# Who played the best Elvis? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2002, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665 "2002-08-13T10:53:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665/1 "2002-08-13T10:53:47Z")
Since we’re already on the subject of his daughter re: Nicolas Cage, who’s been in films that were suffused with Elvis references, I started wondering who played the best Elvis? I’m counting people who played Elvis impersonators as well. Off the top of my head, I would say Val Kilmer in **True Romance**. But I might change my opinion based on responses to this thread. What say you? ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665/2 "2002-08-13T11:39:36Z")
Not even Elvis played the best Elvis. In 1967(-ish) Elvis entered a ‘lookalike’ contest, and only came fourth. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665/3 "2002-08-13T12:37:04Z")
It was a made-for-TV movie, but I thought Kurt Russell in [_ **Elvis** _](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0079103) was terrific! ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665/4 "2002-08-13T12:46:38Z")
I’d go with Kurt Russell as well. Val Kilmers part was too small and blurred to make a true assessment. Russell was very believable as the young Elvis. I looked at some of the 68 comeback special the other night. What a show. The jam session was brilliant. Elvis really stood out as something special. Anybody who thinks of Elvis as the sad bloated guy standing on a Vegas stage should make sure they see the comeback special. _Guitar_ {Elvis} If you’re looking for trouble You came to the right place{/Elvis] :eek: yojimbo:- Big Elvis fan ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665/5 "2002-08-13T15:12:06Z")
There was a short-lived TV series about Elvis’ early days, before he became famous… this was around 1990. The young actor who played Elvis (I had to look up his name on the Internet Movie Database) was Michael St. Gerard, and I thought he was terriffic. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665/6 "2002-08-13T15:59:57Z")
Even though 3000 miles to vegas was utterly crap, Kurt’s way of doing elvis made me want to see him in that part again. The made for TV movie is very good, and Kurt got the voice, looks and acting abilities to carry it off. Suspicious Minds is one of the best songs ever. Elvis in the restored “That’s the way it is” is worth having, even if you’re not a fan. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665/7 "2002-08-13T16:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\*There was a short-lived TV series about Elvis’ early days, before he became famous… this was around 1990. The young actor who played Elvis (I had to look up his name on the Internet Movie Database) was Michael St. Gerard, and I thought he was terriffic. \*\* He’s also terrific in **Hairspray**. I’m torn between the ending credits to **3000 Miles to Graceland** with Kurt Russell dancing about to “Such a Night” and Val Kilmer moaning “Heartbreak Hotel” in **True Romance**. So then what’s with Christian Slater and Elvis? And oh my stars, the '68 Comeback Special. Elvis wore leather pants better than Jim Morrison. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-played-the-best-elvis/123665/8 "2002-08-13T21:34:10Z")
Ooh, I forgot about Kurt Russell! Yes, he was awesome! Michael St. Gerard was a ringer, physically. But I don’t think he really captured the spirit of Elvis, who was one conflicted dude. But I still have to put in my word for Kilmer! He absolutely chilled my spine.