Who was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager who allegedly stole over half of his millions? Inside their controversial connection, depicted in Baz Luhrmann’s new biopic
- Played by Tom Hanks in the Elvis film, the Dutch-born cigar lover moved to the US illegally at age 20 and changed his name, touring with a circus – it wasn’t until the 50s that he met young Presley
- Parker was nicknamed ‘The Snowman’, referring to cons … but he did get Presley Hollywood roles and a lucrative Las Vegas contract, and Priscilla Presley attended his funeral
So, who was the man that gave the world so much but, at the same time, took so much from the person he got everyone to adore? Meet Colonel Tom Parker, a complex man who was not all bad … but certainly not all good.
The immigrant
Parker was born in the Netherlands as Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk. He was the seventh child of a delivery driver and housewife, according to Radio Times. He was an illegal immigrant when he arrived in the US in 1929 at the age of 20.
When Parker arrived in the US, he created a new identity for himself and worked as a carnival employee before becoming involved in music promotion. It was reported that despite his official title, he was never actually a colonel, and when he enlisted in the US army, he was discharged after a psychiatrist certified him a psychopath, reported The Guardian.
It has been well-documented that Presley wanted to tour Europe, but Parker always prevented that from happening because of his illegal immigrant status.
Meeting Elvis Presley
