Outside of his decorated music career, Elvis Presley starred in several feature films. Most notably, Presley played lead roles in Blue Hawaii, Love Me Tender, and Change of Habit. All of these roles were blockbuster successes and commercial hits. However, Presley seemingly never gained any satisfaction from the roles given their unchallenging and elementary nature.
Presley always wanted to be known as a serious actor. Still, his film career never extended beyond the surface-level roles that demanded nothing else other than his likeness. As a result, Presley turned away from film in 1969 after wrapping up the romantic comedy Change of Habit. However, Elvis Presley nearly made his grand return to the screen thanks to the iconic film A Star Is Born.
Two years before the film’s release in 1976, Elvis Presley was offered the role of John Norman Howard. Given Presley’s celebrity stature and tortured tendencies, he was a perfect fit for the role of Howard, who was a troubled alcoholic musician in the film. Despite the evident appropriateness of this casting, Presley’s infamously controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker, ruined the prospect of Presley making it to the film’s cast.
According to Gold Radio, the Colonel butchered Presley’s chance to star in the film thanks to his high and impractical demands. Specifically, the Colonel demanded that Presley receive $1 million dollars for the role, the top name on the bill, and a 1000 euro daily per diem. Needless to say, the studio and producers denied those requests and pulled the offer.
Presley had nothing to do with decision. And according to Memphis Mafia member Jerry Schilling, if Presley did have a say in the matter, he would have ended up in the film.
“There was no way the film’s budget could stand two superstar salaries,” Schilling said. “And Elvis didn’t care about the money. He was smart enough to know that this kind of supporting role could be his way back into the movies.”
The role would have changed Presley’s career and life. Sadly, a year after A Star Is Born was released, Elvis Presley passed away in 1977 due to a heart attack. Kris Kristofferson took the lead role instead, alongside Barbra Streisand. The film won four Golden Globes, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Of The Year. This whole debacle was just another instance of how Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, sabotaged the cultural giant’s career and life.