elvis. The movie, which was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Movie/Miniseries, is based on the book of the same name by Priscilla Presley. Using source material from someone who was actually there and lived the love story is the best way to get a great film in this case.

7 Michael St. Gerard — Great Balls Of Fire (1989)

     Orion Pictures

Great Balls of Fire!, one of the rare movies that uses Elvis as a character, but isn’t truly about the King of Rock ’n’ Roll himself, stars Michael St. Gerard as the rock star. The life of Jerry Lee Lewis (Dennis Quaid), who was tipped to become the next Elvis, is shown in this biographical film. Lewis became famous for his musical abilities, but his contentious union with his cousin, a 13-year-old, ultimately contributed to his collapse. The movie examines his ascent to popularity and his experience navigating the music business.

6 Rob Youngblood — Elvis and The Colonel: The Untold Story (1993)

     Dick Clark Film Group

Elvis was portrayed by Rob Youngblood in the very first film to detail his relationship with Colonel Tom Parker (Beau Bridges), his manager. The exploitative connection Elvis had with his manager is examined from the perspective of Elvis’ spirit in the 1993 film Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story. There aren’t many reviews for the movie, but the ones that do exist don’t do the movie any favors, with The Biopic Story only giving it 1 out of 5 stars.

5 Rick Peters — Elvis Meets Nixon (1997)

     Avalanche Home Entertainment

Rick Peters plays Elvis in Elvis Meets Nixon, the first adaptation of Elvis and President Nixon’s (Bob Gunton) famous meeting. Elvis Meets Nixon is a comedic documentary about the encounter that occurred when Elvis went to the White House to serve as a federal marshal for the DEA, unlike another movie on this list. The real story on which the mockumentary is based was expanded on and exaggerated for the film. Even only for the absurdity of trying to make a comedy out of Elvis, the movie is a fantastic satire.

4 Tyler Hilton — Walk The Line (2006)

     Twentieth Century Fox

Another film that highlighted a celebrity with ties to Elvis Presley was Walk the Line, in which Tyler Hilton, best known for his part in the adolescent drama One Tree Hill, portrays Elvis. Walk the Line, starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash, is an account of Cash’s journey to stardom and is based on the two memoirs written by Cash. Although Hilton’s part in the film is not very significant, it honors a relationship that the two musicians shared before becoming well-known. Walk the Line garnered favorable reviews from both critics and viewers, receiving seven Oscar nominations and making a whopping $187 million on only a $28 million budget.

3 Peter Dobson — Protecting The King (2007)

     Impello Entertainment

In the 2007 film Protecting the King, starring Peter Dobson as Elvis, one of his bodyguards who was employed at the age of 16 is the subject. David Stanley (Matt Barr), Elvis’ bodyguard, was also his stepbrother and shared an opulent lifestyle with him. Despite offering a fresh perspective on Elvis’ life and those around him, the movie did badly, earning just a 35% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

2 Michael Shannon — Elvis & Nixon (2016)

     Sony Pictures Worldwide

A quirky film, Elvis & Nixon, details the real account of Elvis Presley and President Richard Nixon’s encounter in 1970. Elvis is portrayed by Michael Shannon in the film, which is based on the meeting that led to the most often sought National Archives photograph — the one of Presley and Nixon shaking hands — being taken. Shannon was nominated for a Best Actor award by the Indiana Film Journalists Association.

1 Austin Butler — Elvis (2022)

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Elvis is a 2022 biopic directed by Baz Lurhmann, starring Austin Butler in the lead. The plot of the film illustrates how Elvis Presley’s career evolved, with special emphasis on Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’ manager, played by Tom Hanks, and their complex dynamic. Elvis’ songs are covered by Butler in his own style. The film sheds light on his unexpected popularity and romance with Priscilla Presley during a time when America’s cultural environment was changing. Even though many critics lambasted the movie for various reasons, Elvis garnered a 12-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival and an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film has earned a massive 112 awards nominations and 35 awards wins, as of the time of this writing. It is obvious this movie is worth the watch.