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The Ultimate List: 7 Actors Who Played Elvis Presley And How Their Portrayals Stack Up

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The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, remains one of the most iconic and challenging figures for any actor to embody on screen, demanding a unique blend of charisma, vulnerability, and musical prowess. As of December 2025, the cultural conversation around Elvis's legacy has been revitalized by two major, critically acclaimed films: Baz Luhrmann's vibrant Elvis (2022) and Sofia Coppola's intimate Priscilla (2023), pitting the performances of Austin Butler and Jacob Elordi against each other and against a long history of actors who have dared to wear the white jumpsuit.

This deep dive explores the most notable actors who have taken on the role of Elvis, focusing on the recent, high-profile portrayals by Austin Butler and Jacob Elordi, while also giving essential context from earlier, award-winning performances by stars like Kurt Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Each performance offers a different lens into the life of the legend, from the stage spectacle to the private turmoil at Graceland.

The New Kings of Rock and Roll: Austin Butler & Jacob Elordi's Full Profiles

The latest wave of Elvis biopics has been dominated by two young actors whose distinct approaches have sparked intense debate among fans and critics. Their meticulous preparation, biographical details, and the unique directorial visions behind their films offer a fascinating study in cinematic portrayals of a single icon.

Austin Butler (Elvis, 2022)

Austin Butler’s transformation into Elvis Presley for Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 epic was a career-defining moment, earning him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. His performance focused on the electric stage presence and the complex relationship with Colonel Tom Parker.

  • Full Name: Austin Robert Butler
  • Born: August 17, 1991 (Anaheim, California, U.S.)
  • Height: 6’0” (1.83 m)
  • Key Early Roles: James Garrett in *Zoey 101*, Sebastian Kydd in *The Carrie Diaries*, Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino’s *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*.
  • Preparation for Elvis: Butler famously dedicated nearly three years to the role, immersing himself in Elvis's life. He worked with vocal coach Irene Bartlett to master the unique voice and singing style, which he performed himself for the early rock and roll tracks in the film. The intensity of his preparation led to a lingering "Elvis voice" long after filming concluded.
  • Major Accolades for Elvis: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Academy Award (Oscar) Nomination for Best Actor.

Jacob Elordi (Priscilla, 2023)

Jacob Elordi, known for his roles in *Euphoria* and *The Kissing Booth*, offered a starkly different, more intimate portrayal of Elvis in Sofia Coppola’s *Priscilla*, which is based on Priscilla Presley's memoir, *Elvis and Me*.

  • Full Name: Jacob Nathaniel Elordi
  • Born: June 26, 1997 (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
  • Height: 6’5” (1.96 m)
  • Key Early Roles: Noah Flynn in *The Kissing Booth* franchise, Nate Jacobs in *Euphoria*, Felix Catton in *Saltburn*.
  • Preparation for Elvis: Elordi had a significantly shorter preparation window—reportedly just three weeks—which aligned with Coppola's focus on the private man rather than the public performer. He admitted to eating a pound of bacon a day to gain weight for the later-life scenes and focused intensely on capturing the King's speaking voice and quiet demeanor behind the scenes. His performance was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.
  • Focus of Portrayal: The film, starring Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla, deliberately minimized the stage performances, instead highlighting the isolated, controlling, and emotionally complex side of Elvis's life at Graceland.

The Battle for the King: Baz Luhrmann's Spectacle vs. Coppola's Intimacy

The back-to-back release of *Elvis* and *Priscilla* in 2022 and 2023 created an unprecedented moment of comparison for actors who played Elvis. The two films, and thus the two performances, are fundamentally different, reflecting their directors' unique visions.

Baz Luhrmann’s *Elvis* is a maximalist spectacle, a high-energy, three-act drama told largely from the perspective of his manipulative manager, Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. Austin Butler’s performance is a physical and vocal tour-de-force, capturing the explosive energy of the early rock and roll years and the glitz of the Las Vegas residency. Butler's commitment to performing the early songs himself made his version an immersive musical experience.

In contrast, Sofia Coppola’s *Priscilla* is a quiet, melancholic character study, focusing on Priscilla Presley’s experience of isolation and codependency. Jacob Elordi’s Elvis is a towering, brooding figure, often seen in the domestic setting of Graceland. His performance deliberately avoids the bombast of the stage, instead portraying the private man—the husband, the father, and the man struggling with the pressures of fame and drug use. The decision to use original Elvis recordings for most of the songs, rather than Elordi's singing voice, further emphasizes the film's focus on the personal drama over the musical performance.

The critical consensus acknowledges both as successful portrayals, but of different men: Butler captured the public icon, while Elordi captured the private, troubled legend. This modern duality solidifies both actors as definitive cinematic Kings for their respective generations.

The Legacy Portrayals: Before the Modern Biopics

Long before Austin Butler and Jacob Elordi, several other actors delivered memorable, award-winning performances as Elvis Presley, setting the standard for the role and demonstrating the enduring appeal of the King's story.

Kurt Russell (Elvis, 1979)

Kurt Russell was one of the first major actors to portray Elvis in a biographical film, starring in the 1979 made-for-television movie simply titled *Elvis*. The film was directed by horror maestro John Carpenter and aired on ABC just two years after Presley's death.

  • Significance: Russell's performance was lauded and earned him an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.
  • Fun Fact: Russell had a unique connection to the King: at age 11, he appeared uncredited in the 1963 Elvis musical *It Happened At The World's Fair*, kicking Elvis in the shin in a scene. He later provided the uncredited voice for an Elvis impersonator in the 1994 film *Forrest Gump*.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Elvis, 2005)

In 2005, Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers took on the role in the CBS miniseries *Elvis*. The series focused heavily on the musician's rise to fame, his complex relationship with Priscilla, and his later struggles.

  • Significance: Rhys Meyers' striking physical resemblance to the young King and his energetic performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, confirming his place among the best Elvis portrayals.
  • Depth: The miniseries, often cited for its historical accuracy, covered Elvis's life from his humble Mississippi origins, through the Sun Records era, and into his Hollywood career.

Other Notable Actors Who Portrayed Elvis

The sheer number of productions about Elvis shows his lasting cultural impact. While the four actors above are the most decorated, several others have played the King, often focusing on specific periods of his life:

  • Michael St. Gerard: Played the young Elvis in the 1989 film *Great Balls of Fire!* (about Jerry Lee Lewis) and again in the 1990 TV series *Elvis*.
  • Don Johnson: Played a version of Elvis in the 1981 TV movie *Elvis and the Beauty Queen*.
  • David Keith: Starred as the King in the 1988 film *Heartbreak Hotel*.
  • Chaydon Jay: Played the role of the very young Elvis in the Tupelo scenes of Baz Luhrmann's 2022 film, *Elvis*, showing the King's childhood influences.

The Enduring Challenge of Portraying a Legend

The role of Elvis Presley is arguably one of the most demanding in Hollywood, requiring an actor to capture not just a person, but an entire cultural phenomenon. The contrasting successes of Austin Butler's powerhouse, Oscar-bait performance and Jacob Elordi's nuanced, quiet portrayal prove that there is no single "right" way to play the King.

The most effective performances, from Kurt Russell’s Emmy-nominated turn to Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ Golden Globe win, all share a common thread: a willingness to delve beyond the white jumpsuit and the iconic sneer. They explore the man behind the myth—the boy from Tupelo, Mississippi, who became a global superstar, a devoted son, and a troubled soul. The ongoing flow of new biopics, from the massive spectacle of Baz Luhrmann to the intimate focus of Sofia Coppola, ensures that the debate over the definitive cinematic Elvis will continue for generations to come.

actors who played elvis
actors who played elvis

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