Elvis Presley was an American entertainer and Laurel Award winning actor who achieved great initial success as a singer and stage performer.

He publicly expressed an early career goal of following in the footsteps of his role models James Dean and Marlon Brando to become a top dramatic actor.

[1] His manager Colonel Tom Parker's persistent lobbying of William Morris Agency president Abe Lastfogel for a Presley screen test paid off on March 26, 1956, when the singer auditioned at Paramount for a supporting role in The Rainmaker.

[2] Although not chosen for the part, he signed a contract with Paramount producer Hal Wallis on April 25 that also allowed him to make films with other studios.

Although Elvis hated Charles Bronson,[12] the tough guy actor who was 5th billed in this modern boxing film and a template for Rocky.

[14] Unfortunately, many of the big stars of the sixties were jealous of Elvis and this is one of the reasons why he stopped working with other leading actors, such as Steve McQueen.

[25] Credited with helping the popularity of NASCAR[26] Speedway was a box office success that featured famous racing stars of the day.

[33] At the expiration of all studio contracts, he returned to live entertaining and soon became the biggest star in Las Vegas history and on tour in America.

[35] Both were among the most successful concert documentaries of their day, with Elvis on Tour winning prestige with a Golden Globe award and starting off the career of Martin Scorsese.

Elvis was also considered for the leading role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory but was busy performing in Las Vegas.

[47] [48][49] Elvis did decide to produce, write and star a karate film called The New Gladiators, which was a true passion project for the actor and 8th degree black belt, although this remained unfinished at the time of his death and lost out on its classic status.

[50] Over the years and with a reassessment of his acting career, roles in films like Charro!, Wild in the Country, Change of Habit, and Live a Little, Love a Little have led to Presley receiving high praise as an actor.