Elvis Presley on film and television
was an American entertainer 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. 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. 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.
His feature debut was in Love Me Tender in 1956 for 20th Century Fox, with the commercial success of the soundtrack EP being a bellwether for the next three Presley films. Loving You, Jailhouse Rock and King Creole. Elvis returned to acting after leaving the army in 1960, with G.I. Blues and a dramatic western Flaming Star. With the popularity of his romantic musicals establishing a formula for the coming years.
Over time Presley became bitter that his hopes for dramatic roles were not coming to fruition, stating that Clambake was his worst film. He began to complain about the deteriorating quality of the films and his belief that his manager's objectives were more monetary than anything else. At the expiration of all studio contracts, he returned to live entertaining. The two concert documentaries in 1970 and Elvis on Tour in 1972 were the final theatrical releases for Presley.
Acting credits and ratings
Television
| Year | Title | Notes | |
| 1956 | Stage Show | 6 episodes at the CBS studios in New York City, NY: January 28, February 4, 11, 18, March 17, 24; Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey's show, produced by Jackie Gleason as a lead-in for his show | |
| 1956 | Texaco Star Theatre | 2 episodes: April 3 aboard the USS Hancock in San Diego, CA; June 5 NBC studios Los Angeles, CA | |
| 1956 | Teenage Dance Party | June 16; hosted by Wink Martindale, WHBQ-TV Memphis, TN | |
| 1956 | Hy Gardner Calling | July 1 television interview, WRCA-TV, New York City, NY | |
| 1956 | ' | July 1; NBC, New York City, NY | |
| 1956–57 | ' | 3 episodes: September 9, October 28, 1956; January 6, 1957, CBS New York City, NY | |
| 1960 | ' | Taped March 26, in Miami, FL; aired on ABC May 12 | |
| 1968 | Elvis | Also known as the Elvis Comeback Special, the 68 Comeback Special, and One Night With You; June taping at NBC Los Angeles, CA; air date December 3 | |
| 1973 | Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite | Kui Lee Cancer Fund benefit concert at Honolulu's Neal S. Blaisdell Center broadcast by NBC world-wide live January 14 | |
| 1977 | Elvis in Concert'' | The last concert tour before Presley died; CBS broadcast after his death |