Who Plays Elvis

Presley in Movies

Elvis Presley is widely considered one of the most iconic figures in music history and the music world continues to celebrate his greatness today. While he is no longer with us, his memory will never fade. He has been immortalised in a variety of films, from documentaries to feature-length biopics. While multiple actors have portrayed Elvis on the big screen, there is one man who continues to dominate casting for roles as the beloved musician – Kurt Russell.

Kurt Russell became the go-to actor for playing Elvis Presley after taking on the role in the 1979 film, Elvis. The film depicts Presley’s rise to fame and his triumphant comeback after spending time in the army. His performance earned critical praise and he was nominated for a Golden Globe.

In the 2000s, Russell was cast in Elvira, Mistress of the Dark and he also provided the voice for an animated version of the musician in Lilo & Stitch. He would later portray Elvis at various points in his career in the 2005 biopic, Walk the Line. The film was a critical and box office success and Russell earned numerous accolades for his performance, including a Golden Globe nomination.

In 2007, Russell once again returned to the role of Presley, in the HBO film Elvis, directed by Robert Dornhelm. This biopic focused on Presley’s life post-military and featured his Las Vegas comeback performance.

The actor also reprised the role of Elvis in the 2019 biopic Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, directed by Quentin Tarantino. While he only had a few scenes, viewers went wild with excitement over the actor’s brief appearance.

It’s clear that Kurt Russell has become the face of playing Elvis Presley in movies, something that is likely to continue for years to come. His performances have been highly praised and it’s safe to say that he has become a permanent fixture when it comes to depicting the music pioneer on the big screen.