Austin Butler Lisa met Marie Presley after playing her father Elvis Presley in the film and the pair bonded instantly – but their friendship was tragically cut short.
The “Storm & Grace” singer died in January 2023 at the age of 54, shortly after being hospitalized for cardiac arrest. “It is with a heavy heart that I share the devastating news that our beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has passed away,” her mother said. Priscilla Presley, he confirmed in a statement at the time. “She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss. Thanks for the love and prayers.”
Just days earlier, the Tennessee native attended the 80th Golden Globe Awards with Butler, the director of Elvis Baz Luhrman and Priscilla, 77. After winning a trophy for his performance as a late rock icon, the Carrie Diaries alum thanked the Presley family for their help with the film, which hits theaters in June 2022.
“Thank you guys, thank you for opening your hearts, your memories, your homes to me,” he said as the cue began for him to end his speech. “Lisa Marie, Priscilla, I love you forever.” As the playoff music continued, Butler quipped, “The least you could do is play ‘Suspicious Minds’ or something.”
Before the awards ceremony, Lisa Marie attended a Golden Globes pre-party held on her father’s 88th birthday. “I’m so blown away by this movie and the impact it had and what Baz did, what Austin did,” she told the crowd, according to Variety. “I’m so proud. And I know my father would be very proud too.”
The “Jailhouse Rock” singer died in August 1977 at the age of 42. Lisa Marie, born in 1968, was his only child. (Priscilla later greeted the son Navarone Garibaldi with partner Marco Garibaldi after her 1973 divorce from Elvis.)
Just before Elvis premiered, Lisa Marie gushed about the film in a series of tweets published in May 2022, at Time. “Let me tell you, it’s nothing short of spectacular. Absolutely exquisite. Austin Butler beautifully channeled and embodied my father’s heart and soul. In my humble opinion his performance is unparalleled and FINALLY accurately and respectfully executed. (If he doesn’t get an Oscar for it, I’ll eat my own foot, haha.)”
Days after Lisa Marie’s death, Butler received an Oscar nomination for his performance. “I think it’s a way of honoring her,” the Shannara Chronicles graduate said of the honor during an appearance on the Today show. “This is for you.”
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Keep scrolling to see everything Butler has said about his relationship with Lisa Marie:
1 out of 4
mourning a friend
“My heart is broken for Riley, Finley, Harper and Priscilla at the tragic and unexpected loss of Lisa Marie,” Butler said in January 2023 after Lisa Marie’s death, referring to the late star’s daughters Riley Keough and twins Finley and Harper. “I am infinitely grateful for the times I was fortunate enough to be near her bright light and will forever cherish the quiet moments we shared. Her warmth, her love and her authenticity will always be remembered.”
Credit: Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
2 out of 4
honor you with success
After earning an Oscar nomination for his performance in Elvis, the Yoga Hosers actor dedicated his nomination to Lisa Marie. “It’s a bittersweet moment right now because I’m thinking how much I wish she were here to celebrate with me right now,” he said during a January 2023 appearance on the Today Show. “It’s the same as I feel about Elvis; I wish they could see these moments, you know? It’s just strange to celebrate at a time of such deep sadness. But I see it as a way to honor them. This is for you.”
Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock
3 out of 4
Your “immediate” connection
During a January 2023 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Butler explained that he first met Lisa Marie during a private Elvis screening at Graceland. “I’ve never had an experience where I met someone and immediately felt a deep connection with them,” the actor recalled to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. “She was a person who didn’t really have anything to prove and didn’t want to open up to everyone, and she just opened up to me. We got so close so quickly. It’s just devastating.”
Photo credit: Courtesy of The Tonight Show/YouTube
4 out of 4
His “bittersweet” BAFTA win
The Dune: Part Two actor paid tribute to Lisa Marie after she accepted his trophy for Best Actor at the 2023 BAFTAs in February 2023. “It was a truly unimaginably tragic time and grief is a long process,” he told reporters after his win. “And so was my heart and love with [the Presley family] always. I am honored to have been accepted into the family. It’s a bittersweet time.”
Credit: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock